The Indiana state ID is an invaluable document for residents who cannot – or do not – want to drive. There is a variety of common scenarios where you may be required to provide formal identification, including at the bank, when speaking with a police officer or when buying alcohol. An ID card allows you to provide the required identification during these scenarios. Because it does not give you driving privileges, the card is easier to get than a drivers license. This means you are not required to take any driver-related tests in order to obtain your credentials.

To get an Indiana identification card successfully, it is essential to learn the associated requirements, including what documentation you need to supply, how much the credential costs and how to determine whether you qualify. Understanding how to replace your card if it gets lost, or renew it when it expires, is equally important.

Indiana DMV ID Requirements

Indiana DMV state ID requirements are less strict than the requirements for getting your driver’s license. This means you can get an ID, no matter your age. In fact, a child ID card may be necessary in a variety of situations, such as when boarding a domestic flight.

Indiana ID card requirements also allow you to get an ID without taking any DMV-related tests. This includes voiding the requirement for a vision or medical exam.

There are only two, main requirements of which you need to be mindful when applying for a non-driver ID in Indiana. These include:

  1. You can only hold one type of Indiana ID at a time. If your driver’s license is still valid, you must turn it in before you are allowed to get an ID. If your driver’s license is expired, you do not need to surrender it in order to get your ID.
  2. The Indiana DMV state ID is only available to residents of the state. You do not need to be a citizen of the United States, though, in order to successfully obtain one.

You can get a DMV identification card if you are not a permanent resident, but this card will expire once you no longer have a residence in Indiana.

What do you need to get an ID in Indiana?

There are no specific documents needed for a state ID; instead, there is a number of documents you can choose from to prove four facts about yourself. The documents required for a state ID need to prove:

  • Your identity. This is usually done with either a passport or birth certificate.
  • Your right to be in the United States. In the vast majority of cases, this is the same document used to prove your identity.
  • Your Social Security Number, or SSN. This is usually proven with a Social Security card, but you may also use a W-2, 1099 or a paystub. If you choose to use a paystub, it must have both your name and SSN printed on it.
  • Your residency. This can be done with a variety of documents, including bank correspondence, a utility bill, a W-2, a voter registration card, an insurance policy, a rental agreement or a mortgage statement.

You only need one document proving your identity and Social Security Number. In most cases, you will not need to bring an extra document to prove your right to be in the United States. You will need to bring two documents proving your residency, however, The document requirements to get an Indiana DMV new ID are the same for adults and minors.

To pay the DMV ID card fee, you can use cash, a check, a money order, a debit card or a credit card. The state accepts Visa and MasterCard.

How to Get an ID in Indiana

Applicants often want to know how to get ID online, because this would be the most convenient method for them to use. However, this method is not an option; instead, you must to go to the DMV to get ID, because the DMV employees need to examine your documentation, and ensure that you are who you say you are. When determining where to get state ID in Indiana, you may choose any DMV office (also referred to as a BMV office) in the state.

Typically, the application process requires you to have your picture taken. Exceptions are made for individuals who do not want their pictures taken for religious reasons.

REAL ID Cards in Indiana

After October 1, 2020, you will need a REAL ID card for the purposes of federal identification. There are several situations where you may be required to show federal ID, such as when entering a nuclear facility, but this requirement is most common for passengers boarding domestic flights in the United States.

To apply for a REAL ID is the same as the traditional ID process, as all Indiana IDs are now federally compliant. This means the documents required for REAL ID in Indiana are the same as the ones listed in the section above, titled, “What do you need to get an ID in Indiana?”

You can see if you have a REAL ID-compliant credential, already, by looking for a star in the upper right corner of your card. If your ID has a star, it is government-compliant. To fly domestically after October 1, 2020, you will need to either get a new identification card or get a passport.

It is important to note that while passport may be used as a substitute for a REAL ID card, a REAL ID card may not be used as a substitute for a passport.

You can also get a an ID card for minors that is REAL ID-compliant, but the child identification card does not have to be compliant in order for him or her to fly with a companion. Some airports require such credentials for minors, while others do not. However, whether or not the airport requires the child to have an ID, his or her companion’s REAL ID credential will waive the need for him or her to have REAL ID.

How to Renew or Replace a State ID in Indiana

In most circumstances, if you lost ID card credentials, you will be able to get a replacement ID card in the mail. You will not be able to get a duplicate, however, if the one you lost has expired, or if the DMV does not have a picture of you on file. Also, note that you cannot change the information on your ID when getting a duplicate.

If you lost your ID out of state, you can have a temporary one sent to you by filling out, and submitting, the Request for Interim/Extension License or Military Extension Letter – State Form 54580 to the below address:

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Credential Management
100 N. Senate Ave., Rm. N414
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Keep in mind that this temporary ID only lasts for 30 days. The ID replacement cost and renewal fee are the same as the price of getting a new card.

DMV ID Costs in Indiana

How much does an ID cost in Indiana? The DMV ID cost is the same, regardless of how old you are, or where you live. The state keeps it simple; whether or not you have previously applied for an ID, you will always need to pay the same price, which is $9.

Last updated on Wednesday, March 4 2020.