Learn about driving regulations and special initiatives aimed at keeping both senior drivers and Indiana’s highways safe.
While the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) enforces a plethora of laws and regulations that apply to drivers of all ages and stages, the state imposes certain unique requirements and limits on senior drivers.
The Indiana state standards are discussed in further detail below, but many of them concentrate on recognizing and dealing with elderly drivers who may have become risky. Indiana, in particular:
Drivers 75 and older must renew their licenses in person every three years; drivers 85 and older must renew in person every two years; vision tests are required at renewal for all drivers 75 and older, and requests to conduct an unsafe driver investigation can be made by anyone with personal knowledge of the driver’s ability.
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Indiana License Renewal Procedures for Senior Citizens
Drivers above the age of 75 must renew in person every three years.
Those above the age of 85 must renew in person every two years.
Drivers under the age of 75 may renew their licenses online every six years.
Renewal requires a vision exam.
If your license has been expired for more than six months, you must take a written exam.
If the BMV receives a complaint or has concerns about a driver’s eyesight or medical condition, a road test is required.
License Restrictions That Might Exist
After performing a driving test and discussing potential limits with the driver, the BMV may impose restrictions or conditions on his or her driver’s license.
The most prevalent limitation for senior drivers is the need for corrective lenses or glasses.
Other typical conditions that the BMV may place on older drivers in Indiana include:
Vehicles with power steering and automatic transmission have exterior rearview mirrors that are only visible during the day.
no driving cars equipped with air brakes
Time of day limits—for example, no driving during rush hour traffic supports to guarantee a suitable driving position—as well as other restrictions judged required to accommodate a medical condition—are examples of such restrictions.
In Indiana, How to Request an Unsafe Driver Investigation
The BMV will receive information from almost anybody who is worried about a driver’s capacity to drive safely—while keeping the source of the complaint anonymous.
To request that the BMV investigate driving credentials, send a letter identifying the driver who is the source of the concern and providing detailed grounds for the request. Concerns from individuals with knowledge of the person’s driving competence may also be included in the documentation. Send the letter, together with any extra pertinent information, to:
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is located at 100 N. Senate Avenue, Room N-402 in Indianapolis, IN 46204.
How to Restore a Driver’s License
Review the Reinstating Your Driving Privileges page for information on how to reclaim a license that has been suspended or revoked.
How to Obtain Parking Placards or License Plates for a Disabled Driver
If a competent medical expert validates the condition, parking placards and license plates may be granted to drivers with restricted mobility.
Placards and license plates are available for people who:
have a temporary or permanent physical disability that requires the use of a wheelchair, a walker, braces, or crutches have temporarily or permanently lost the use of one or both legs\s have restricted mobility, either temporarily or permanently, due to a pulmonary or cardiovascular disability, arthritic condition, or orthopedic or neurological impairment, or\s are permanently blind or visually impaired.
The following steps must be taken in order to receive a disability placard or plate:
Complete and sign an Application for Disability Parking Placard or Disability Plate, which is downloaded from the Drivers With Disabilities website and includes information on relevant costs and parking placard validity.
Complete the Practitioner’s Certification component of the application with a licensed physician, advanced practice nurse, chiropractor, podiatrist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, or medical officer of the armed forces, US Public Health Service, or Veterans Administration.
A temporary disability placard costs $5; permanent disability placards and plates are free.
Mail the completed form to the Indiana License branch office nearest you.
Learn More About Indiana Senior Driving Laws
The BMV website contains basic information for Indiana drivers, such as instructions for establishing and accessing an online account that allows drivers to access their records.