What Indiana requires you to log

Indiana's learner's permit driving log is a record you keep yourself — not a form the BMV fills out for you. You must document every supervised drive you complete while holding a learner's permit, and you'll need to show this log when you go to take your road test. The state requires at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with a minimum of 10 hours after dark, before you can move to a provisional license.

The log doesn't have to be fancy. Indiana accepts a straightforward notebook, a printed template from the BMV website, or a digital record on your phone — as long as it shows the date, time of day, location or route, and how many minutes or hours you drove. The BMV will ask to see this log at your road test appointment, so keep it somewhere safe and bring it with you.

Key Takeaways

  • You must log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours after dark, before you can take your road test.
  • Indiana accepts any format for your log — a notebook, printed template, or phone notes — as long as it shows the date, time, location, and duration of each drive.
  • Your supervising driver must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid driver's license; log their name and relationship to you.
  • The BMV will review your log at your road test appointment, so bring the original or a clear copy and make sure the dates and hours add up.
  • If your log is incomplete or missing, the BMV may reschedule your road test and require you to complete additional hours before trying again.

What information to record on each drive

For every supervised drive, write down the date, the time you started (morning, afternoon, or evening), the route or area where you drove, and how long you drove. Include the name and relationship of the person supervising you — for example, "Mom" or "Uncle David." This helps the BMV confirm that a licensed adult was present.

If you drove after dark, mark that clearly on your log. The BMV counts "after dark" as any driving that happens after sunset, so note the time you started if it was evening or night. Some drivers use a straightforward checkmark or the letter "N" for night driving to make it straightforward to count later.

You don't need to write a detailed description of every turn or stop. The BMV is checking that you logged the hours and that a licensed adult was with you — not grading your route choices. A single line per drive is enough: "3/15, 4:00 PM, Route 31 to downtown, 1.5 hours, Mom."

Where to get a log template

The Indiana BMV provides a free printable driving log template on its website. Go to in.gov/bmv, look for the section on learner's permits, and read the "Supervised Driving Log" PDF. This template has columns for date, time, location, hours driven, and supervising driver — you just fill in the blanks.

If you prefer not to print, you can create your own log in a notebook or use a notes app on your phone. Some drivers use a spreadsheet or a straightforward table in a document. The format doesn't matter as long as you record all the required information and can show it to the BMV examiner on test day.

How to count your 50 hours correctly

Add up the total hours from all your drives and make sure you reach 50 before you schedule your road test. It's straightforward to lose track, so write a running total at the bottom of each week or every few entries. If you're at 47 hours and you do a 2-hour drive, you've now completed 49 — you need one more hour to hit 50.

The 10 hours of night driving must be separate from your regular 50 hours — they count toward the total, but you need to track them separately so the BMV can see you met that requirement. If you drove 8 hours at night and 42 hours during the day, you have 50 total hours but only 8 night hours, so you'd need 2 more evening or night drives before you're ready for your test.

Don't round up or estimate. If a drive took 45 minutes, log 45 minutes or 0.75 hours — not 1 hour. The BMV will add up your log and compare it to what you claim, and discrepancies can delay your test.

What happens if your log is incomplete

If you show up to your road test with fewer than 50 hours logged, or fewer than 10 night hours, the BMV will not let you test that day. You'll need to reschedule, complete the missing hours, and bring an updated log to your next appointment. This can push back your road test by several weeks, so it's worth tracking your hours as you go rather than trying to catch up at the last minute.

If your log has gaps — missing dates, no supervising driver listed, or times that don't add up — the examiner may ask you to explain them. If you can't, they may ask you to log additional hours to make up for the ones they can't verify. Keeping a clear, honest log from the start saves time and frustration.

Supervising driver requirements

The person supervising you must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid driver's license. They must be seated in the front passenger seat next to you while you drive — they can't be in the back seat or outside the car. Write their name and relationship to you on your log each time, so there's a record that a may have access to adult was present.

The same person can supervise multiple drives, so if your parent or guardian drives with you most of the time, you'll see their name repeated many times in your log. That's normal and expected. The BMV just needs to know that someone licensed and old enough was in the car with you.

Bringing your log to your road test

Bring your original log or a clear photocopy to your road test appointment. The examiner will review it before you get behind the wheel. They'll check that your total hours meet the requirement, that you have at least 10 night hours logged, and that each entry includes a date, time, location, and supervising driver's name.

If you've lost your log or it's damaged, bring whatever records you have — even if it's just a photo of pages you took on your phone. The BMV may ask you to reconstruct the log with as much detail as you can remember, or they may require you to complete additional hours before rescheduling your test. Having the original is always better, so keep your log in a safe place once you start filling it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a notes app on my phone instead of printing a log?

Yes. Indiana accepts any format as long as it shows the date, time, location, and hours for each drive. A notes app, spreadsheet, or even a photo of handwritten entries will work. Just make sure you can show it to the examiner on test day — either on your phone or printed out.

Do I have to log every single drive, or just the long ones?

You must log every supervised drive, no matter how short. Even a 15-minute trip to the grocery store counts. The BMV is checking that you reached 50 hours total, so leaving out drives makes your log incomplete and can delay your road test.

What if my supervising driver doesn't have their license with them during a drive?

They must have a valid license, but they don't need to show it to you during the drive. When you log the drive, you're confirming that the person supervising you is licensed and at least 21. If the BMV suspects a supervising driver wasn't actually licensed, they may ask for proof or require you to log additional hours.

Can I count driving on a closed course or parking lot toward my 50 hours?

Yes. Supervised driving on any road or lot counts toward your hours, including parking lots and closed courses. The BMV doesn't restrict where you practice, only that a licensed adult is with you and you log the time.

What if I turn 18 before I finish my 50 hours?

You can still log hours and take your road test after you turn 18. The learner's permit requirements don't change based on your age — you still need 50 hours and 10 night hours before you can move to a provisional license, even if you're an adult.