Sec. 12. (a) This section does not apply to the following:
(1) A trailer or semitrailer.
(2) A new motor vehicle or recreational vehicle sold by a dealer licensed under IC 9-32.
(3) A vehicle transferred or assigned on a certificate of title issued by the bureau.
(4) A vehicle that is registered under the International Registration Plan.
(5) A vehicle that is titled in the name of a financial institution, lending institution, or insurance company in Canada and imported by a registered importer, if the registered importer provides:
(A) a copy of the registered importer's validation agreement issued by the United States customs and border protection;
(B) a copy of the entry summary issued by the United States customs and border protection (CBP form 7501); and
(C) a vehicle history report issued by an independent provider of vehicle history information that includes the vehicle's title information, odometer readings, and number of owners.
(6) A vehicle that is titled in another state and is in the lawful possession of a financial institution, a lending institution, an insurance company, a vehicle rental company, a vehicle leasing company, or a lessee of a vehicle leasing company if the financial institution, lending institution, insurance company, vehicle rental company, vehicle leasing company, or lessee of a vehicle leasing company:
(A) provides a vehicle history report issued by an independent provider of vehicle history information that includes the vehicle's:
(i) title information;
(ii) odometer readings; and
(iii) number of owners; and
(B) maintains a copy of all documentation required under this subsection for at least ten (10) years.
(7) A vehicle that is purchased in another state and titled in Indiana by a vehicle rental company or a vehicle leasing company if the vehicle rental company or vehicle leasing company:
(A) provides a vehicle history report issued by an independent provider of vehicle history information that includes the vehicle's:
(i) title information;
(ii) odometer readings; and
(iii) number of owners; and
(B) maintains a copy of all documentation required under this subsection for at least ten (10) years.
(b) Subject to subsection (d), an application for a certificate of title for a vehicle may not be accepted by the bureau unless the vehicle has been inspected by one (1) of the following:
(1) An employee of a dealer licensed under IC 9-32.
(2) A military police officer assigned to a military post in Indiana.
(3) A police officer.
(4) A designated employee of the bureau.
(5) An employee of a qualified person operating under a contract with the commission.
(6) An employee of a dealer that is:
(A) licensed as a motor vehicle dealer in a state other than Indiana; and
(B) approved by the bureau.
(c) A person described in subsection (b) inspecting a vehicle shall do the following:
(1) Make a record of inspection upon the application form prepared by the bureau.
(2) Verify the facts set out in the application.
(d) The bureau may accept an inspection performed by a police officer from a jurisdiction outside Indiana if the bureau determines that an inspection performed by an individual described in subsection (b) is unavailable or otherwise insufficient to complete an application for a certificate of title.
(e) A police officer who makes an inspection under this section may charge a fee, subject to the following:
(1) The fee must be established by ordinance adopted by the unit (as defined in IC 36-1-2-23) that employs the police officer.
(2) The fee may not exceed five dollars ($5).
(3) The revenue from the fee shall be deposited in the following manner:
(A) A special vehicle inspection fund if the police officer making the inspection is a member of the county sheriff's department. The fiscal body of the unit must appropriate the money from the inspection fund only for law enforcement purposes.
(B) A local law enforcement continuing education fund established by IC 5-2-8-2 if the police officer making the inspection is a member of a city or town police department, a town marshal, a town marshal deputy, a conservancy district marshal, or a deputy conservancy district marshal.
[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-1-2-1(h) part; (i) part; Pre-2016 Revision Citation: subsection (e) formerly 9-29-4-2.]
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.81-1991, SEC.4; P.L.117-1993, SEC.1; P.L.113-1995, SEC.1; P.L.2-1996, SEC.222; P.L.106-2008, SEC.3; P.L.107-2008, SEC.10; P.L.131-2008, SEC.40; P.L.1-2009, SEC.78; P.L.109-2011, SEC.2; P.L.262-2013, SEC.22; P.L.198-2016, SEC.211; P.L.120-2020, SEC.18; P.L.122-2023, SEC.4.
