Photo: Raymond Wambsgans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Every Indiana driver’s license issued before age 21 is probationary. For the first 180 days you may not drive from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. or carry passengers without a qualifying adult. Later night limits last until 18, and the phone ban lasts until 21. This guide sets out each rule, the exceptions and how the license becomes unrestricted.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- First 180 days: no driving 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- First 180 days: no passengers unless a licensed instructor, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a spouse 21 or older is in the front seat.
- After 180 days, until 18: no driving after 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, or before 5 a.m. Monday to Friday.
- Under 21: no telecommunications device use while driving except to call 911.
- The license cannot be renewed until your 21st birthday; renewing after 21 gives you an unrestricted license.
Indiana probationary license restrictions by stage
| Rule | First 180 days | After 180 days, under 18 | 18 to 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night driving | Not between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. | Not after 11 p.m. Sun to Thu; not 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sat and Sun; not before 5 a.m. Mon to Fri | Night limits end at 18 |
| Passengers | None, unless a qualifying adult is in the front seat | Passenger limit has ended | Passenger limit has ended |
| Phones and devices | 911 calls only | 911 calls only | 911 calls only |
What is the Indiana curfew for new drivers?
First 180 days
You may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
After 180 days until you turn 18
You may not drive:
- after 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday
- between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday
- before 5 a.m., Monday through Friday
In practice: on a school night, be home by 11 p.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, be off the road by 1 a.m.
Night exceptions
The BMV allows driving in restricted hours when you are:
- going to or from work
- going to or from a school-sanctioned activity
- going to or from a religious event
- accompanied by a licensed driver aged 25 or over, or a spouse aged 21 or over
These are the exceptions the July 2026 Driver’s Manual lists. The manual places them after the later night limits, so if you need to drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in your first 180 days, confirm with the BMV that your trip is covered.
Who can ride with a new Indiana driver?
For 180 days after you get your probationary license, you may not carry passengers unless one of these is in the front passenger seat:
- a licensed driving instructor
- a licensed driver aged 25 or over
- your spouse, aged 21 or over
Family exception: you may drive your child, stepchild, sibling, step or half sibling, or spouse without a qualifying adult in the front seat during the first 180 days. Friends, cousins and other relatives still need the adult. Breaking the probationary license rules while under 18 adds 4 points to your record (see Indiana BMV points).
Can drivers under 21 use a phone hands-free in Indiana?
No. Probationary drivers under 21 may not use any telecommunications device while driving, including phones, pagers and text devices, except to call 911 in an emergency. Every other Indiana driver is covered by the hands-free law in force since July 1, 2020, which allows hands-free and voice-operated use but bans holding the phone. See hands-free laws by state.
When does the probationary license end?
A probationary license cannot be renewed until your 21st birthday. When you renew after turning 21, you receive an unrestricted license. The night and passenger limits end earlier, as above; the phone rule lasts until 21.
Scenarios
You are 16, licensed 2 months ago, and a friend needs a ride home
Not allowed unless a qualifying adult (instructor, licensed driver 25 or older, or spouse 21 or older) sits in the front seat.
You are 17, licensed 8 months ago, leaving a school game at 11:30 p.m. on a Tuesday
This is in restricted hours, but returning from a school-sanctioned activity is an exception. Drive straight home.
You are 19 and want to take a call through the car’s Bluetooth
Not allowed. Under 21, only 911 calls are permitted while driving.
Common questions
What time do new drivers in Indiana have to be off the road?
In the first 180 days, by 10 p.m. (until 5 a.m.). After that, until 18: 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
How long is the passenger restriction in Indiana?
180 days from the date you get your probationary license.
Can I drive my siblings to school?
Yes. Siblings, step and half siblings, your own child or stepchild and your spouse are exempt from the 180-day passenger rule. A friend riding along at the same time is not.
Can my school affect my license?
Yes. Under 18, the BMV must suspend your driving privileges if your school reports an expulsion, a second suspension in one school year, habitual truancy or withdrawal from school.
Does the Indiana curfew apply if I’m driving to work?
No. Work is one of the listed exceptions.
When can I get an unrestricted Indiana license?
When you renew after your 21st birthday.
Can I use GPS on my phone as a probationary driver?
The under-21 rule bans using a telecommunications device while driving except for 911. Set up any route before you start and do not touch the phone while driving; confirm with the BMV whether a mounted navigation app is allowed for under-21 drivers.
Back to learning to drive in Indiana. See also the Indiana road skills test and GDL rules compared by state.
Sources
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Probationary Driver’s License” (in.gov/bmv)
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Indiana Driver’s Manual” (in.gov/bmv)
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Learner and Probationary Quick Reference” (in.gov/bmv)
- Indiana Department of Transportation, “Hands-Free Indiana” (in.gov/indot)
- Indiana Administrative Code, “140 IAC 1-4.5” point schedule (iar.iga.in.gov)