What Gets Your License Suspended in Indiana

Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) suspends licenses for specific violations — most commonly unpaid traffic tickets, failure to appear in court, unpaid child support, or accumulating too many points on your driving record. A suspension means you cannot legally drive; it is different from a revocation (which is permanent or very long-term) and different from a restriction (which limits when or where you can drive). The BMV does not suspend on a whim — each suspension has a reason tied to state law, and you can find out exactly why yours was suspended by checking your BMV record online or calling the BMV directly.

The most common reason is unpaid traffic fines. When you get a ticket and do not pay it or fail to show up for your court date, the court reports this to the BMV, which then suspends your driving privileges. Another frequent cause is accumulating 12 or more points within a 24-month period — Indiana's point system assigns points for violations like speeding, reckless driving, and at-fault accidents. You can also be suspended for unpaid child support, driving without insurance, or refusing a breath test during a DUI stop.

Key Takeaways

  • Indiana suspends licenses most often for unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, or accumulating 12 or more points in 24 months.
  • You can check why your license was suspended by logging into your BMV account online or calling the BMV at 317-615-7293.
  • To lift a suspension, you must resolve the underlying reason — pay the fine, appear in court, clear child support arrears, or wait out the suspension period.
  • Once the reason is resolved, you must request reinstatement from the BMV, which usually takes a few business days to process.
  • Driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense in Indiana and can result in arrest, fines, and additional suspension time.

Finding Out Why Your License Was Suspended

The BMV will not always notify you when ready when a suspension takes effect, so many drivers do not realize their license is suspended until they are pulled over. The fastest way to find out the reason is to check your BMV record online through the Indiana BMV website. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth. The online record shows your current status, any active suspensions, and the reason for each one.

If you do not have online access or prefer to speak with someone, you can call the BMV at 317-615-7293 during business hours. Have your driver's license number ready. The BMV staff can tell you the exact reason for the suspension, the date it began, and what you need to do to resolve it. You can also visit a BMV branch in person, though calling ahead often saves time.

Unpaid Traffic Fines and Court Failures

If your suspension is due to an unpaid ticket or failure to appear in court, you must contact the court that issued the ticket. The BMV cannot lift the suspension — only the court can. Look at your ticket for the court name and location, or search for the court online using the county where you received the ticket. Call the court's traffic division and explain that you want to resolve the ticket.

You have several options: pay the fine in full, set up a payment plan, request a court date to contest the ticket, or ask about traffic school (which may reduce or dismiss the fine in some cases). Once the court receives your payment or resolves the case, it will notify the BMV. The BMV will then lift the suspension, though this can take a few business days. Do not assume the suspension is gone when ready after you pay — check your BMV record again after a week to confirm.

Point Accumulation and Suspension Length

If you accumulated 12 or more points in 24 months, your suspension is automatic under Indiana law. The length of the suspension depends on how many points you have: 12 to 14 points results in a 30-day suspension; 15 to 17 points results in a 60-day suspension; 18 or more points results in a 150-day suspension. You cannot shorten this suspension by paying a fee or taking a course — you must wait out the full period.

However, you can prevent future suspensions by keeping your points below 12 in any 24-month window. Points expire after 24 months from the violation date, so an older ticket will eventually drop off your record. Once your suspension period ends, you must request reinstatement from the BMV before you can drive legally again. Reinstatement is not automatic.

Requesting Reinstatement After Suspension Ends

Once you have resolved the reason for your suspension — paid the fine, appeared in court, cleared child support arrears, or completed the suspension period — you must formally request reinstatement. You can do this online through the BMV website, by mail, or in person at a BMV branch. If you are requesting reinstatement online, log into your BMV account and follow the reinstatement prompts. There is no fee for reinstatement in most cases.

By mail, send a letter to the Indiana BMV with your name, driver's license number, date of birth, and a brief statement that you are requesting reinstatement. Include proof that you have resolved the underlying issue — a court receipt, child support clearance letter, or a statement that your suspension period has ended. Mail it to the BMV address listed on their website. Processing usually takes 3 to 5 business days after the BMV receives your request.

In person, bring your driver's license (or state ID if your license is suspended), proof of resolution, and a completed reinstatement form. BMV staff can process it on the spot in many cases. Call ahead to confirm what documents you need and whether your local branch handles reinstatement requests.

What Happens If You Drive on a Suspended License

Driving while your license is suspended is a criminal offense in Indiana. If you are pulled over, you can be arrested, fined up to $500 for a first offense, and have your license suspended for an additional period — often 180 days or longer. A second or subsequent offense carries steeper penalties, including possible jail time. The arrest will also appear on your criminal record, which can affect employment, housing, and other opportunities.

Even if you are not pulled over, driving on a suspended license creates legal and financial risk. If you are in an accident, your insurance may refuse to cover damages because you were driving illegally. You could be held personally liable for all costs. The safest choice is to stop driving until your license is reinstated, use public transportation, or arrange rides with others.

Other Reasons for Suspension in Indiana

Beyond unpaid fines and points, Indiana suspends licenses for unpaid child support — the state's child support enforcement agency reports arrears to the BMV, which then suspends your driving privileges. To lift this suspension, you must contact your local child support office and either pay the arrears in full or set up a payment plan. Once the office confirms you are current, it will notify the BMV.

Driving without insurance also triggers suspension. If you are caught driving uninsured, you must obtain insurance and provide proof to the BMV. Refusing a breath test during a DUI stop results in a one-year suspension under Indiana's implied consent law — this suspension is separate from any criminal charges and cannot be waived. If you are suspended for this reason, you may be able to request a hearing with the BMV to contest the suspension, but you must do so within 10 days of the suspension notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive to work if my license is suspended?

No. A suspension means you cannot drive for any reason, including work. Driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense. If you need to drive for work, you can request a work permit (also called a hardship license) from the BMV in some cases, but this requires proving genuine hardship and is not granted automatically.

How long does it take for the BMV to process a reinstatement request?

Online reinstatement usually processes within 24 hours. By mail, allow 3 to 5 business days after the BMV receives your request. In person at a BMV branch, processing can happen the same day. Check your BMV record online after a few days to confirm your license status has changed.

Will my suspension show up on a background check?

A license suspension itself does not appear on a criminal background check. However, if you were arrested for driving on a suspended license, that arrest will show up. Unpaid fines that led to suspension may also appear on civil or financial records depending on the type of check.

What if I disagree with the reason for my suspension?

If you believe your suspension was issued in error, contact the BMV directly at 317-615-7293 to explain. If the suspension is due to a court matter, you may need to contact the court to dispute the underlying ticket or charge. The BMV can only lift a suspension if the reason for it has been resolved or removed.

Do I need to take a test to get my license back after suspension?

For most suspensions, you do not need to retake the written or road test — reinstatement straightforward restores your driving privileges. However, if your suspension was due to a DUI or refusal of a breath test, you may be required to complete a substance abuse program or pass an alcohol education course before reinstatement is granted.