Getting Your Permit and License
Getting A Permit at Age 15 and CDEs
- Must be at least 15 years old
- BMV Required Documents & Certificate of Enrollment (CDE) from Signals
- Pass the Indiana Permit Test
Getting a Permit at Age 16 or Older
- Must be at least 16 years old
- BMV Required Documents
- Pass the Indiana Permit Test
Getting a License After Completed Driver Education
- Have your permit for at least 180 days
- Must have at least 16 years and 90 days old
- Minimum of 50 practice hours while you have your permit
- 6 Hours of Drive Lessons with an Instructor
- Pass the Road Test
Getting a License Without Driver Education
- Have your permit for at least 180 days
- Must be at least 16 years and 270 days old
- Minimum of 50 practice hours while you have your permit
- Pass the Road Test
The Tests
Permit Test
The Indiana Permit test is gong to be 50 multiple choice questions. 16 of these questions will be signs, and 34 questions will be based on other sections of the manual. Every single question on the test comes directly from the Indiana Driver’s Manual, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the manual before taking your test.
When you are ready to take the permit test, you will just need to take all of your required documentation to the BMV and let them know you would like to take the test. You are not required to make an appointment for the test, but you do want to make sure that you do not arrive within the last hour that they are open.
There is no cost to attempt the test, but if you do not pass, you will need to wait until the next day to try again. You can try as many times as necessary to pass the test.
Road Test
Having completed Driver Education, you will have the option of testing either with the BMV or with Signals. Taking this test at the BMV is free, however you will need to supply your own vehicle. Completing the test with a driving school will be a $45 fee, but you will have the vehicle provided for you, and in many cases you can take the test with the same instructor that completed your lessons. The test itself will be the exact same whether you test with a school or at the BMV. Which is the better option can depend entirely on your preferences.
If you take the test at the BMV, you will be able to receive your license immediately after passing the test. If you test with your school, they should issue you paperwork that you can take to the BMV to trade in for your license.
