How to learn about your Indiana license is suspended right now
You can check your license status through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) website without paying a fee. Go to in.gov/bmv, select "License Status Inquiry," and enter your driver license number and date of birth. The system will tell you when ready whether your license is active, suspended, revoked, or cancelled.
If you cannot access the website or need to speak with someone, call the BMV at 317-615-7293. Have your license number ready. The BMV can also tell you why your license was suspended — the reason matters because it determines what you must do to get it back.
If you are stopped by police and unsure of your status, do not drive. A suspended license carries criminal penalties in Indiana, and driving on a suspended license is a separate offense from whatever caused the suspension in the first place.
Key Takeaways
- Check your license status free through in.gov/bmv or by calling 317-615-7293; the system shows your status within seconds.
- The BMV will tell you the reason for suspension — whether it is unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, medical suspension, or another cause.
- Driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense separate from the original violation, and penalties increase with each offense.
- The steps to restore your license depend entirely on why it was suspended, so you must know the reason before you can fix it.
Common reasons your Indiana license gets suspended
The most frequent cause is unpaid traffic fines or court costs. If you received a ticket and did not pay the fine by the important date, the court reports you to the BMV, which suspends your license automatically. The suspension stays in place until you pay the full amount owed, including any collection fees the court added.
Failure to appear in court is another common trigger. If you were ordered to appear for a traffic or criminal hearing and did not show up, the judge can suspend your license when ready. This suspension does not lift until you appear in court, resolve the case, or get the failure-to-appear charge dismissed.
Medical suspensions happen when the BMV receives a report from a doctor, hospital, or law enforcement that you may be medically unfit to drive — usually because of a seizure, loss of consciousness, or a condition that affects your ability to control a vehicle. You cannot straightforward wait this out; you must submit medical documentation to the BMV proving you are safe to drive again.
Other reasons include accumulating too many points on your driving record, driving without insurance, child support arrears, or failure to pay a reinstatement fee from a previous suspension. Each reason has its own path to restoration.
What happens if you drive on a suspended license in Indiana
Driving with a suspended license is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail. A second offense within five years becomes a Class A misdemeanor with penalties up to $5,000 and one year in jail. A third or subsequent offense is a felony.
Beyond criminal charges, you will face additional fines, your license suspension will be extended, and you may be required to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Your insurance company may also drop you, making it nearly impossible to drive legally even after your suspension ends.
Police can stop you for any traffic violation and will discover your suspended status through their computer system. Even a minor infraction — a broken taillight, expired registration — becomes a much larger problem if your license is suspended.
Steps to restore your license after suspension
First, contact the BMV or the court that suspended your license to confirm the exact reason and what must be done. Do not assume you know why — the BMV can tell you in one call.
If the suspension is for unpaid fines, contact the court that issued the ticket. Ask what the total amount owed is, including court costs and collection fees. Pay in full by the method the court accepts — usually by phone, online, or in person. Once the court confirms payment, they notify the BMV, and your suspension lifts within one to three business days.
If you failed to appear in court, you must appear in person or have an attorney appear on your behalf. Contact the court clerk to reschedule. Bring proof of the original ticket or citation. Once you appear and resolve the case, the court removes the failure-to-appear report, and the BMV lifts the suspension.
For medical suspensions, obtain a statement from your doctor or specialist confirming you are medically safe to drive. Submit it to the BMV along with the form they provide. The BMV may require an examination by a state-designated physician. Once approved, your license is restored.
If your suspension is for accumulating too many points, you must wait out the suspension period — typically 30 to 180 days depending on how many points you had. You cannot shorten this wait. Once the period ends, the BMV automatically restores your license.
Reinstatement fees and what they cover
Indiana charges a reinstatement fee to restore a suspended license. The fee varies based on the reason for suspension and ranges from $50 to $500. You must pay this fee in addition to any fines, court costs, or other amounts owed.
The reinstatement fee is non-refundable and must be paid before the BMV will process your restoration. You can pay by phone, online at in.gov/bmv, or in person at a BMV branch. Payment does not may provide when ready restoration — the BMV still needs to confirm that the underlying reason for suspension has been resolved (fines paid, court appearance made, medical clearance received, etc.).
If you are unsure whether you owe a reinstatement fee, ask the BMV when you call to check your status. They will tell you the exact amount and what it covers.
How long suspension stays on your record
Once your license is restored, the suspension itself does not disappear from your driving record, but it stops affecting your ability to drive. The suspension will appear on your record for seven years from the date it was lifted, which can affect your insurance rates and may be considered if you are charged with another traffic offense.
Points from traffic violations that caused the suspension also remain on your record for a set period — usually two years from the violation date for minor infractions, longer for serious ones. During that time, accumulating additional points can trigger another suspension.
If you are trying to restore your license after suspension, focus on the when ready steps: paying what is owed, appearing in court if required, or obtaining medical clearance. The long-term record consequences are secondary to getting your license back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a temporary license while my suspension is being resolved?
Indiana does not issue temporary or hardship licenses during a suspension. You cannot drive legally until the suspension is fully lifted. If you need to drive for work or medical reasons, you must resolve the suspension first — pay fines, appear in court, or obtain medical clearance — so the BMV can restore your license.
What if I moved out of state — does my Indiana suspension follow me?
Yes. Indiana is part of the Driver License Compact, an agreement between states to share suspension and revocation information. If your Indiana license is suspended, other states can see that suspension and may refuse to issue you a license there. You must resolve the Indiana suspension before you can obtain a valid license in another state.
How do I know if my license is suspended for points or for something else?
The BMV will tell you the specific reason when you check your status online or call. Do not guess. The reason determines what you must do to restore it — paying fines is different from appearing in court, which is different from waiting out a points suspension. One call to 317-615-7293 gives you the answer.
Can I appeal a suspension if I think it was a mistake?
Yes, but the process depends on the reason. If the suspension was for unpaid fines, you can dispute the amount owed through the court. If it was for failure to appear, you can ask the court to set aside the failure-to-appear charge. For medical suspensions, you can submit additional medical evidence. Contact the BMV or the court that issued the suspension to learn the appeal process for your specific situation.
What if I cannot afford to pay the reinstatement fee right now?
Contact the BMV to ask about payment plans. Some courts also offer payment plans for fines. If you cannot pay, your suspension remains in place, and you cannot drive legally. There is no way around the reinstatement fee — it must be paid before restoration.