Indiana Title Transfer Cost Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate the cost of transferring a vehicle title in Indiana. Fees are administered by Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV); the figures shown are the latest published amounts we could verify against the official source. County and dealer-specific charges are not included unless your state schedule lists them.
Indiana title transfer cost — quick answer
Title fee
$15.00
flat statewide fee
Motor vehicle tax
7%
of purchase price (state minimums may apply)
Deadline applies: Late filing adds penalties — check the official source for the exact deadline in your state.
Source: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — use the calculator below for your specific estimate.
Estimate your Indiana title transfer cost
Enter the sale price to see an estimated total. Numbers update as you type. County and dealer-specific add-ons are not included — see What this excludes below.
Used only to remind you that your county may add local fees not shown here.
Indiana title transfer fee breakdown
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title transfer fee | $15.00 |
| Base registration fee | Check official source |
| State sales/use tax rate | 7% |
| Plate fee | Check official source |
| Weight / value-based components | Annual passenger registration is a state fee plus a value-and-age-based Vehicle Excise Tax (and Wheel Tax / Surtax in many counties); trucks tiered by weight. |
Indiana title fee is $15. State sales tax on vehicle purchases is 7%. Annual registration combines a state registration fee with a value-based Vehicle Excise Tax and, in most counties, a Wheel Tax or Vehicle Excise Surtax — all collected together by the BMV at renewal.
What may change your final title transfer cost in Indiana
These factors are specific to Indiana and are common reasons the final amount you pay differs from the calculator estimate.
County and local fees in Indiana
Indiana has no local sales tax — the 7% state rate is uniform across all 92 counties. Local cost variance comes instead from the Wheel Tax / Vehicle Excise Surtax that the majority of Indiana counties (and some municipalities) levy on annual registration. Marion County (Indianapolis), Hamilton, Hendricks, and many other counties charge a per-vehicle Wheel Tax that adds tens of dollars per year to registration. The BMV collects it at renewal alongside the state fees.
Source ↗Late title-transfer penalties
Indiana requires the buyer to apply for title within 45 days of the assignment date on the prior owner's title. After 45 days, the BMV adds a late-title administrative fee. Driving with expired registration is a separate violation that the BMV and law enforcement enforce independently.
Source ↗Safety inspection requirements
Indiana does not require a periodic statewide safety inspection. A VIN inspection by a law-enforcement officer or BMV employee is required when titling a vehicle previously titled out of state, when the VIN is altered or unreadable, or when titling a rebuilt vehicle.
Source ↗Emissions testing in Indiana
Indiana emissions testing applies in Lake and Porter counties only — the northwest Indiana counties that fall within the Chicago metro nonattainment area. Gas-powered vehicles registered there need a passing test on the state's schedule before registration is issued or renewed. The rest of Indiana has no emissions inspection requirement.
Source ↗If the vehicle has a lien
Indiana records liens on the paper title and electronically through the BMV's Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system. When the lender participates in ELT, no paper title is produced — the title is held electronically until the lien is satisfied. There is a separate $15 lien-recording fee in addition to the title fee. Buyers paying cash for a previously financed Indiana vehicle should require a printed lien-release on lender letterhead.
Source ↗Where you actually file in Indiana
Indiana vehicle services are run by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) through branch offices statewide. Many transactions can be completed online at MyBMV.com; new-vehicle titling and private-party first-time titling typically still require an in-person visit. There is no county BMV — branches are state-run.
Source ↗Indiana sales and use tax on vehicle transfers
How Indiana calculates the tax
Indiana charges a flat 7% state sales/use tax on vehicles, applied to both dealer and private-party purchases — there is no local add-on. The BMV collects the tax at title transfer (or the dealer collects at delivery) on the documented sale price. Vehicles purchased by Indiana residents from out-of-state sellers owe Indiana use tax at the same 7% rate at title transfer, with credit for any sales tax already paid to the other state up to the Indiana rate.
Source ↗Dealer purchase vs. private-party sale
Indiana dealers collect the 7% sales tax at delivery and process the title application through the BMV. Private-party buyers must visit a BMV branch (or mail-in where eligible) within 45 days with the signed title, Form 44049, ST-108, and ID; the BMV collects the 7% sales tax at the same visit on the documented sale price. Both paths apply the same flat rate — there is no private-party discount.
Source ↗Example title transfer estimate in Indiana
Marcus buys a used 2020 Toyota RAV4 from a private seller in Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana for $20,000.
| Vehicle purchase price | $20,000.00 |
| Title fee | $15.00 |
| State sales / use tax | $1,400.00 |
| State registration + Vehicle Excise Tax (year-1 estimate) | $230.00 |
| Marion County Wheel Tax (annual) | $40.00 |
| Estimated total out the door | $21,685.00 |
Marcus pays the 7% Indiana sales tax ($1,400) and the $15 title fee at the BMV. His first-year combined registration + Vehicle Excise Tax for a 2020 RAV4 runs in the $200–$250 range under the depreciating excise schedule, plus Marion County's Wheel Tax. Marion County is not in the emissions-testing area, so no inspection is required. Confirm exact registration line items on the BMV fee page before paying.
Required Indiana forms
- Form 44049Application for Certificate of Titlebuyer
- Form ST-108Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Paid (sales-tax form)buyer
Official Indiana sources
Related Indiana resources
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Indiana?
The Indiana title transfer fee is $15.00, plus any applicable state sales/use tax (7%), registration fees, and county or local add-ons. Use the calculator above for an estimate; confirm the final number with Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) before paying.
What is the Indiana Wheel Tax / Excise Surtax and do I owe it?
Most Indiana counties levy a Wheel Tax (sometimes called the Vehicle Excise Surtax) on annual registration. The amount varies by county and vehicle type — typically tens of dollars per car per year. The BMV collects it at registration renewal as a separate line item alongside the state registration fee and the Vehicle Excise Tax. Whether you owe it depends on the county your vehicle is registered in, not where you bought it.
Do I need an emissions test for my Indiana title transfer?
Only if you live in Lake County or Porter County (the two northwest Indiana counties inside the Chicago nonattainment area). Everywhere else in Indiana — Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend (outside the small Porter County footprint), and all rural counties — has no Indiana emissions inspection requirement.
How is Indiana's Vehicle Excise Tax different from sales tax?
Sales tax is a one-time 7% charge paid at title transfer. Vehicle Excise Tax is an annual charge paid as part of registration, calculated from the vehicle's age and value on a state schedule that depreciates over time. Both apply to the same vehicle: you pay 7% sales tax once when you buy it and Vehicle Excise Tax every year for as long as you keep it registered.
Last reviewed: 2026-01-01 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice