Probationary License Indiana: Points and Rules Under 21

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you searched probationary license indiana, the key point is this: drivers under 21 get the same point values and the same warning and suspension levels as adults. What changes is everything around those points, from the under-21 Driver Safety Program rule to written tests and court diversion. The BMV calls every license issued before age 21 a probationary license, and it ends 30 days after the 21st birthday.

Key Facts

Same point levels: a warning at 14 to 18 active points and a suspension from 20, as for adults. See same point rules.
Under-21 DSP rule: two pointable incidents while under 21 require a DSP, with no 12-month limit. See the under-21 DSP rule.
Written test: any active points means a written test at renewal before 21. See written test rules.
No court diversion: the BMV says probationary holders do not qualify. See court diversion.
Restrictions: late-night, passenger and phone limits apply. See probationary restrictions.

What a Probationary License Is

The BMV’s probationary license page gives the definition. “Probationary Driver’s License is the term given to licenses issued to applicants who are younger than 21-years-old.”

The license has a built-in end date. The BMV says it “expires 30 days following your 21st birthday.” Check the BMV for the renewal steps after that.

The name does not mean a lower point limit. The point rule, 140 IAC 1-4.5-4, has one table for all ages.

How to Qualify for One

Indiana law, IC 9-24-3-2.5, sets the age and practice rules. You need:

Age with driver education: at least 16 years and 90 days.
Age without driver education: at least 16 years and 270 days.
Permit time: a valid learner’s permit held for at least 180 days.
Practice: at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 at night.

Driver education is its own course. The BMV describes 30 hours of classroom training and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a BMV-licensed school.

The probationary page also says a knowledge (written) test is required if you have any points on your driver record. So points on your record can matter before you get the license.

Same Point Rules as Adults

Points work the same at any age. Each conviction gets the value in the point table, 140 IAC 1-4.5-10.

A few values young drivers should know:

Speeding 1 to 15 mph over: 2 points.
Speeding 16 to 25 mph over: 4 points.
Using a phone or other telecommunications device while driving: 4 points.
Driving under 21 with an alcohol level of .02% to less than .08%: 6 points.

The levels are the same too. After any DSP credit, 14 to 18 active points brings a warning notice. Twenty or more within 24 months brings a suspension.

For the full step-by-step table, see Indiana license suspension for points. For speeding values in school and work zones, see how many points a speeding ticket is.

How the Levels Play Out

A simple sum shows how the shared levels work for a young driver. Take three convictions within 24 months:

One alcohol conviction at .02% to less than .08%: 6 points.
Two speeding convictions at 16 to 25 mph over: 4 points each.

That is 14 active points, which is in the warning notice range. A 4-point DSP credit would bring the count used for the table to 10.

The same three incidents would also meet the under-21 DSP rule, which needs only two. So for a driver under 21, a DSP order can come well before the point total reaches a warning.

Probationary License Indiana Rules That Differ

The rules below apply only before age 21. They sit on top of the shared point table.

Rule	Under 21	21 and older
BMV-ordered DSP	Two pointable incidents while under 21, no time limit	Two qualifying convictions or judgments in 12 months (IC 9-30-3-12(a) applies at any age)
Written test at renewal	Any active points	6 or more active points
Court diversion programs	Probationary holders do not qualify	No bar on the BMV page
License end date	30 days after the 21st birthday	Not a probationary license

Each row comes from a statute or the BMV’s probationary page. The sections below explain them.

The Under-21 DSP Rule

Indiana law, IC 9-30-3-12(b), sets this rule. A driver under 21 must complete a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program (DSP) after being “the operator of a motor vehicle involved in an incident for which points may be assessed” at least twice while under 21.

Unlike the rule in IC 9-30-3-12(a), there is no 12-month window. The BMV mails the notice, and the course must be done within 90 days, or driving privileges are suspended.

Point totals do not trigger this order. The count of pointable incidents does. Our guide to the Driver Safety Program for teens covers the notice and the course in full.

Steps from a learner's permit to an Indiana probationary license: age, 180 days, 50 hours, driver education and a written test with points

Written Test Rules

Points can mean a written test. Indiana law, IC 9-24-12-5, requires one at renewal in two cases:

The applicant has at least 6 active points.
The applicant is not yet 21 and has any active points.

House Enrolled Act 1200 of 2026 kept both rules, effective July 1, 2026. So for a driver under 21, even 2 active points means a written test at renewal.

Court Diversion

The probationary page is direct on this point. It says, “You will not qualify for court diversion programs.”

Indiana law, IC 34-28-5-1, lets prosecutors set up deferral programs for infraction cases. Whether any program is open to you depends on the court and the prosecutor. Ask the court, or an Indiana attorney, about your own case.

Points Before You Have a License

Points do not wait for a license. Rule 140 IAC 1-4.5-8 says a person who commits a violation gets “the same points or sanctions” even without a valid permit or license.

Tickets from other states count too. Rule 140 IAC 1-4.5-5 says the BMV assesses points for out-of-state violations that match an Indiana violation. Those points are assessed as if the violation happened in Indiana.

Steps After a Ticket Under 21

These steps follow the official rules. They do not tell you how to plead, which is a question for the court or an attorney.

Follow the ticket and any court order. The court sets the date and what you must do.
Watch your mail. A BMV-ordered DSP notice comes by mail and allows 90 days.
Check your record. The $4 Official Driver Record lists “Current Points” and marks active ones.
Note the dates. Each set of points goes inactive two years after its conviction date.
Plan for renewal. Any active points before 21 means a written test.
Consider the credit. A BMV-approved DSP adds a 4-point credit, once every three years.

Probationary Restrictions

The BMV lists limits for new probationary drivers. They are separate from the point table.

The main limits on the BMV page:

Late hours. No driving from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the first 180 days.
Passengers. No passengers for the first 180 days, with family and adult exceptions.
Phones. “You may not use any type of telecommunication device while driving except to make emergency 911 calls.”

Later hour limits apply after the first 180 days. Read the BMV page for the exact times and exceptions.

How Long Points Last

Points follow the same clock at every age. The BMV’s points page says they stay active “for two years from the conviction date.”

The violation itself stays on the record. The rule, 140 IAC 1-4.5-4(d), sets no end date for it. The point clock runs from the conviction date, not from your age.

Where the DSP Credit Fits

Any Indiana driver can take a DSP by choice. A course from a BMV-approved provider earns a 4-point credit on the Official Driver Record, once every three years. Every approved course lasts at least 4 hours, and the BMV’s maximum price is $55.

A second course within three years does not add a second credit. The BMV says the credit period is instead extended three years from the new completion date.

The credit lowers the point total. It does not remove the conviction.

The BMV’s Driver Safety Program page also says the DSP does not teach a person how to drive. It is not driver education.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the BMV pages checked on October 26, 2026, the probationary license page showed a modified date of July 17, 2026. It listed the 30-day expiration, the written test with points and the court diversion line.

One detail differed from the statute. The page said to “Be at least 16 years old” with driver education, while IC 9-24-3-2.5 says 16 years and 90 days. This article uses the statute.

Indiana probationary license limits: late hours, passengers, phone use and the end date 30 days after turning 21

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from Indiana law or a BMV page:

Expecting lower point limits. The warning and suspension levels match adults.
Applying the 12-month window. The under-21 DSP rule has none.
Ignoring small point totals. Any active points means a written test at renewal before 21.
Counting on diversion. Probationary holders do not qualify for court diversion programs.
Using a phone for anything but 911. The probationary rules ban it.
Treating the DSP as driver education. They are separate courses.

How Requirements Can Vary

Indiana’s point rules, the 4-point credit and the BMV’s Driver Safety Program order come from state law and BMV rules, and they apply statewide. What you must do still depends on whether you take the course by choice, because of a BMV notice, or under a court order. A court order sets its own deadline and proof steps.

Laws, fees and court practice can change. Check your BMV notice, your court order and the Indiana BMV website for current rules before you enroll or file anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do drivers under 21 have lower point limits in Indiana?

No. The warning notice at 14 to 18 active points and the suspension from 20 are the same for all ages. The extra rules for drivers under 21 are about the DSP, tests and diversion.

When does a probationary license end?

The BMV says it expires 30 days after your 21st birthday. Check the BMV for the renewal steps that follow.

When does a driver under 21 have to take the DSP?

After being the driver in a pointable incident at least twice while under 21. The BMV mails a notice, and the course must be done within 90 days.

Will I need a written test because of points?

Yes, if you are under 21 and have any active points at renewal. The BMV also requires a written test for the license if there are any points on your record.

Can a driver with a probationary license use court diversion?

The BMV page says probationary holders “will not qualify for court diversion programs.” Ask the court about your own case.

How long do points last for a young driver?

Two years from the conviction date, the same as for adults. The violation itself stays on the record.

Do tickets from other states count for a driver under 21?

Yes, when Indiana has a matching violation. The BMV assesses those points as if the violation happened in Indiana.

Does the DSP replace driver education?

No. Driver education teaches driving with classroom and behind-the-wheel hours. The DSP is a separate course of at least 4 hours that can earn a 4-point credit.

Conclusion

A probationary license in Indiana carries the same point values and suspension levels as an adult license. The differences are the under-21 DSP rule, the written test with any active points, no court diversion and the license limits.

You can earn a 4-point credit, once every three years, with Driving Logic’s online Indiana Driver Safety Program. If a court ordered your course, check that the order allows an online course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Indiana and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Indiana BMV rules, court orders, fines and penalties depend on your notice, citation, court and case facts, and they can change. Use official Indiana BMV and court sources, and consult a qualified Indiana attorney for advice about your own case.