Indiana learner’s permit requirements

Everything here comes from Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Indiana doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Last checked September 22, 2026.

At a glance

Minimum age
15 years
Fees
$9 total
Supervised driving
50 hours (10 at night)

The knowledge test and your permit

Test format
Not publishedSources 123
Passing score
80%Sources 123
Time limit
None published
Permit and test fees
$9 totalCovers the $9 learner's permit; the BMV fee chart lists no separate knowledge-test fee.Sources 123
Minimum age for a permit
15 years15 if enrolled in an approved behind-the-wheel driver education course; 16 without driver education.Sources 456
Supervised driving
50 hours (10 at night)Sources 456
Hold your permit
6 months minimumSources 456
Test languages
20 languagesEnglish, Arabic, Burmese, Hakha Chin, Croatian, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, VietnameseSources 123
Take it online
No, in personSources 123
If you fail
If you fail a knowledge exam you must wait until the next business day before taking another knowledge examPassed results are valid for 180 days.Sources 123
Vision standard
20/20 to 20/40 in both eyes: no restrictionOne eye 20/20-20/40 and other eye 20/50 or worse: outside-mirror restriction. 20/50 in both eyes: corrective-lens restriction; 20/70 in the better eye: corrective lenses, mirrors and daylight-only restrictions. Below standard: referral to an eye doctor.Sources 456

From permit to full license

  • Learner's permit at 15 (with driver ed) or 16; hold it 180 days and log 50 hours of supervised practice (10 at night) with a licensed driver 25+ (or spouse 21+). Probationary driver's license at 16 with driver ed or 16 years 270 days without: for the first 180 days no driving 10 p.m.-5 a.m. and no passengers unless accompanied by a licensed driver 25+ (or spouse 21+); after 180 days and until 18, no driving after 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, before 5 a.m. Monday-Friday, or 1-5 a.m. Saturday-Sunday (except for work, a school-sanctioned activity or a religious event, or with a licensed driver 25+ or spouse 21+); no telecommunication device use except 911 while under 21.
  • Probationary license expires 30 days after the 21st birthday.

Before you go

Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles website: in.gov.

Sources

  1. in.gov: knowledge exam
  2. in.gov: Fee Chart
  3. telegov.egov.com: interpreter
  4. in.gov: learners permit
  5. in.gov: probationary drivers license
  6. in.gov: drivers manual
  7. in.gov: vision screening

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