Verified Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2 · Checked October 2026 · 7 sources
What an expired-registration ticket costs in Indiana
First offense Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2
Class C infraction, up to $500
Verified October 2026 against the sources on this page
Operating a vehicle with expired license plates is a Class C infraction in Indiana (Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2), a civil violation with a judgment of up to $500 (Ind. Code §34-28-5-4(c)), with the actual amount set by the court. There is no grace period: plates expire on the registration's expiration date, except that when every license branch in the county is closed that day, the registration runs until midnight on the date following the next day a branch is open (Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2(a)). Missing the expiration date adds a $15 administrative penalty to the renewal (Indiana BMV); a mailed renewal postmarked by the expiration date avoids it.
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Renew your plates
The violation is a civil infraction against the registration requirement (Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2); the penalty is monetary, not jail.
- 2
Know the exposure
The maximum judgment is $500 plus court costs under Ind. Code §34-28-5-4, with the actual amount set by the court; courts commonly assess far less.
Indiana at a glance
- Grace period
- None, except closed-branch days
- Misdemeanor?
- No, Class C infraction (civil)
- Jail, first offense
- No, civil judgment only
- Dismissed if you renew?
- No written path found
- Late renewal fee
- $15 administrative penalty
First offense, ordinary passenger vehicle. Each label compares Indiana with every verified state.
Is driving on expired tags a crime in Indiana?
No, a Class C infraction is civil, not criminal. The exposure is a judgment of up to $500 plus court costs, not jail.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an expired-plates ticket in Indiana?
It is a Class C infraction with a maximum judgment of $500 under Ind. Code §34-28-5-4; courts commonly assess far less, but the statute allows up to that cap plus costs.
Do expired plates add points to your license in Indiana?
The violation is a civil infraction against the registration requirement (Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2) rather than a moving violation, the penalty is monetary.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
- Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2, Class C infraction and closed-branch expiration rule, official 2026 text (Indiana General Assembly)
- Ind. Code §34-28-5-4, Class C infraction judgment up to $500, official 2026 text (Indiana General Assembly)
- Ind. Code §9-18.1-11-2 (FindLaw)
- Ind. Code §34-28-5-4, infraction judgment caps (FindLaw)
- Indiana BMV, Vehicle Registrations ($15 administrative penalty for late renewal)
- Indiana BMV, Fee Chart (administrative penalty for late registration $15.00)
- Indiana BMV FAQ, grace period before a late fee (closed-branch rule)
Read next
- Va. Code 46.2-646, plainly: what Virginia's expired registration law says and costs
- How to Get an Expired Registration Ticket Dismissed
- How much is a ticket for driving without registration? Eight states, from the statutes
- Pulled over on expired tags: the ticket, the late fee, the tow, and the points
Other tickets in Indiana
Driving Without Insurance in Indiana
Expired Registration: other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of October 2026.