Yes. A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required for any bus weighing more than 26,001 pounds or designed to carry 16 or more passengers. Drivers must be at least 18 for intrastate operations — but if the bus is a school bus or will be used on interstate routes, the minimum age jumps to 21. Make sure your driver's credentials match the specific vehicle and how it will be used.

Only in certain counties. Biennial emissions testing — every two years — is required for buses registered in Lake and Porter counties. If your bus is registered anywhere else in Indiana, emissions testing does not apply. It's one of the more limited testing programs in the Midwest, which is good news for most Indiana operators.

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with valid IRS 501(c)(3) status can apply for a sales tax exemption by submitting the required documentation to the state. Indiana's exemption process is relatively straightforward — just make sure your paperwork is in order before you finalize the purchase, as the exemption won't apply retroactively.

Indiana's minimum liability requirements are structured around bodily injury coverage — $25,000 for injury or death of one person, and $50,000 for two or more persons. These are lower minimums than many other states, but commercial bus operators will typically need higher limits depending on passenger capacity and use case. Make sure your coverage stays active for the full duration of any charter term, as Indiana requires continuous coverage throughout.