Private-party transfer in Indiana: closing the sale without surprises
Steps for buyer and seller, documents, payment and state-specific plate conditions.
A private sale calls for checking the title, payment, plate and applicable state procedures. This guide is written for both sides of the table, with Indiana's rules.
The place and the moment
Ask the titling office (At any Indiana BMV branch. In a private sale, you pay the sales tax there when you apply for the title. The VIN inspection for an out-of-state car is also free at a BMV branch or at a BMV-authorized service provider. If you are registering the car in Lake County or Porter County, it needs an emissions test and tampering inspection every two years, as long as it was made after 1975 and its GVWR is 9,000 pounds or less; the four latest model years are exempt) in advance about accepted signatures, documents, appointments and payments. Where available, coordinate the handover with that office and verify payment with the issuing bank before releasing the car or documents.
Step by step
| # | Seller | Buyer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm the title is in your name and lien-free. If there is a loan, get the bank's release before listing. | Ask for the VIN and check title, recalls and history before seeing the car. |
| 2 | Allow an independent inspection. Agree in writing how and when it will take place. | Pre-purchase inspection with your own mechanic. |
| 3 | Agree the total price in writing on a bill of sale: VIN, year, make, model, price, date, names, signatures. Two copies. | Same. The bill of sale is your proof of price for the tax. |
| 4 | On the title: your signature, the buyer's name and address, price, date and the applicable odometer disclosure, including exemptions and any required mileage-discrepancy indicators. The seller completes the odometer statement, sale date, price and buyer information on the title itself (federal law, 49 CFR 580). If it does not fit on the title, State Form 43230 is used. | Check that the VIN on the title is the car's and that the person signing is the titled owner. |
| 5 | Receive payment: cashier's check verified at the issuing bank, confirmed transfer, or cash inside the bank. | Pay only when the signed title is in your hand. |
| 6 | Handle the seller's plate. Follow the state conditions below for removal, transfer or return. | Confirm the registration, permit and plate you need before driving; do not assume you can use the seller's. |
| 7 | Confirm the applicable sale notice, plate return or registration cancellation; keep written proof of the handover. | Confirm the required documents, fees, taxes and deadline with the agency, including the event that starts the deadline. Bring the applicable insurance or financial-responsibility documents. |
| 8 | Ask your insurer when to cancel or transfer coverage, and first confirm the registration and plate conditions. | Confirm the coverage or proof of financial responsibility required for your transaction and before driving. |
The plate in Indiana
The plate stays with the seller: the seller removes it at the time of sale and can move it to another car they own. It does not have to be returned to the BMV; if discarded, it must be made unusable. The buyer has 45 days from the purchase to apply for the title and 45 days to register the car (if you just moved to Indiana, you get 60 days from becoming a resident for every car you own). With the signed title already in your name in the car, you may drive it for up to 72 hours after the purchase date with no plate, but only by the most direct route to your home or place of storage, to an emissions inspection station, or to a BMV branch to register it. If you do not have the title with you, you can transfer a plate from a car you already own or buy a 96-Hour Temporary Delivery Permit ($18) at a branch, good for those same three destinations.
What each one must bring
Seller
- Title (or printout of the electronic one)
- Photo ID
- Lien release, if any
- Signed bill of sale
- A screwdriver for the plate
Buyer
- State forms (State Form 205, State Form 39530, State Form 43230)
- Photo ID
- Insurance card
- Payment for fees and tax
- If out of state: whatever VIN verification the state requires
Three special situations
- Lost title. The seller requests a duplicate before selling. Don't accept "I'll send it later."
- Two owners on the title. If the names are joined by "and," both sign. With "or," one is usually enough.
- The seller is an heir or holds a power of attorney. Extra documentation is needed (estate papers or POA). Confirm at the office before paying.
Keep the records; check the official process
Sources
- Indiana BMV — Buying & Selling a Vehicle
- Indiana BMV — Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26)
- Indiana BMV — Title Forms
- Indiana BMV — State Form 205 (R14 / 4-26)
- Indiana BMV — Electronic Titles Overview
- Indiana BMV — Vehicle Registrations
- Indiana BMV — Proof of Financial Responsibility
- Indiana Department of Insurance — Auto Insurance
- Indiana BMV — Temporary Permits (96-hour delivery permit, 30-day permit)
- Indiana BMV — Vehicle Emissions Testing Program (Lake and Porter counties)
- IN.gov FAQ (Indiana State Police) — Driving a privately bought vehicle home without plates (72 hours)
- 49 CFR Part 580 — Federal odometer disclosure requirements
This guide informs; it is not legal or financial advice, nor an offer, quote or appraisal. Every figure carries its source and date; check it is still current before you decide.