CHAPTER 6. EXPIRATION, REPLACEMENT, AND TRANSFER OF REGISTRATIONS AND LICENSE PLATES
IC 9-18-6
Chapter 6. Expiration, Replacement, and Transfer of Registrations
and License Plates
IC 9-18-6-1
Replacement plates; issuance
Sec. 1. A replacement semipermanent license plate may be issued
by the bureau for any of the following reasons:
(1) The original semipermanent license plate has been in service
for at least three (3) years.
(2) The original semipermanent license plate has been lost or
stolen.
(3) The bureau determines that the reflective material required
by IC 9-18-2-32 is no longer effective and the material's
ineffectiveness is a safety hazard.
(4) A person registering a replacement vehicle requests a new
license plate at the time of purchasing the replacement vehicle.
(5) A person who registered a vehicle no longer resides in the
county in which the vehicle was originally registered.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-6-2
Lost, mutilated, or destroyed plates; duplicates and replacements
Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (e), if a
license plate is:
(1) lost;
(2) mutilated; or
(3) destroyed;
the person in whose name the license plate was issued may obtain
from the bureau a duplicate or a replacement license plate by filing
with the bureau an application on a form provided by the bureau duly
sworn to as provided in IC 9-18-2.
(b) If a license plate is lost, the bureau may not issue a duplicate
or replacement license plate until the person in whose name the plate
was issued has first notified:
(1) the Indiana law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction
where the loss occurred; or
(2) the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the
address listed on the registration;
that the original license plate has been lost.
(c) A law enforcement agency to whom a loss is reported shall
complete and present to the person reporting the loss a form provided
by the bureau indicating that the loss has been reported.
(d) The person must present the form described under subsection
(c) to the bureau before a replacement license plate may be obtained.
(e) If a license plate for a commercial vehicle is lost, mutilated, or
destroyed, the person in whose name the plate was issued shall
notify:
(1) the Indiana law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction
where the loss occurred; and
(2) the bureau;
that the original license plate has been lost, mutilated, or destroyed.
In order to receive a duplicate or a replacement license plate, the
person in whose name the license plate was issued must complete
and submit to the bureau an application and affidavit designed by the
bureau.
(f) The bureau shall charge a fee for a duplicate or replacement
license plate under subsections (b) and (e) as set forth in
IC 9-29-5-17.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.150-2001, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-6-3
Duplicate plates; certificates; display; identifying symbols
Sec. 3. (a) For a duplicate license plate, the bureau shall issue to
the person applying for the license plate a certificate in the form of
a sticker, including the registration number to be displayed on the
motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle, until the
bureau can obtain and deliver a duplicate license plate to the
applicant.
(b) A duplicate license plate must be displayed in the same
manner as the original license plate was displayed.
(c) A certificate issued under subsection (a):
(1) must be displayed on the windshield of a vehicle that has an
enclosed driver's compartment; and
(2) in all other cases, shall be carried by the person operating
the vehicle.
(d) The bureau shall issue an identifying symbol for replacement
license plates marked "replacement license plate" that must be
affixed to the license plate.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-6-4
Transfers of ownership
Sec. 4. (a) If the ownership of a vehicle registered under this
article is transferred, except a transfer from a manufacturer or dealer:
(1) the registration of the vehicle expires; and
(2) the person transferring the vehicle shall remove the license
plates and certificate of registration from the vehicle.
(b) A person who transfers to another person the ownership of a
registered vehicle owned by the person, upon the filing of an
application for the transfer of the registration and the payment of a
fee under IC 9-29-5-23, may have another vehicle registered in the
person's name either individually or jointly with another for the
remainder of the registration year if the vehicle to which the
registration is transferred is:
(1) of the same type; and
(2) in the same fee class;
as the vehicle for which the registration was originally issued.
(c) If a vehicle to which the registration is transferred is in a
higher fee class than the vehicle for which the registration was
originally issued, the person applying for the transfer shall pay, in
addition to the transfer fee, the difference between the fee paid for
the registration of the vehicle to which the registration is transferred.
(d) If a person who owns a vehicle wants to change the ownership
of the vehicle by the addition of another person as owner, the person
shall be issued a certificate of registration with the name of the other
person included after the person who owns the vehicle has complied
with IC 9-17.
(e) If at least one (1) person who is a joint owner transfers the
person's ownership interest in a vehicle to at least one (1) remaining
joint owner, the certification of registration shall be issued to the
remaining joint owner or owners if the transferring owner or owners
relinquish any interest in the use of the registration.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-6-5
Transfer of plates
Sec. 5. (a) Upon the disposition by sale or other means of a motor
vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, recreational vehicle, or motor home
currently registered in Indiana, the license plate from the disposed
motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, recreational vehicle, or motor
home may be:
(1) transferred by the person who is the current registrant to any
other vehicle of the same type acquired by the person; and
(2) operated in Indiana for not more than thirty-one (31) days
after the date the person acquires ownership of the vehicle.
(b) The person who is the registrant must have in the person's
possession a:
(1) manufacturer's certificate of origin;
(2) duly assigned certificate of title; or
(3) notarized bill of sale;
indicating that the person is the owner of the vehicle to which the
unexpired license plates are affixed.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-6-6
Violations
Sec. 6. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class C
infraction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.