State guide
Indiana
Indiana requires a VIN inspection for any vehicle from another state that is being titled in Indiana, including vehicles owned by new residents. Indiana also has a separate special-identification-number process for vehicles without a VIN or with an altered or defaced VIN, and rebuilt salvage applications use restoration paperwork plus a police inspection section.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- When a VIN verification is required
- Indiana requires a vehicle inspection for any vehicle from another state being titled in Indiana, and it requires an MVIN application when a vehicle has no VIN or its VIN is altered or defaced; rebuilt salvage applications use restoration paperwork that includes a police inspection section on State Form 44606.
- Who can do it
- Out-of-state title inspections may be done at any Indiana branch or BMV certified full or partial service provider at no charge, or by law enforcement; State Form 39530 also authorizes military police assigned to an Indiana post, qualified contract-provider employees, and certain licensed dealers.
- Official form
- Physical Inspection of a Vehicle or Watercraft (State Form 39530); Application for Special Identification Number – Vehicle or Watercraft (State Form 12907); Affidavit For Restoration For A Salvage Motor Vehicle (State Form 44606).
- Fee
- No charge at an Indiana branch or BMV certified full or partial service provider; law enforcement may charge up to five dollars ($5.00); MVIN application fee $10.00; salvage restoration packet lists a $15 title application fee.
- Official instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in Indiana
Official BMV page for out-of-state title transfers explaining Indiana’s vehicle inspection requirement, who may inspect, and the published fee rule.
Official Indiana VIN inspection form with approved inspector categories and law-enforcement fee language.
Official BMV page linking the salvage restoration and MVIN application packets.
Official packet for vehicles with no VIN or an altered/defaced VIN, including the published $10.00 MVIN fee.
Official rebuilt-salvage packet listing State Form 44606 and title fees.
Key facts for Indiana
- Any vehicle from another state being titled in Indiana must have a vehicle inspection.
- Indiana says branch offices and BMV certified full or partial service providers perform that inspection at no charge.
- A law enforcement officer may perform the Indiana inspection and may charge up to five dollars ($5.00).
- State Form 39530 allows inspections by BMV staff, police, military police assigned to an Indiana post, qualified contract-provider employees, and certain licensed dealers.
- If a vehicle has no VIN or the VIN is altered or defaced, Indiana requires an MVIN application before title or registration.
- The MVIN packet publishes a $10.00 special identification number application fee.
Official VIN inspection locations in Indiana
| Location | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana BMV branches | Not published* | Not published* | The BMV says any Indiana branch may perform out-of-state title inspections at no charge. |
| BMV Partial Service Provider Locations | Not published* | Not published* | The BMV lists this statewide certified provider program for title-related services; additional convenience fees may apply. |
| Auto Data Direct | Indianapolis | 317-322-0020 | Listed by the BMV as a partial service provider location. |
| Computerized Vehicle Registration (CVR) | Not published* | 800-333-6995 | Listed by the BMV as a partial service provider offering title and registration processing services. |
| Vitu | Indianapolis | 888-408-7507 | Listed by the BMV as a partial service provider location. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- For an out-of-state title transfer, get the VIN inspection first at a branch, provider, or police agency before filing the title packet.
- If law enforcement does the inspection, make sure you leave with completed State Form 39530.
- If the vehicle lacks a usable VIN, use the MVIN packet instead of trying to title it as a normal transfer.
Not seeing your location or county?
Not every location publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Indiana's population center, for comparison only):
- County sheriff offices, Kentucky · about 168 miles
- Post provost or similar officer at the camp, post, or station, Kentucky · about 168 miles
- Another state's vehicle inspection program, Kentucky · about 168 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Titles: Buying & Selling a Vehicle
Website →Phone: (800) 457-8283 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Indiana page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.