Indiana § 9-24-18-1 Driving without a license

Indiana Statutes

§ 9-24-18-1 — Driving without a license

Indiana § 9-24-18-1

Title 9MOTOR VEHICLES

Art. 24DRIVERS LICENSES

Ch. 18General Penalty Provisions

This text of Indiana § 9-24-18-1 (Driving without a license) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ind. Code § 9-24-18-1 (2026).

Text

(a)An individual, except an individual exempted under IC 9-24-1-7, who knowingly or intentionally operates a motor vehicle upon a highway and has never received a valid driver's license commits a Class C misdemeanor. However, the offense is a:

(1)Class A misdemeanor if the individual has a prior unrelated conviction under this section;

(2)Class A misdemeanor if the operation of the motor vehicle results in bodily injury;

(3)Level 6 felony if the operation of the motor vehicle results in serious bodily injury; or

(4)Level 5 felony if the operation of the motor vehicle results in the death or catastrophic injury of another person.

(b)In a prosecution under this section, the burden is on the defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant:

(1)had been issued a

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(a) An individual, except an individual
exempted under IC 9-24-1-7, who knowingly or intentionally operates
a motor vehicle upon a highway and has never received a valid driver's
license commits a Class C misdemeanor. However, the offense is a:
(1) Class A misdemeanor if the individual has a prior unrelated
conviction under this section;
(2) Class A misdemeanor if the operation of the motor vehicle
results in bodily injury;
(3) Level 6 felony if the operation of the motor vehicle results in
serious bodily injury; or
(4) Level 5 felony if the operation of the motor vehicle results in
the death or catastrophic injury of another person.
(b) In a prosecution under this section, the burden is on the
defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the
defendant:
(1) had been issued a driver's license or permit that was valid; or
(2) was operating a motor driven cycle;
at the time of the alleged offense. However, it is not a defense under
subdivision (2) if the defendant was operating the motor driven cycle
in violation of IC 9-21-11-12.
[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-1-4-26.5.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.100-2010, SEC.3; P.L.125-2012, SEC.235; P.L.85-2013, SEC.62; P.L.217-2014, SEC.92; P.L.221-2014, SEC.71; P.L.198-2016, SEC.527; P.L.111-2021, SEC.77; P.L.117-2025, SEC.3.