Ind. Code ch. 9-18.5-2

Ind. Code ch. 9-18.5-2
in effect

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-1 Application for personalized license plate; eligible license plates

Note: This version of section effective until 1-1-2027. See also following version of this section, effective 1-1-2027. Sec. 1. (a) A person may apply to the bureau for a personalized license plate to display on the person's vehicle. (b) The following license plates may be designed as a personalized license plate under this chapter: (1) IC 9-18.5-4 (prisoner of war license plates). (2) IC 9-18.5-5 (disabled Hoosier veteran license plates). (3) IC 9-18.5-6 (Purple Heart license plates). (4) IC 9-18.5-7 (National Guard license plates). (5) IC 9-18.5-8 (license plates for persons with disabilities). (6) IC 9-18.5-9 (amateur radio operator license plates). (7) IC 9-18.5-10 (civic event license plates). (8) IC 9-18.5-11 (In God We Trust license plates). (9) IC 9-18.5-12 (special group recognition license plates). (10) IC 9-18.5-13 (environmental license plates). (11) IC 9-18.5-14 (kids first trust license plates). (12) IC 9-18.5-15 (education license plates). (13) IC 9-18.5-16 (Indiana FFA trust license plates). (14) IC 9-18.5-17 (Indiana firefighter license plates). (15) IC 9-18.5-18 (Indiana boy scouts trust license plates). (16) IC 9-18.5-19 (D.A.R.E. Indiana trust license plates). (17) IC 9-18.5-20 (Indiana arts trust license plates). (18) IC 9-18.5-21 (Indiana health trust license plates). (19) IC 9-18.5-22 (Indiana Native American trust license plates). (20) IC 9-18.5-24 (Pearl Harbor survivor license plates). (21) IC 9-18.5-25 (Indiana state educational institution trust license plates). (22) IC 9-18.5-26 (Lewis and Clark expedition license plates). (23) IC 9-18.5-27 (Riley Children's Foundation license plates). (24) IC 9-18.5-28 (National Football League franchised professional football team license plates). (25) IC 9-18.5-29 (Hoosier veteran license plates). (26) IC 9-18.5-30 (support our troops license plates). (27) IC 9-18.5-31 (Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home license plates). (28) IC 9-18.5-33 (Indiana Gold Star family member license plates). (29) IC 9-18.5-35 (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal license plates). (30) A license plate issued under IC 9-18 (before its expiration) or IC 9-18.1. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-1.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327. Amended by P.L.256-2017, SEC.133; P.L.29-2021, SEC.1; P.L.118-2022, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-1 Application for personalized license plate; eligible license plates

Note: This version of section effective 1-1-2027. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 1-1-2027. Sec. 1. (a) A person may apply to the bureau for a personalized license plate to display on the person's vehicle. (b) The following license plates may be designed as a personalized license plate under this chapter: (1) IC 9-18.5-4 (prisoner of war license plates). (2) IC 9-18.5-5 (disabled Hoosier veteran license plates). (3) IC 9-18.5-6 (Purple Heart license plates). (4) IC 9-18.5-7 (National Guard license plates). (5) IC 9-18.5-8 (license plates for persons with disabilities). (6) IC 9-18.5-9 (amateur radio operator license plates). (7) IC 9-18.5-10 (civic event license plates). (8) IC 9-18.5-11 (In God We Trust license plates). (9) IC 9-18.5-12 (special group recognition license plates). (10) IC 9-18.5-13 (environmental license plates). (11) IC 9-18.5-14 (kids first trust license plates). (12) IC 9-18.5-15 (education license plates). (13) IC 9-18.5-16 (Indiana FFA trust license plates). (14) IC 9-18.5-17 (Indiana firefighter license plates). (15) IC 9-18.5-18 (Indiana boy scouts trust license plates). (16) IC 9-18.5-19 (D.A.R.E. Indiana trust license plates). (17) IC 9-18.5-20 (Indiana arts trust license plates). (18) IC 9-18.5-21 (Indiana health trust license plates). (19) IC 9-18.5-22 (Indiana Native American trust license plates). (20) IC 9-18.5-23 (Safety First license plates). (21) IC 9-18.5-24 (Pearl Harbor survivor license plates). (22) IC 9-18.5-25 (Indiana state educational institution trust license plates). (23) IC 9-18.5-26 (Lewis and Clark expedition license plates). (24) IC 9-18.5-27 (Riley Children's Foundation license plates). (25) IC 9-18.5-28 (National Football League franchised professional football team license plates). (26) IC 9-18.5-29 (Hoosier veteran license plates). (27) IC 9-18.5-30 (support our troops license plates). (28) IC 9-18.5-31 (Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home license plates). (29) IC 9-18.5-33 (Indiana Gold Star family member license plates). (30) IC 9-18.5-34 (Historic vehicles). (31) IC 9-18.5-35 (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal license plates). (32) IC 9-18.5-36 (Semiquincentennial license plates). (33) A license plate issued under IC 9-18 (before its expiration) or IC 9-18.1. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-1.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327. Amended by P.L.256-2017, SEC.133; P.L.29-2021, SEC.1; P.L.118-2022, SEC.7; P.L.156-2026, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-2 Personalized license plates; alternative designs or color schemes

Sec. 2. (a) A personalized license plate may be the same color and size and contain similar required information as regular license plates issued under IC 9-18 (before its expiration) or IC 9-18.1 for the respective class of vehicle. The bureau may offer alternative designs or color scheme versions of a license plate issued under IC 9-18.1. (b) A personalized license plate message is limited to the: (1) numerals 0 through 9; or (2) letters A through Z; in a continuous combination of numbers and letters with at least two (2) positions. (c) A personalized license plate may not duplicate a regularly issued plate. (d) Only one (1) personalized plate, without regard to classification of registration, may be issued by the bureau with the same configuration of numbers and letters. (e) A person that selects both an alternative design or color scheme under subsection (a) and a personalized license plate message under subsection (b) shall pay a separate fee for each personalization under section 8(3) of this chapter. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-2.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327. Amended by P.L.227-2025, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-3 Personalized license plate issued only to owner or lessee of vehicle

Sec. 3. A personalized license plate may be issued only to the person registered as the owner or lessee of the vehicle on which the license plate will be displayed. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-3.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-4 Application; refusal by bureau to issue personalized license plate

Sec. 4. (a) A person that applies for: (1) a personalized license plate; or (2) the renewal of a personalized license plate in the subsequent period; must file an application in the manner the bureau requires. If a person is making an application for a personalized license plate message under section 2(b) of this chapter the person shall indicate the combination of letters or numerals, or both, requested by the person. (b) The bureau may refuse to issue a combination of letters or numerals, or both, that: (1) carries a connotation offensive to good taste and decency; (2) would be misleading; or (3) the bureau otherwise considers improper for issuance. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-4.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327. Amended by P.L.227-2025, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-5 Reservation of configuration of letters, numbers, or both letters and numbers

Sec. 5. If a person that has been issued a personalized license plate reserves the same configuration of letters or numbers, or both, for the next plate cycle, that configuration of letters or numbers, or both, is not available to another person until the following plate cycle. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-6.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-6 Availability of personalized license plate upon change of ownership of vehicle

Sec. 6. If a person that has been issued a personalized license plate for a registered vehicle releases ownership of the registered vehicle without transferring the registration to another vehicle, the combination of numbers or letters, or both, becomes available in the next registration year to any person. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-7.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-7 Transfer of personalized license plate from leased vehicle

Sec. 7. If a person has been issued a personalized license plate for use on a leased vehicle and: (1) the person cancels the lease; or (2) the lease expires during the registration year; the person may transfer the license plate to another vehicle registered under IC 9-18 (before its expiration) or under IC 9-18.1-11. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-8.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-8 Conditions for issuance of personalized license plate; fee

Sec. 8. The bureau shall issue a personalized license plate under this chapter to a person that does the following: (1) Complies with IC 9-18 (before its expiration) or IC 9-18.1. (2) Pays any additional fee associated with a license plate described in section 1(b) of this chapter. (3) Pays a fee of forty-five dollars ($45) each for an alternative design or color scheme under section 2(a) of this chapter or a personalized license plate message under section 2(b) of this chapter. The fee shall be distributed as follows: (A) Four dollars ($4) to the crossroads 2000 fund. (B) Seven dollars ($7) to the motor vehicle highway account. (C) Thirty-four dollars ($34) to the commission fund. Upon the payment of the fee, the bureau shall issue a receipt. [Pre-2016 Revision Citations: 9-18-15-10; subdivision (3) formerly 9-29-5-32.5(a).] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327. Amended by P.L.227-2025, SEC.10.

Ind. Code § 9-18.5-2-9 Refund of personalized license plate fee

Sec. 9. If a person that applies for a personalized license plate under this chapter with a given configuration of letters or numbers is not able to obtain the license plate requested or a satisfactory alternative configuration, the bureau shall refund the entire personalized license plate fee associated with the personalized license plate message under section 8(3) of this chapter to the person. However, a refund of a personalized license plate fee may not be made when the person that applies for the personalized license plate cancels the request. [Pre-2016 Revision Citation: 9-18-15-11.] As added by P.L.198-2016, SEC.327. Amended by P.L.227-2025, SEC.11.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/9Fetched: 10/17/2026