Indiana University Bloomington
IU

Office of International Services

A Division of the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs

Franklin Hall 306, 601 East Kirkwood Avenue.  Bloomington, Indiana  47405
Phone: (812) 855-9086  |  Fax: (812) 855-4418  |   Email: intlserv@indiana.edu

⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Living in the U.S. ⇒ Getting a Driver’s License in Indiana

Getting a Driver’s License in Indiana

When do I apply for an Indiana license?

You can apply for an Indiana license anytime after you arrive.  However, if you are driving on your foreign license, you should begin the process of getting an Indiana license no more than seven months after you arrive.  You must be at least l6 years of age to get a learner’s permit and 16 years of age plus 6 months in order to get a permanent license.

Where do I apply for an Indiana driver’s license?

You apply at the local branch of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).  That address is: 1612 S. Liberty Drive, Suite A., Bloomington.  That office is about half a mile from Wal-mart and Sam’s Club.  Their telephone number is: 812-336-3018.  Visit the BMV website for their hours.

What do I do first?

Get a copy of the Indiana Driver Manual.  BMV provides copies for free.  You can print out an electronic version by going to the BMV website.  The driver manual has information about traffic laws, traffic signs, and other regulations that affect driving and owning a car in Indiana.  When you apply for a license, you must take a written test.  To pass the written test, you have to know the information in the driver's manual.  After you have studied and understood the rules in the manual, you are ready to take the written test.

When I am ready for the written test, what do I have to take to the BMV?

When you have studied the Indiana Driver Manual thoroughly, take the following items to the BMV:

  1. Primary Document: Valid Passport with Visa information and I-94 card attached.
  2. Secondary Documents: At least two of the following items:
    1. Student ID card
    2. Bank statement with name
    3. Insurance card with name
    4. Major credit or debit card
  3. Proof of a mailing address in Bloomington:
    1. Bank statement that shows name and mailing address
    2. Utility bill for mailing address
    3. Credit card bill for mailing address
  4. Your social security card (with social security number).

If you are eligible for a social security number, then you cannot apply for driver’s license until you have your social security card.  The Office of International Services’ staff can help you determine whether you are eligible for a social security number, and we can explain what you have to do to get that number.  You get your social security number from the Social Security Administration, not from the BMV.

If you are not eligible to receive a social security number, you must provide a “letter of ineligibility” from the Social Security Office.  The BMV will use the number on your I-94 card instead.

What will happen at the BMV?

You will take a number and wait.  It is usually faster to go in the middle of the month, rather than in the first or last week of the month when the office can be very busy.

When your number is called, a staff member will look over your documents.  If you do not have a social security number, the BMV will send copies of some of the documents to Indianapolis for verification.  If you have brought all the documents you need, you will then take a written test that requires you to answer fifty questions.  Each question will provide four possible answers; you must select the correct one.

If you pass the written test, then you will take a vision test.  If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses to pass the vision test, then your license will require that you wear these whenever you are driving.

If you have a social security number and have completed all the steps, BMV will issue the learner’s permit.  You will be charged $9 for this permit.  If you do not have a social security number, the BMV will send your documents and test results to Indianapolis.  You will receive a notice when you may go to get your learner’s permit.

What do I do with a Learner’s Permit?

The learner’s permit allows you to drive a car as long as an adult, 21 years old or older, with a permanent driver’s license, is in the front seat of the car with you.

I have obtained my learner’s permit.  When can I get my license?

You must wait for 60 days after you get your learner’s permit before you can apply for your permanent license.

After 60 days, if you have a social security number, then you can return to the BMV with your documents and apply for a road test.

If you do not have a social security number:

You will get a notice mailed to you.  The notice will tell you whether the documents you submitted for the learner’s permit have been accepted.  If they have not been accepted, you should follow the directions in the letter.

If 60 days have passed and if you have received a notice that your documents are acceptable and if you are ready to take a road test to show how well you drive, then go to the BMV again and apply to get your permanent license.  They will follow the same procedure that you followed when your received your learner’s permit.  When staff have verified and approved these copies, BMV will send you a notice.  You must have this notice before you can get your license.

When you have the notice and when you have waited 60 days, go back to the BMV and make an appointment for a driving test.  Usually, you cannot get an appointment for the same day, so you will have to come back another day.

What does one do for a driving test?

Go to BMV at your appointment time.  Be on time or you may have to make another appointment.  You must have a car with a valid license plate to drive for the test (BMV does not provide a vehicle for the test).  An official licensed driving examiner will sit in the passenger seat for the test.  He or she will ask you to drive and tell you in which direction to go, where to turn, park, etc.  The examiner will decide if you can handle the car safely (including parking), and if you know and obey driving rules.  If you violate even one driving rule, you will fail the test.  The driver manual describes this test.  The driving test usually lasts for only l0 to l5 minutes.

If you pass the driver’s test, the BMV will photograph you and collect some additional information, and a staff member will prepare your license.  You can leave with your valid Indiana driver’s license.

If you lose your learner’s permit, then you must start from the very beginning and bring in all your documents again.

If you lose your permanent license, you must start all over again with the learner’s permit.

If your license or permit is taken from you by a police officer, then you may have to wait awhile before being allowed to reapply.  Again, you would start with the necessary documentation for a learner’s permit.