(From the Indiana BMV Website)

Getting Your Learner’s Permit

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues two different types of learner’s permits to individuals who are in the process of learning to drive. The learner’s permit is for Indiana residents who would like to obtain a driver’s license without taking a driver education course. The driver education learner’s permit is a limited learner’s permit that allows a student driver to enroll in a BMV-approved driver education course.

Requirements for a learner’s permit
A learner’s permit allows an Indiana resident to practice driving to qualify for an driver’s license. To obtain a learner’s permit, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 16 years old;
• Present documents of identification proving his or her identity, residency status and Social Security number;
• Pass a written examination based on information contained in the Indiana driver manual; and
• Pass the standard vision screening test.

If you hold a learner’s permit, you may not drive alone under any circumstances. If you are younger than 18 years of age, you may practice driving only when a relative with a valid driver’s license is seated in your vehicle’s front passenger seat. If you are older than 18 years of age, an individual with a valid driver’s license must be seated in your vehicle’s front passenger seat; however, this individual does not need to be a relative.

If your learner’s permit expires it is no longer valid and you must pass the appropriate tests to obtain a new permit. This new permit must be held for 60 days before you may apply for a driver’s license.

Requirements for a driver education learner’s permit
A driver education learner’s permit is a limited learner’s permit that allows a student driver to enroll in a BMV-approved driver education course. To obtain a driver education learner’s permit, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 15 years of age;
• Present documents of identification proving his or her identity, residency status and Social Security number;
• Show proof of enrollment in a BMV-approved driver education program by providing the certificate of driver education provided by the school; and
• Pass the standard vision screening test.

If you hold a driver education learner’s permit, you may not drive alone under any circumstances. You may practice driving only after you have begun a BMV-approved driver education program. You must be accompanied either by a certified driving instructor in the front passenger seat of a vehicle equipped with a dual brake, or by a parent or guardian with a valid driver’s license seated in the front passenger seat of your vehicle.

Once the holder of a driver education learner’s permit has successfully completed the driver education program and the driver education instructor validates the permit, the holder may participate in practice driving if a relative with a valid driver’s license is seated in the front passenger seat.

Your driver education learner’s permit is not valid if you do not complete the driver education couse or if you do not meet all course requirements. After your 16th birthday, you must visit a license branch to apply for a learner’s permit. When your driver education learner’s permit expires, all driving privileges expire with it.

• Indiana Learner's Permit Info
• Indiana Driver's Handbook
• Indiana DMV Website
• Indiana DMV Locations