What a hardship license is and who can get one in Indiana
A hardship license in Indiana is a restricted driving permit that lets you drive to specific places—usually work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered programs—even though your license is suspended. You cannot use it for any other reason. Indiana calls this a Probationary License or Hardship Permit, depending on why your license was suspended.
You can request one if your suspension is for unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, or failure to pay child support. You cannot get a hardship license if your suspension is for a DUI conviction, reckless driving, or a serious safety violation—those suspensions have no hardship option. The reason your license was suspended determines whether you are may be able to access and what you must do to get one.
Indiana does not automatically give you a hardship license. You have to request it, and the court or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) must approve it. The process and approval depend on why you were suspended and which agency suspended you.
Key Takeaways
- A hardship license lets you drive only to work, school, medical care, and court-ordered programs while your license is suspended.
- You can request one only for suspensions tied to unpaid fines, failure to appear, or failure to pay child support—not for DUI or safety violations.
- If the court suspended your license, you request a hardship license from the court that issued the suspension; if the BMV suspended it, you request one from the BMV.
- You will need to show proof of financial hardship, a reason for each trip you want to make, and sometimes proof that you have paid part of what you owe.
- The approval process takes one to four weeks, and you must follow the restrictions exactly or your hardship license will be revoked.
Suspensions issued by a court versus the BMV
Indiana has two different agencies that can suspend your license, and you request a hardship license from whichever one suspended you. If a court suspended your license because you did not pay a fine or did not show up for a court date, you request the hardship license from that same court. If the BMV suspended your license—usually for accumulating too many points or for a license-related violation—you request it from the BMV.
You can find out which agency suspended you by checking your suspension notice or by calling the BMV at 317-615-7293. Have your driver's license number ready. The BMV can tell you the reason for the suspension and which agency to contact. If you cannot find the notice, the BMV can look it up by your name and date of birth.
This matters because the forms, fees, and approval timeline are different for each route. A court-issued hardship license may require you to show up in person; a BMV hardship license is usually handled by mail or online.
How to request a hardship license from a court
If a court suspended your license, go to the courthouse in the county where the suspension was issued. Bring your driver's license, the suspension notice, and proof of financial hardship. Proof of hardship can be a recent pay stub, a letter from your employer, a utility bill, or a statement explaining why you need to drive (for example, to get to work or to attend a required treatment program).
Ask the clerk for the Petition for Probationary License form. Fill it out completely, listing every place you need to drive to: your workplace address, your doctor's office, your child's school, or any court-ordered program. Be specific. "Work" is not enough; you need the street address. The court uses this list to set the conditions of your hardship license.
File the petition with the clerk and pay the filing fee, which varies by county but is usually between $25 and $75. The judge will review your petition. Some courts hold a hearing; others decide on paper. You will be notified by mail whether the petition was granted. If it is granted, you will receive instructions on how to pick up your hardship license from the BMV.
How to request a hardship license from the BMV
If the BMV suspended your license, you can request a hardship license by mail, online, or in person at a BMV branch. Start by downloading the process for Probationary License from the BMV website (in.gov/bmv) or by calling 317-615-7293 to have one mailed to you.
Fill out the process completely. You will need to list the specific reasons you need to drive and the addresses where you need to go. Attach proof of financial hardship—a recent pay stub, a letter from your employer, or a utility bill. If your suspension is for unpaid fines, you may also need to show proof that you have paid part of the amount owed or that you have set up a payment plan.
Mail the completed process to the BMV address listed on the form, or submit it in person at your local BMV branch. There is no filing fee for a BMV hardship license. The BMV will review your process and mail you a decision within one to two weeks. If approved, your hardship license will be mailed to you or you can pick it up at the BMV branch.
What you need to prove and what the restrictions will be
Indiana requires you to show financial hardship to get a hardship license. This means proving that losing your license would cause you real economic damage—you would lose your job, miss medical treatment, or be unable to care for dependents. A pay stub showing you work, a letter from your employer saying you will be fired if you do not show up, or a medical appointment letter all count as proof. A statement that you "need to drive" is not enough.
The hardship license you receive will list specific addresses and times. You can drive only to those places and only during the hours listed. Most hardship licenses allow driving to work during your shift, to medical appointments, to court-ordered programs, and to school if you are a student. You cannot drive anywhere else—not to the grocery store, not to visit family, not to run errands. If you are stopped and you are driving outside the permitted routes or times, you can be charged with driving with a suspended license.
Your hardship license is valid only while your suspension is in effect. Once you have paid all fines, completed all court-ordered programs, or resolved the reason for the suspension, your regular license will be reinstated and your hardship license becomes void.
Timeline and what happens after approval
The approval process takes one to four weeks, depending on whether you go through the court or the BMV and how quickly you submit all required documents. Court petitions sometimes take longer if a hearing is scheduled. BMV applications usually take one to two weeks.
Once you are approved, you will receive your hardship license in the mail or be told to pick it up at a BMV branch. You must carry it with you whenever you drive, along with your regular driver's license. If you are stopped by police, show both documents. If you cannot produce your hardship license, you can be cited for driving with a suspended license even if you were driving to an approved location.
If you need to change the addresses or times on your hardship license—for example, if you change jobs—you must request a modification from the same agency that issued it. This requires another petition (if court-issued) or another process (if BMV-issued). Do not assume your hardship license covers your new job address; you must update it first.
What disqualifies you and what to do if you are denied
You cannot get a hardship license if your suspension is for a DUI conviction, a reckless driving conviction, a serious safety violation, or a license suspension for medical reasons. These are permanent or long-term suspensions with no hardship option. If you were denied a hardship license, the denial letter will explain why.
If you believe you were denied in error, or if your circumstances have changed since the denial, you can request reconsideration. For court-issued suspensions, file a new petition with updated information. For BMV suspensions, submit a new process. You do not need to wait any specific amount of time, but new information (such as proof that you have paid part of the fine or completed a required program) will strengthen your case.
If your hardship license is revoked because you violated the restrictions—for example, by driving outside the permitted routes—you cannot request another one. You must wait until the original suspension is lifted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive to the grocery store or to run errands on a hardship license?
No. A hardship license covers only specific places listed on the permit: work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered programs. Grocery shopping, visiting family, and personal errands are not permitted. If you are stopped while driving to an unapproved location, you can be charged with driving with a suspended license.
What if I change jobs while I have a hardship license?
You must request a modification to your hardship license before you start the new job. Contact the agency that issued it (the court or the BMV) and provide your new work address. Do not assume your hardship license covers your new workplace. Driving to an address not listed on your permit is a violation.
How long does a hardship license last?
A hardship license is valid only while your suspension is in effect. Once you have resolved the reason for the suspension—paid all fines, completed all court-ordered programs, or satisfied the other requirement—your regular license will be reinstated and your hardship license becomes void. You do not need to do anything; the BMV will notify you when your suspension is lifted.
Can I get a hardship license if I owe child support?
Yes, if your license was suspended specifically for failure to pay child support. You can request a hardship license to drive to work or to court-ordered programs. However, you may also be required to show proof of a payment plan or recent payments toward the child support debt. Contact the court that issued the suspension for specific requirements.
What happens if I drive outside the permitted routes on my hardship license?
You can be stopped and charged with driving with a suspended license, which is a criminal offense in Indiana. The hardship license will likely be revoked, and you will not be able to request another one. You will have to wait until the original suspension is lifted to drive legally again.