Indiana Semi Truck bill of sale for private sale

Indiana Semi-Truck Private Sale: Crossroads of America Commercial Vehicle Guide

Indiana's official state motto — "Crossroads of America" — reflects a geographic reality that shapes the commercial trucking market. Five interstate highways intersect in Indiana, including I-65 (Chicago to Louisville), I-70 (Indianapolis east-west corridor), I-80/94 (Chicago bypass), I-69 (Fort Wayne to Indianapolis), and I-74 (Dayton to Chicago). Indianapolis itself is one of the top inland intermodal terminals in the Midwest. Indiana owner-operators and small fleet operators represent a disproportionate share of the regional trucking market, and private semi-truck transactions occur in every major freight corridor through the state. Federal USDOT and MC Authority The federal USDOT requirement (49 CFR Part 390) and MC operating authority (49 CFR Part 365) are the baseline commercial requirements for any semi-truck in interstate service — regardless of where the truck is titled. These credentials belong to the carrier. An Indiana buyer who does not already hold USDOT authority must file for a new USDOT number and MC number via FMCSA's Unified Registration System before the truck hauls any commercial load. New motor carriers also complete Form MCS-150 at filing. Existing carriers update their MCS-150 within 30 days of adding the truck to their fleet. Indiana IRP Registration — Base State for Midwest Carriers Indiana is a popular IRP base state for Midwest-based carriers given its central location and straightforward registration process. IRP registration for Indiana-based carriers is handled through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Commercial Registration Division. Qualifying vehicles — combination vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVWR or straight trucks over 26,000 lbs operating in multiple IRP member jurisdictions — receive apportioned plates. Fees are calculated based on the ratio of miles driven in each member state to total miles driven. The apportioned plate belongs to the carrier; when a truck is sold, the seller removes the unit from their Indiana IRP schedule and the buyer adds it to their own account (or establishes a new Indiana IRP account if this is their first qualifying vehicle). Indiana IFTA Administration Indiana administers IFTA through the Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services unit. Carriers with a GVWR of over 26,000 lbs or three or more axles who operate in Indiana and at least one other IFTA member jurisdiction must obtain an Indiana IFTA license and file quarterly returns. Indiana is unique in also imposing its own Motor Carrier Surcharge Tax (a flat per-gallon supplement assessed on qualified fuel consumed in Indiana). This surcharge must be tracked and reported separately on the Indiana quarterly IFTA return. Buyers establishing a new Indiana IFTA license apply through the Indiana Department of Revenue's INtax portal. IRS Form 2290 Heavy Highway Use Tax Like all states, Indiana does not collect the federal HHUT — that is an IRS obligation. Trucks with a GVWR of 55,000 lbs or more operated on Indiana's federal-aid highways are subject to the annual Form 2290 filing. The IRS-stamped Schedule 1 is required for Indiana BMV to process IRP apportioned plate requests. A new owner files a prorated Form 2290 for the portion of the tax year remaining after the purchase month. Indiana Commercial Vehicle Title Transfer Indiana commercial vehicle titles are processed through the Indiana BMV (or an approved BMV Connect location). The seller executes the title assignment on the reverse of the certificate of title. Indiana imposes a 7% sales tax on vehicle purchases, including commercial vehicles. There is no specific interstate commerce exemption for Indiana sales tax as broad as Tennessee's, but certain transfers between fleet operators (treated as business asset transfers) may qualify for reduced treatment — consult an Indiana CPA or tax attorney for applicable exemptions. The Indiana bill of sale for a commercial vehicle should include the VIN, year, make, model, GVWR, purchase price, and both parties' motor carrier identifiers (USDOT numbers). Indiana does not require notarization of standard vehicle bills of sale, but notarization is recommended for high-value commercial transactions. DOT Annual Inspection Compliance Indiana enforces the federal annual DOT inspection requirement under 49 CFR Part 396. The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) conducts roadside inspections at all major interstate weigh stations, including the I-65 stations at Remington and Seymour, the I-70 station at Greenfield, and the I-80/94 stations at the Illinois border. A truck with an expired inspection sticker will receive an out-of-service order from any CVED or FMCSA inspector. In the Indiana private truck market, confirm the inspection sticker date before finalizing the purchase price — expired inspection can be used as a negotiating point to offset repair costs. CDL Class A Requirement Disclosure Indiana CDL Class A licenses are issued by the Indiana BMV and follow federal requirements under 49 CFR Part 383. Any combination vehicle with a GCWR over 26,001 lbs requires a CDL Class A. Document the buyer's CDL class and license number in the bill of sale. Indiana CDL holders must also maintain a current DOT physical medical certificate; confirm the buyer holds a current Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC) under 49 CFR Part 391. Lien Release: Title Lien and UCC-1 Indiana commercial vehicle financing commonly involves both a perfected lien on the Indiana BMV title and a UCC-1 financing statement filed with the Indiana Secretary of State. The Indiana Secretary of State maintains a UCC filing database searchable at in.gov/sos/business. Run a UCC search against the selling entity before closing. Confirm that the payoff generates both a BMV title lien release and a UCC-3 termination statement from the lienholder to achieve complete lien clearance. The Indiana BMV processes electronic lien releases; paper lien releases are mailed directly from the lienholder and typically arrive within 10–15 business days of payoff confirmation.

Source: 49 CFR Part 390 (USDOT); 49 CFR Part 365 (MC authority); IRP Agreement; IFTA Agreement; 26 USC § 4481 (Form 2290); Indiana BMV Commercial Registration; 49 CFR Part 396 (DOT inspection); 49 CFR Part 383 (CDL); Indiana Code § 9-17-2; UCC Art. 9 (Indiana Code § 26-1-9.1)