If you have a valid license from another state, you have 60 days after moving to Indiana to get an Indiana driver's license, and 60 days to apply for Indiana titles for vehicles with out-of-state titles. If you buy a home you'll live in, file for the homestead deduction. Your county income tax rate depends on the county you live in on January 1. And utilities, trash pickup and voter registration all depend on your address, so set them up once you know where you're landing.
I'm Wes Johnston, a Realtor with Trueblood Real Estate in Fishers. I help people move into central Indiana. Everything on this checklist links to the state agency or utility that publishes it. Rules and rates change, so check the link before you act.
Here's the thing about a move: the house gets all the attention, and the paperwork sneaks up on you. None of it is hard, but a few items have real deadlines. This is the list I'd hand a friend moving here.
60 days. The Indiana BMV says that when you move to Indiana, you have 60 days to get an Indiana driver's license if you hold a valid license from another state, and 60 days to apply for an Indiana title for every vehicle you own with an out-of-state title (Indiana BMV: New Indiana Residents).
Out-of-state vehicles need an inspection: you can bring the vehicle to a BMV branch, or have law enforcement complete State Form 39530. Bring proof of identity, Social Security number and Indiana residency for your license. The BMV page lists the exact documents; check it before you go.
Yes, if the home will be your primary residence: the homestead deduction. You can apply on the Sales Disclosure Form you sign at closing, or file with the county auditor. The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance says the deadline is January 15 of the year the taxes are first due, and you don't have to refile unless the property is sold or ownership changes (DLGF: Deductions and Credits).
Indiana property taxes are paid a year behind, and the homestead rules are changing every year through 2031, so the bill on the listing may not be the bill you'll pay. My Indiana property tax guide explains how to estimate it.
Yes. On top of the state income tax, every Indiana county has its own local income tax rate, and it's based on the county you live in on January 1 of the tax year. Moving during the year doesn't change that year's county (Indiana DOR: Departmental Notice #1).
Resident rates in and around Indianapolis, per the Indiana Department of Revenue's notice effective October 1, 2026: Boone 1.71%, Hamilton 1.1%, Hancock 1.94%, Hendricks 1.7%, Johnson 1.4%, Marion 2.02%, Morgan 2.72%, Shelby 1.7%. Boone's rate changed since the January 1, 2026 notice.
Counties can change these rates, so check the current notice before you compare. And don't pick a place on income tax alone; property taxes, commute and the house itself usually matter more. Tell your employer's payroll your county so they withhold the right amount.
AES Indiana provides electric service in Indianapolis and in portions of the communities around Marion County (AES Indiana). Duke Energy Indiana provides electric service in 69 of Indiana's 92 counties (Duke Energy Indiana Fast Facts, September 2025).
Citizens Energy Group provides natural gas, water and wastewater service in the Indianapolis area (Citizens Energy Group).
Outside Indianapolis, the electric, gas, water and sewer providers can change from one street to the next. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission's electric service territory map shows who serves an address (IURC Electric Service Territories, IndianaMap). For any house you're serious about, I'll get the list of the home's actual utility providers from the listing agent, so you know who to call before closing.
It depends on the city. In Indianapolis, the city has lookups for your trash pickup day and your recycling pickup day on indy.gov (indy.gov: Find Your Trash Pickup Day; indy.gov: Find Your Recycling Pickup Day).
In the surrounding cities and towns, trash service may be set up by the city or town, by the HOA, or left to you to hire a hauler. Check the city or town's website for the address, and ask about it before you buy. It's a monthly cost that belongs in your budget.
Register or update your registration online at IndianaVoters.in.gov. The Indiana Secretary of State says online registration works for Indiana residents with a valid Indiana driver's license or state ID card, which is one more reason to get to the BMV early (Indiana Secretary of State: Register to Vote).
Registration closes before each election. For the November 2026 general election, the Secretary of State lists the deadline as October 5, 2026.
That depends on what you need: your commute, your budget, the kind of house, and how much yard you want to take care of. I won't rank neighborhoods for you, but I'll help you line up the places that fit those needs and show you what the money buys in each.
Start with the communities page for the cities and neighborhoods I cover, the suburb comparison table to see prices and supply side by side, and New Home Builds if you'd consider new construction. A few area guides: Downtown Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Greenwood, Plainfield, and Zionsville. The weekly market report shows what's happening with prices.
Buying from out of town? Video tours and a tight plan for a visit go a long way. Tell me your dates and I'll help you make the most of them.
More buyer questions, answered: the steps to buying a home in Indiana, how earnest money works, how the inspection period works, what happens if the appraisal comes in low, new construction or resale, and what happens on closing day. For the money side, see Indiana closing costs.
Tell me where you're moving from, when you need to be here, and what you're looking for. I'll help you narrow down where to look and plan your house-hunting trip around the homes that actually fit.
I'm not a tax advisor; for your own tax situation, talk to one.
Fishers-based. Helping people land in central Indiana. Committed to your success.
Questions about the area, the process or the timing? Send them and I'll answer straight.
Send a MessageIf you own a home now, its value shapes your budget. Start with an instant estimate.
Where are you moving from, when do you need to be here, and what are you looking for? I'll get back to you with a plan.
Tax questions go to a tax advisor; I'll stick to the house and the area.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Deadlines, rates and service areas come from the linked agencies and utilities and can change; check the source before you act.