How to Transfer a Car Title After Divorce in Indiana

The 45-Day Window You Cannot Miss

Indiana gives you 45 days from the file-stamp date on your final divorce decree to submit the title transfer packet to the BMV. Miss that window and you owe a $30 late title transfer penalty — on top of the standard $15 title fee. The clock starts on the final decree's file-stamp date, not the day you pick up the paperwork.

This is a BMV title-transfer transaction. You cannot transfer a vehicle title after divorce online or at a self-service kiosk; submit the packet at a BMV branch or mail it to the BMV Central Office.

The Three Forms You Need

Every divorce-related vehicle title transfer in Indiana requires these three documents:

State Form 205 — Application for Certificate of Title. This is the standard title application. Fill in the vehicle details (year, make, model, VIN), the new owner's information, and check the box indicating the transfer is pursuant to a court order.

State Form 43230 — Odometer Disclosure Statement. Required for vehicles less than 20 years old and under 16,000 pounds. Both the transferring and receiving party must sign this form. If your ex-spouse is the one transferring the vehicle to you and refuses to complete this form, the certified decree can substitute (see below).

State Form ST108E — Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Exemption. This is the form that exempts divorce-related transfers from Indiana's 7% sales tax. Without it, the BMV will charge you 7% of the vehicle's fair market value. On a $20,000 vehicle, that is $1,400 you do not owe — but only if you file the exemption form.

What to Bring to the BMV Branch

Pack all of this before you leave:

• The current certificate of title (signed by both parties, or with the decree substituting for the departing owner's signature)
• Completed State Form 205
• Completed State Form 43230 (if the vehicle is under 20 model years)
• Completed State Form ST108E
• A certified copy of the final divorce decree
• Valid photo ID
• $15 for the standard title fee, plus an additional $25 for a speed title with expedited processing

When Your Ex-Spouse Will Not Sign

If the vehicle is jointly titled and your former spouse refuses to sign the title over, the Indiana BMV will accept a certified copy of the final divorce decree as a substitute — but only if the decree explicitly identifies the vehicle. The decree language must include the year, make, model, and full VIN, and it must clearly direct that the vehicle be titled to you.

Vague decree language like "wife shall receive the family car" is not enough. If your decree lacks vehicle-specific detail, you may need to go back to court with a motion to clarify the property division order before the BMV will process the transfer.

Insurance and Registration

Transferring the title is only half the transaction. You also need to:

• Update your auto insurance policy to reflect sole ownership. If you were on a joint policy, you will need a new individual policy. Get quotes before the transfer so coverage is seamless.
• Update the vehicle registration at the same BMV visit. The registration follows the title — once the title is in your name, the registration should match.
• Remove your name from any vehicle awarded to your ex. If a vehicle was awarded to your former spouse but is still titled or registered jointly, you carry liability exposure until your name is formally removed.

The Full Post-Divorce Vehicle Checklist

The Indiana After-Divorce Checklist includes a dedicated BMV title transfer packet tracker with all three form numbers, the fee schedule, and a timeline mapped to the 45-day deadline. It also covers the parallel steps — insurance updates, registration, and what to do if the decree language needs a court correction — so nothing falls through the gap between the courtroom and the BMV counter.

See more Indiana guides →