Indiana OWI Laws: Penalties, BAC Limit & License (2026)

In Indiana the offense is called operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), and Indiana Code 9-30-5 makes it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. A first OWI is usually a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, and the Indiana BMV can suspend the license for up to 180 days.

This guide is part of our DUI Laws by State series.

What counts as an OWI in Indiana

Indiana's core OWI statute, Indiana Code 9-30-5-1, creates a per se offense: it is unlawful to operate a vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08 percent but less than 0.15 percent, which is a Class C misdemeanor, while a reading of 0.15 percent or more is a Class A misdemeanor. A separate provision, IC 9-30-5-2, lets the state charge a driver who is actually intoxicated by alcohol or a controlled substance even when no specific BAC is proven, so a person under 0.08 can still be convicted on evidence of impairment. Commercial drivers face a 0.04 percent limit, and drivers under 21 fall under Indiana's zero-tolerance rule, which makes it an offense to drive with a BAC of 0.02 percent or more. The 0.08 figure is the federal benchmark adopted by every state except Utah, which sets its limit at 0.05 percent, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains.

First-offense OWI penalties in Indiana (jail, fines, suspension)

A first OWI at 0.08 to under 0.15 percent is a Class C misdemeanor under Indiana Code 9-30-5-1, which carries up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. If the BAC is 0.15 percent or more, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Indiana does not impose a mandatory minimum jail term for a standard first OWI, so courts commonly grant probation in place of jail, often with conditions such as a substance-abuse evaluation, a victim-impact program, and community service. Separately, the Indiana BMV suspends the driving privilege for up to 180 days when a driver fails a chemical test. Reinstatement requires paying fees and, in many cases, filing proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22) and completing any court-ordered programs.

Watch out: The BMV license action and the criminal court case run on separate tracks. You can resolve the criminal case and still face a suspension through the BMV, and a refusal of the chemical test triggers its own administrative suspension that is separate from any conviction.

Ignition interlock requirements in Indiana

Indiana does not impose an automatic ignition interlock requirement on every first OWI, which sets it apart from states that mandate the device for all offenders. Instead, the device is tied to specialized driving privileges. As the Indiana BMV describes, a court may grant specialized driving privileges that let a suspended driver continue to drive for work and other essential purposes, and the court may require installation of a certified ignition interlock device as a condition of those privileges. A driver who refused the chemical test may still obtain specialized driving privileges only if it is the first refusal, the driver installs an interlock, and the court finds it serves the interests of justice. The device requires a breath sample before the engine starts and at random points during a trip, and it logs each reading.

License suspension and the administrative process in Indiana

Indiana runs an administrative suspension and a court process at the same time. The Indiana BMV suspends the driving privilege for up to 180 days when a driver fails a chemical test, and for up to two years when a driver refuses one. This administrative suspension is based on the arrest and the test result, separate from whether the criminal case ends in a conviction. If the court later convicts the driver, it can impose its own suspension, which the BMV administers. To keep driving during a suspension, many drivers petition the court for specialized driving privileges, which require an SR-22 on file and a copy of the court order carried in the vehicle. Reinstatement generally requires paying BMV fees, satisfying any court conditions, and maintaining the required insurance filing.

Repeat offenses and the Indiana look-back period

Indiana counts prior OWIs within a 7-year look-back window, so penalties escalate sharply for an offense inside that period. A second OWI within 7 years of a prior conviction is a Level 6 felony, punishable by 6 months to 2.5 years in prison with an advisory term of one year, and it carries a mandatory minimum of five days in jail or 240 hours of community service. The felony threshold is therefore the second offense within the 7-year window, which is unusual because most states do not reach a felony until the third offense. A third or later OWI, and any OWI committed with a passenger under 18 in the vehicle, also raises the offense level. An OWI causing serious bodily injury or death is a felony regardless of the offense number, with longer prison exposure.

Watch out: Refusing a chemical test does not avoid a suspension and usually makes it longer. A first refusal results in a one-year suspension, longer than the up-to-180-day suspension for failing the test, and a refusal generally bars specialized driving privileges unless the court makes specific findings.

Refusing a breath or blood test in Indiana

Indiana's implied consent law, in Indiana Code 9-30-6, means that by driving in the state you have agreed to submit to a certified chemical test if an officer has probable cause to believe you are operating while intoxicated. Refusing the test results in a one-year license suspension, or a two-year suspension if you have a prior OWI conviction. The refusal suspension is administrative and applies on top of any criminal penalty, and the refusal can be admitted as evidence of intoxication at trial. Because the refusal suspension is longer than the suspension for failing the test, and because it generally blocks specialized driving privileges, refusing rarely helps. An officer can also seek a warrant to draw blood after a refusal.

Can you expunge or seal an OWI in Indiana

Indiana allows expungement of many OWI convictions under the state's Second Chance Law, Indiana Code 35-38-9. A misdemeanor OWI conviction generally becomes eligible five years after the date of conviction, while a Level 6 felony OWI generally requires waiting eight years, provided the person has paid all fines, fees, and restitution and has no pending charges. The court has discretion over felony petitions, and an offense that caused serious bodily injury or death may be barred from expungement. A successful petition seals or restricts public access to the record, though law enforcement and some agencies can still see it, and the OWI still counts as a prior for look-back purposes. A person is generally limited to one expungement petition in a lifetime.

What to do after an OWI arrest in Indiana

An Indiana OWI creates two matters at once: a criminal case in court and an administrative license action at the BMV. The deadlines move quickly, so a common early step is to address the BMV suspension and, if needed, petition the court for specialized driving privileges so you can keep driving. The criminal case proceeds on its own schedule from the initial hearing through pretrial and resolution. General information cannot tell you how your case will come out, because the outcome depends on the specific facts, your record, and the evidence. Many people consult a licensed Indiana OWI attorney to understand the charge, the suspension, and the options for both the court case and the license case. Keep the arrest paperwork, any notice of suspension, and the test results in a safe place.