Ind. Code ch. 9-18.1-3

Ind. Code ch. 9-18.1-3
in effect

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-1 Application; violation

Sec. 1. (a) A person that desires to register a vehicle under this article must provide, in the form and manner prescribed by the bureau, the following information: (1) The name of the person that owns the vehicle, or if the vehicle has been leased and is being registered in the name of the lessee instead of the owner, the name of the lessee. (2) The person's address in Indiana, including the county, township, and municipality, on the date of the application, as follows: (A) If the person is an individual, the person's residence address. However, if the person participates in the address confidentiality program under IC 5-26.5, the address may be a substitute address designated by the office of the attorney general under IC 5-26.5. (B) If the person is not an individual, the person's principal office in Indiana. (C) If the person does not have a physical residence or office in Indiana, the county, township, and municipality, in Indiana where the vehicle will be primarily operated. (3) A brief description of the vehicle to be registered, including the identification number and the color of the vehicle. (4) Any other information required by the bureau, including: (A) the manufacturer's rated capacity for the vehicle; (B) a statement of the vehicle's intended use; (C) the vehicle's odometer reading; and (D) the declared gross weight of the vehicle. (b) An application to register a vehicle that is made through the United States mail or by electronic means is not required to be sworn to or notarized. (c) A person may apply on behalf of another person to register a vehicle under this article. However, the application must be signed and verified by the person in whose name the vehicle is to be registered. (d) A person that makes a false statement in an application to register a vehicle under this article commits a Class C infraction. [Pre-2016 Revision Citations: 9-18-4-5; subsection (a) formerly 9-18-2-16(a).] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326. Amended by P.L.256-2017, SEC.109.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-1.1 Change of color of vehicle; requirement to amend registration

Sec. 1.1. (a) If a person changes the color of a passenger vehicle registered under this article through the: (1) application of paint; (2) installation of a partial or full vinyl vehicle wrap; or (3) removal of a partial or full vinyl vehicle wrap; then the person who registered the vehicle must apply to the bureau under IC 9-18.1-11-9(c) not later than thirty (30) days after the change occurs. (b) This subsection does not apply to a person described in section 1.3 of this chapter. If a person fails to apply to the bureau as required under subsection (a), a law enforcement officer shall issue a warning advising the person that the person has thirty (30) days from the date of the warning to apply to the bureau as required under subsection (a). (c) The bureau shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this section. As added by P.L.198-2025, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-1.3 Change of color of vehicle after use in commission of crime; Class C misdemeanor

Sec. 1.3. A person who changes the color of a passenger vehicle after the passenger vehicle was used in the commission of a crime and fails to apply to the bureau as required under section 1.1(a) of this chapter commits a Class C misdemeanor. As added by P.L.198-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-2 Certificate of title required; violation

Sec. 2. (a) This section does not apply to the following: (1) Special machinery. (2) A motor vehicle that was designed to have a maximum design speed of not more than twenty-five (25) miles per hour and that was built, constructed, modified, or assembled by a person other than the manufacturer. (3) Snowmobiles. (4) Motor driven cycles. (b) The bureau may not register a vehicle unless the person applying for the certificate of registration: (1) applies at the same time or within the immediately preceding forty-five (45) days for a certificate of title for the vehicle; or (2) presents satisfactory evidence that a certificate of title has been previously issued to the person that covers the vehicle. (c) If the bureau at any time determines that a certificate of title for a vehicle cannot be issued or is invalid, the bureau: (1) shall not issue or furnish; or (2) may invalidate; the certificate of registration for the vehicle. (d) A person that operates a vehicle for which a certificate of registration is required without a valid certificate of registration commits a Class C infraction. [Pre-2016 Revision Citations: 9-17-1-1(a); subsection (b) formerly 9-18-2-10(a); subsection (c) formerly 9-18-2-10(b).] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-3 Identification number required

Sec. 3. The bureau may not register a vehicle that does not have an identification number. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-2-34.1.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-4 Payment of or exemption from excise tax

Sec. 4. The bureau may not register a vehicle unless the registrant: (1) pays the applicable excise tax for the vehicle under IC 6-6; or (2) provides proof in a manner acceptable to the bureau that the vehicle is exempt from excise taxes under IC 6-6. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-2-1.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-5 Proof of financial responsibility required

Sec. 5. The bureau may not register a motor vehicle unless the person applying for registration provides proof of financial responsibility that is in effect in the amounts specified in IC 9-25 at the time the application for registration is made. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-2-11.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-6 Vehicles bureau may not register

Sec. 6. The bureau may not register the following vehicles: (1) A vehicle that: (A) is subject under rules adopted under air pollution control laws (as defined in IC 13-11-2-6) to: (i) inspection of vehicle air pollution control equipment; and (ii) testing of emission characteristics; and (B) has not been: (i) inspected; and (ii) certified by an inspection station under IC 13-17-5-5.1(b) that the air pollution equipment is not in a tampered condition and the vehicle meets air emission control standards. (2) A motor vehicle that does not comply with applicable motor vehicle equipment requirements under IC 9-19. (3) A motor vehicle that does not comply with applicable operational and equipment specifications described in 49 CFR 571. (4) A private bus that is designed or used to transport more than fifteen (15) passengers, including the driver, that does not have an unexpired certificate indicating compliance with an inspection program established under IC 9-19-22-3. (5) A school bus or special purpose bus that does not have an unexpired certificate of inspection under IC 20-27-7-3. (6) A farm wagon. (7) A farm tractor. (8) A golf cart. (9) An implement of agriculture designed to be operated primarily in a farm field or on farm premises. [Pre-2016 Revision Citations: 9-18-1-1(a); 9-18-2-12; subdivision (4) formerly 9-18-2-8(g); subdivision (5) formerly 9-18-2-8.5.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326. Amended by P.L.164-2018, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-7 Withholding registration of vehicle used in commission of toll violation; reinstatement; fee

Sec. 7. (a) Upon receiving notice, as described in IC 9-21-3.5-10(c), of the failure of an owner of a vehicle to pay a fine, charge, or other assessment for a toll violation documented under IC 9-21-3.5-12, the bureau shall withhold the annual registration of the vehicle that was used in the commission of the toll violation until the owner pays the fine, charge, or other assessment, plus any applicable fees, to the appropriate authority under IC 9-21-3.5 that is responsible for the collection of fines, charges, or other assessments for toll violations under IC 9-21-3.5. (b) Upon receiving notice, as described in IC 9-21-3.5-15(d), of the failure of an owner of a vehicle to pay a fine, charge, or other assessment for a toll violation documented under IC 9-21-3.5-12 or IC 9-21-3.5-14, the bureau shall withhold the annual registration of the vehicle that was used in the commission of the toll violation until the owner pays the fine, charge, or other assessment, plus any applicable fees, to: (1) the operator of the private toll facility; or (2) a person designated by the operator of the private toll facility to collect fines, charges, or other assessments for toll violations under IC 9-21-3.5; as applicable. The bureau may impose a fee to reinstate an annual registration that was withheld under this subsection. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-2-17.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326. Amended by P.L.111-2021, SEC.16.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-8 Suspension of registration; notice; reinstatement

Sec. 8. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), upon receipt of written notice under IC 13-17-5-8 of a violation of IC 13-17-5-1, IC 13-17-5-3, or IC 13-17-5-4, the bureau shall suspend the registration of the vehicle identified in the notice. (b) The bureau may decline to suspend the registration of the vehicle pending verification of the statements set forth in the written notice. (c) The bureau shall promptly notify a vehicle's owner of the suspension of the vehicle's registration under this section. (d) Except as provided in subsection (e), upon the: (1) receipt of written notice under IC 13-17-5-8 that the violation of IC 13-17-5-1, IC 13-17-5-3, or IC 13-17-5-4 has been corrected; or (2) presentation of evidence to the bureau establishing that the violation of IC 13-17-5-1, IC 13-17-5-3, or IC 13-17-5-4 has been corrected; the bureau shall reinstate the registration of the vehicle. (e) The bureau may decline to reinstate the registration of the vehicle pending verification of the statements set forth in a written notice provided under subsection (d)(1). [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-2-39.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-9 Donations to anatomical gift promotion fund

Sec. 9. A person that registers a vehicle may indicate the person's desire to donate money to organizations that promote the procurement of organs for anatomical gifts. The bureau must: (1) allow the person registering the vehicle to indicate the amount the person desires to donate; and (2) provide that the minimum amount a person may donate is one dollar ($1). Funds collected under this section shall be deposited with the treasurer of state in a special account. The state comptroller shall monthly distribute the money in the special account to the anatomical gift promotion fund established by IC 16-19-3-26. The bureau may deduct from the funds collected under this section the costs incurred by the bureau in implementing and administering this section. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-2-16(a).] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326. Amended by P.L.9-2024, SEC.310; P.L.1-2025, SEC.134.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-10 Genuineness, regularity, and legality of application

Sec. 10. (a) The bureau shall use due diligence in examining and determining the genuineness, regularity, and legality of the following: (1) Information provided by a person as part of a request for the registration of a vehicle. (2) A request for any type of license plate required under this title for the operation of a vehicle upon a highway. (3) Any other application or request made to the bureau under this article or IC 9-18.5. (b) The bureau may: (1) make investigations or require additional information; and (2) reject an application or request; if the bureau is not satisfied of the genuineness, regularity, or legality of an application or the truth of a statement contained in an application or request, or for any other reason. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-2-9.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.326.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-11 Fraud involving a motor vehicle registration

Sec. 11. A person who knowingly or intentionally registers or applies to register a motor vehicle or receives a certificate of registration or proof of registration with intent to permit an individual who is not entitled to a driver's license or permit to operate the motor vehicle commits fraud involving a motor vehicle registration, a Class A misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Level 6 felony if: (1) the person uses a business or nonprofit organization to commit or facilitate the commission of the offense; or (2) the offense involves an application, certificate of registration, or proof of registration for at least two (2) motor vehicles. As added by P.L.117-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 9-18.1-3-12 Change of color of vehicle; registration renewal

Sec. 12. (a) The bureau shall require a person renewing a registration under this article to indicate whether the color of the person's passenger vehicle has changed through the: (1) application of paint; (2) installation of a partial or full vinyl vehicle wrap; or (3) removal of a partial or full vinyl vehicle wrap. If the color of the person's passenger vehicle has changed, the bureau shall require the person to indicate the new color. (b) The bureau shall add appropriate fields for purposes of subsection (a) to its electronic and online registration renewal forms to be used by a person renewing a registration online or electronically. As added by P.L.198-2025, SEC.3.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/9Fetched: 10/17/2026