Before you hire an in-state Indiana mover, confirm the Department of Revenue Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, ask to see the public tariff, and look for the P.S.C.I. certificate number in the company's advertising. File problems with Motor Carrier Services and, if needed, the Attorney General. A website and a truck are not enough on their own.

What to verify before you book

Start with the legal name and the certificate or authority number. Indiana Code 8-2.1-22 requires household-goods carriers for hire to hold a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Department of Revenue (DOR) Motor Carrier Services. The official getting-started guide says the company may not operate until the application is approved, must renew authority every year by November 30, and has 60 days after a permanent order to file Form E insurance and a tariff with Form IOA-T.

Call 317-615-7200 (option 3, then option 1, as listed in the guide) or write to passengerhhg@dor.in.gov and ask:

• Whether that legal name holds current household-goods authority.
• Whether Form E insurance is on file.
• How you can review the tariff that is available to the public upon request.

Ask the company for the same information in writing, and compare the two answers. If the name on the website, the estimate, and the truck do not match the name on the authority, stop. Authority is issued to a business, not to a rented truck.

Indiana advertising rules for household-goods carriers, including 45 IAC 16-1-14, have required advertisements to include the name of the carrier and the "P.S.C.I. Certificate No." If a flyer, website, or yard sign omits that number, ask for it before you sign. A company that cannot produce a number, or that uses a USDOT number from another state as a substitute for Indiana authority on an in-state move, is not ready to book.

Get a written estimate that you can compare to the tariff. IC 8-2.1-22-23 provides that the carrier may not charge anything that is not included in the tariff. Keep the estimate, the inventory, photographs, and any later change orders. Do not prepay a large cash deposit to an unverified crew.

Where to take a complaint

If the carrier lacks authority, charges a fee that is not in the tariff, damages or loses goods and will not respond, or holds a shipment for an unagreed cash demand, write first to the company and keep a copy. Then contact Motor Carrier Services at the same phone and email, or at 7811 Milhouse Road, Suite M, Indianapolis, IN 46241, with the authority number, the dates, the estimate, the bill, and a short description of the problem.

You may also file with the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-382-5516 or on the Attorney General's website, especially if the issue looks like a deceptive practice rather than only a tariff dispute. For a move that crossed a state line, use FMCSA's complaint process at ProtectYourMove.gov as well, because interstate household-goods service is a federal matter.

Local police can help if a crew will not unload household goods unless you pay an amount that was never estimated or is not in the tariff. Document the scene, the truck identification, and the amount demanded. After the move, you can still pursue the DOR and Attorney General complaints.

Write the legal name, certificate number, estimate date, origin, destination, and promised delivery window on one sheet before the crew arrives. Photograph the truck's markings and, if it is safe to do so, the cab door or any authority sticker the carrier displays. After delivery, if damage or a shortage appears, send the company a dated letter with the inventory notations, photographs, and a specific dollar request, and copy Motor Carrier Services if the carrier does not respond. Keep the Attorney General's Consumer Protection number, 1-800-382-5516, with that file. For an interstate shipment, use ProtectYourMove.gov as well, because a state authority review will not replace an FMCSA complaint.

If an advertisement uses only a trade name, ask for the legal name on the certificate and confirm that name with Motor Carrier Services. Authority is issued to a business, and a slogan on a truck door is not a substitute. Keep the DOR guide's 60-day insurance and tariff filing window in mind: a newly approved company that has not yet filed Form E or its tariff may not be ready to haul your shipment, even if an application was approved.

FAQ

What number should appear in an Indiana mover's advertisement?

Household-goods advertising rules have required the carrier's name and the P.S.C.I. certificate number. Ask for that number if it is missing from a website or flyer.

Who keeps the public tariff?

The Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Services keeps the tariff on file and available to the public upon request.

How do I report a problem with an in-state move?

Contact Motor Carrier Services at 317-615-7200 or passengerhhg@dor.in.gov, and consider a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

Does this process cover a move from Kentucky or Michigan into Indiana?

No. A shipment that crosses a state line is interstate and is overseen by FMCSA. Use ProtectYourMove.gov in addition to any state contacts.

Next step

Write down the carrier's legal name and certificate number, confirm both with Motor Carrier Services, and keep the written estimate and tariff pages with your moving file.

Sources: Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services; Indiana Department of Revenue, Getting Started with Household Goods or Passenger Authority; Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division; ProtectYourMove.gov.

A company that moves household goods for hire inside Indiana must hold a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Services. Ask for the authority number in writing, and confirm that a current tariff and Form E insurance filing are on file before you book.

A truck with a logo is not, by itself, proof that the carrier is authorized.

What credentials should you see?

Indiana Code 8-2.1-22 requires carriers that transport household goods for hire to obtain that certificate from the Department of Revenue (DOR). The official "Getting Started with Household Goods or Passenger Authority" guide explains the process. Applications take 30 to 60 days, and a carrier is not authorized to transport during that time. If the application is approved, the company receives Permanent Indiana Operating Authority and must renew it every year by November 30.

Authority is not complete until insurance and a tariff are on file. After a permanent order, the carrier has 60 days to submit proof of insurance, which the insurance company files as a Form E, and a tariff with State Form IOA-T. A tariff outlines all rates and charges. IC 8-2.1-22-23 provides that the business may not charge anything that is not included in the tariff. DOR keeps the tariff on file and available to the public upon request. If both documents are not received within 60 days, the authority can be dismissed.

Ask every company that quotes an in-state move for:

• The legal name on its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, and the authority or certificate number. Older rules also referred to a P.S.C.I. number in advertising.
• Confirmation that Form E insurance and a current tariff are on file with DOR.
• A written estimate of charges that you can compare to the filed tariff.
• A physical business address, a working telephone number, and written complaint contacts.

You can contact Motor Carrier Services at 317-615-7200 (the household-goods guide lists option 3, then option 1) or passengerhhg@dor.in.gov to ask whether an authority is current and how to review the public tariff. Do not accept a claim that a friend's pickup, a labor-only crew, or an out-of-state USDOT number is a substitute for Indiana household-goods authority on an in-state shipment.

Interstate moves are different. If the shipment starts in another state and ends in Indiana, or the reverse, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the carrier. Check that company at ProtectYourMove.gov, and still get a written estimate. A carrier can be authorized for one type of move and not the other.

How to compare companies and avoid off-tariff charges

Once you have two or three authorized carriers, compare more than the headline price. Ask each company to show how the estimate was built from its filed tariff, including packing, stairs, long carries, and storage. If a number is not in the tariff, IC 8-2.1-22-23 is the reason to question it. Get a dated inventory, photograph furniture and electronics before the crew arrives, and do not sign a blank bill of lading.

Be cautious of a large cash deposit demanded before any survey, a demand that you pay the entire balance in cash only, a refusal to provide a written estimate or an authority number, or a crew that arrives in an unmarked truck and then asks for more money to unload. Indiana advertising rules for household-goods carriers have required the certificate or docket number to appear in advertisements. If a website or flyer has no authority number, ask why.

On moving day, walk the house with the crew leader before the truck leaves and again at delivery before you sign that you received the goods. If something is missing or damaged, note it on the delivery receipt and follow up in writing. DOR Motor Carrier Services is the state office that licenses the carrier. You can also contact the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division about a deceptive practice.

Motor Carrier Services is located at 7811 Milhouse Road, Suite M, Indianapolis, IN 46241. Keep that address, the 317-615-7200 number, and the passengerhhg@dor.in.gov email with your moving file, along with the written estimate and the certificate number. If a problem arises after delivery, write to the company first, then to Motor Carrier Services, and consider a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division when the conduct looks deceptive. Renewed authority is due every year by November 30, so a number that was valid last year is not automatically valid on your moving date.

FAQ

What authority does an in-state Indiana mover need?

A Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Services, under IC 8-2.1-22, plus a Form E insurance filing and a tariff on file with DOR.

How can I confirm the authority?

Ask the company for its legal name and certificate number, then contact Motor Carrier Services at 317-615-7200 or passengerhhg@dor.in.gov and ask whether the authority and tariff are on file.

Can the mover charge a fee that is not in its tariff?

The official DOR guide states that, per IC 8-2.1-22-23, the business may not charge anything that is not included in the tariff.

What if my move crosses a state line?

That is an interstate shipment under FMCSA rules. Verify the carrier at ProtectYourMove.gov, and do not rely only on an Indiana intrastate certificate.

Next step

Ask each company for written proof of Indiana household-goods authority, compare the written estimate to the filed tariff, and talk with a licensed local agent if you also want coverage for items the mover's cargo insurance may not fully protect.

Sources: Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services; Indiana Department of Revenue, Getting Started with Household Goods or Passenger Authority; ProtectYourMove.gov; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

An Indiana household-goods carrier may not charge anything that is not included in the tariff it files with the Department of Revenue. Ask for a written estimate, compare it to that public tariff, and do not pay a surprise fee that is not on the schedule.

The rule is in Indiana Code 8-2.1-22-23, as explained in the Department's household-goods authority guide.

What a tariff is, and why it matters to you

A tariff is a document that outlines all rates and charges of the business. After a carrier is approved for Permanent Indiana Operating Authority, it has 60 days to submit proof of Form E insurance and its tariff, with State Form IOA-T. The Department of Revenue (DOR) keeps the tariff on file and available to the public upon request. If the carrier changes its rates, it must submit an updated tariff with an effective date. The new filing then replaces the previous one.

That public file is your comparison tool. When a company quotes a price to move a household from, for example, Indianapolis to Fort Wayne, or from one Indianapolis address to another, the line items should be traceable to the tariff: transportation, packing, unpacking, piano or appliance handling, stairs, long carries, weekend service, and storage, if those services are offered. If a charge appears at the door that you cannot find in the tariff or on the written estimate, stop and ask for the tariff page before you pay.

Get the estimate in writing, with the legal name of the carrier, the authority or certificate number, the origin and destination, the inventory or volume the price is based on, the list of services, the total, and any conditions that would change the total. A verbal quote is hard to compare to a filed schedule. Ask whether the estimate is binding or subject to a later weight or volume calculation, and have the carrier show you how that method appears in the tariff.

You can request a copy of the tariff from the carrier and from Motor Carrier Services, 317-615-7200 or passengerhhg@dor.in.gov. Confirm at the same time that the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity is current. Authority must be renewed every year by November 30. An expired authority is a reason to choose another company, even if the quote is low.

Inventories, extras, and what to do if the bill changes

Walk through the house with the estimator and list rooms, heavy items, and access problems before the estimate is written. If you add a sofa or a third-floor move-out later, expect the price to change only in the way the tariff allows, and get that change in writing. Do not sign a blank authorization for extra labor. Photograph the inventory, and keep scale tickets or volume worksheets if the carrier uses them.

At delivery, compare the bill to the estimate and to the tariff. Pay only for services you agreed to and that the tariff authorizes. A demand for a large extra cash payment before the crew will unload is a warning sign. Call the company office, and if needed DOR or local law enforcement, before you hand over more money than the paperwork allows.

If you believe you were charged off-tariff, or that the carrier lacked authority, write to the company and to Motor Carrier Services with the estimate, the bill, the authority number, and a request to review the filed tariff. The Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division can also receive a complaint about a deceptive moving practice. An interstate shipment, by contrast, follows FMCSA estimate rules, which are not the same as Indiana's tariff requirement. Confirm which set of rules covers your shipment before you compare bids.

The tariff process is part of the same authority package as Form E insurance. A carrier that cannot show a current tariff, or that says the rates are "whatever we agree to today," is not following the filing system described in the DOR guide. Ask whether the estimate is based on weight, volume, or a flat tariff item, and have that method written on the estimate. If the crew later claims a heavier shipment, request the scale tickets or the volume worksheet before you pay a higher amount. Keep Motor Carrier Services, 317-615-7200 or passengerhhg@dor.in.gov, as the place to ask whether the tariff on file matches what you were billed.

FAQ

Where does the rule about tariff charges come from?

The DOR household-goods authority guide cites IC 8-2.1-22-23 and states that the business may not charge anything that is not included in the tariff.

Is the tariff a public document?

Yes. DOR keeps the tariff on file and available to the public upon request. You may also ask the carrier for a copy.

What should a written estimate include?

The carrier's legal name and authority number, origin and destination, the inventory or volume basis, the services included, the total price, and any conditions that would change the total, in terms you can compare to the tariff.

What if my move is from Illinois or Ohio into Indiana?

A shipment that crosses a state line is an interstate move under FMCSA rules. The Indiana tariff rule applies to intrastate household-goods service.

Next step

Ask each authorized Indiana carrier for a written estimate and a copy of the filed tariff, and contact Motor Carrier Services if a charge on the bill does not appear on that schedule.

Sources: Indiana Department of Revenue, Getting Started with Household Goods or Passenger Authority; Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services.

A household move that starts in another state and ends in Indiana, or the reverse, is an interstate shipment regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Verify the company at ProtectYourMove.gov, get a written estimate, and do not treat an Indiana in-state certificate as enough for a crossing-the-border move.

The federal rules on estimates, the booklet "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move," and cargo valuation apply to these shipments.

How to check the carrier before you sign

Go to ProtectYourMove.gov or the FMCSA company snapshot and look up the legal name and the USDOT or MC number. Confirm that the company has current interstate household-goods authority, insurance filings, and a safety record you are willing to accept. Ask whether the sales agent is booking for the same company that will actually haul the load. A broker should disclose that role in writing. If the name on the website, the estimate, and the truck do not match the FMCSA record, pause the booking.

FMCSA requires a written estimate for interstate household-goods moves. Ask whether the estimate is binding or non-binding, and have the estimator do a visual or virtual survey of the goods. Keep the estimate, the order for service, and the bill of lading. Federal rules also require the mover to give you the consumer booklet and to explain valuation options. Released-value coverage at the basic level is limited; you can usually purchase a higher declared value or a third-party policy. Compare those options in writing, and talk with a licensed local insurance agent if you want coverage that is not limited to the mover's valuation.

Do not make a large cash-only deposit to a crew you have not verified. Be cautious of a quote that is far below every other bid, a demand to pay the entire balance in cash before unloading, or a refusal to put the estimate in writing. Those are classic warning signs in FMCSA consumer materials. Photograph high-value items and complete a detailed inventory.

Indiana's Department of Revenue Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and the Indiana tariff rule apply to household-goods transportation for hire inside Indiana. They are not a substitute for FMCSA interstate authority. A company may hold one and not the other. If part of the job is an in-state shuttle after an interstate line-haul, ask in writing which carrier is responsible for each leg and which set of rules applies.

Delivery, claims, and new-resident tasks at the other end

At delivery, walk the truck with the crew and note damage or shortages on the inventory or bill of lading before you sign. Filing a claim later is harder if you signed that everything arrived in good condition. Follow the claim process and deadlines in the bill of lading and the FMCSA booklet. You can also submit a complaint at ProtectYourMove.gov. For a deceptive practice that began with an Indiana sales pitch, the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division may be an additional contact.

If Indiana is the destination, calendar the Bureau of Motor Vehicles new-resident deadlines: generally 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver license if you hold a valid out-of-state license, and 60 days to title and register vehicles you own, with proof of insurance required to buy a plate. Those tasks are separate from the moving contract, but they start when you become a resident, not when the last box is unpacked.

Ask who will actually drive the truck and whether interline or contracted carriers will handle any part of the haul. Get those names and USDOT numbers in writing, and look them up as well. Confirm the pickup and delivery window, any storage-in-transit, and how charges will be collected, including whether a credit card or a certified check is accepted at delivery. Federal rules limit how much a mover can demand above a non-binding estimate at delivery; read that section of the booklet before you pay. After an Indiana delivery, keep the Bureau of Motor Vehicles 60-day license and title deadlines on the same calendar as any moving claim, because those clocks start when you become a resident.

If a moving broker arranges the shipment, the broker should disclose that role in writing and identify the actual carrier. Look up both companies. Do not sign a blank inventory or a delivery receipt that waives obvious damage. Note shortages and broken items on the document before the truck leaves, then follow the claim process and deadlines in the bill of lading and the FMCSA booklet.

FAQ

When is a move to Indiana an interstate shipment?

When the household goods are transported from a point in another state to a point in Indiana, or from Indiana to another state. FMCSA, not the Indiana in-state tariff rule, is the primary regulator of that transportation.

How do I verify the company?

Look up the legal name and USDOT or MC number at ProtectYourMove.gov or in the FMCSA company snapshot, and confirm current household-goods authority and insurance.

Does an Indiana DOR certificate cover a move from Ohio?

No. An Indiana Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity covers in-state household-goods service. An interstate shipment requires FMCSA interstate authority.

What documents should I receive?

A written estimate, the FMCSA consumer booklet, an explanation of valuation options, an order for service, a bill of lading, and an inventory.

Next step

Look up each company at ProtectYourMove.gov, compare written estimates and valuation options, and talk with a licensed local agent about coverage for items the mover's valuation may not fully protect, especially if Indiana will be your new residence.

Sources: ProtectYourMove.gov; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services; Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, New Indiana Residents.

New Indiana residents generally have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver license if they hold a valid out-of-state license, and 60 days to apply for an Indiana title and registration for vehicles they own. Proof of insurance is required to buy a plate.

Visit a Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) branch, and bring the documents the BMV lists for identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residency.

Driver license for a new resident

The BMV new-residents page is the official checklist. If you hold a valid out-of-state license, you generally have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver license. You must surrender your other-state credentials. People age 18 and older with a valid out-of-state license typically present that license, or an official driving record or verification letter, plus proof of identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residency, and complete a vision screening.

If your out-of-state license is expired, you must take a knowledge exam. If it has been expired for more than five years, or if you have held a valid out-of-state license for less than one year, you must also take a skills test. The BMV may issue a temporary license valid for 30 days while documents are verified. Do not assume an online-only process; the BMV directs new residents to a branch.

Proof of Indiana residency is required. Follow the current acceptable-documents list on the BMV site, because the exact combination of documents can change. If you also need a REAL ID-compliant credential, confirm the extra documents before you go. An Indiana identification card is a separate product if you do not drive.

Title, registration, insurance, and local testing

The same 60-day clock applies to vehicles you already own. Apply for an Indiana title (the BMV refers to Form 1014 in its new-resident materials) or you may face an administrative penalty. At the branch you generally need the existing title, a VIN inspection completed at the branch or on State Form 39530 by law enforcement, proof of address dated within the last 60 days, a Social Security number or federal identification number as required, and proof of insurance. Emissions testing applies in Lake and Porter counties; confirm current testing rules if you will garage the vehicle there.

Indiana requires proof of financial responsibility to operate a motor vehicle and to obtain a plate. The state's auto insurance minimums are $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage. Bring a current insurance card or electronic proof that meets BMV requirements. If a prior state required you to file an SR-22, ask your insurer and the BMV whether Indiana still needs a filing after you transfer the license.

County excise tax and local registration fees are part of the plate transaction. The BMV publishes fee information, but amounts can depend on the vehicle and the county. If you are moving household goods at the same time, finish the BMV work on the 60-day timeline even if the moving truck is delayed. A licensed local insurance agent can help you place an Indiana auto policy before you go to the branch, because proof of insurance is part of the plate purchase.

Do not wait until day 59 to collect documents. Proof of address generally must be dated within the last 60 days, and a VIN inspection may require a branch visit or a law-enforcement inspection on State Form 39530. If your out-of-state license is expired, plan time for a knowledge exam and, in the cases the BMV lists, a skills test. A temporary license, when issued while documents are verified, is valid for 30 days. Surrender other-state credentials when you receive the Indiana license. If you will garage the vehicle in Lake or Porter County, ask the branch about current emissions-testing rules before you make a second trip. A licensed local insurance agent can place or transfer an auto policy so that proof of 25/50/25 financial responsibility is ready when you buy the plate.

Bring originals or certified copies of the documents on the current BMV acceptable-documents list, not screenshots of unrelated mail. If you will also need a REAL ID-compliant credential, confirm the extra documents before you travel to the branch, because a second visit can push you against the 60-day clock. Title work for a vehicle you already own uses Form 1014 in the BMV's new-resident materials, and an administrative penalty can apply if you miss that deadline.

FAQ

How long do I have to get an Indiana driver license?

If you hold a valid out-of-state license, the BMV generally allows 60 days after you become a resident to obtain an Indiana license, and you must surrender the other-state credentials.

How long do I have to title and register a vehicle I already own?

You generally have 60 days to apply for an Indiana title and registration, or you may face an administrative penalty.

Do I need insurance to get a plate?

Yes. Proof of insurance is required to buy an Indiana plate, and the state requires financial responsibility to operate a motor vehicle.

Will I need emissions testing?

The BMV notes emissions testing in Lake and Porter counties. Confirm current rules if the vehicle will be kept in those counties.

Next step

Schedule a BMV branch visit, gather the identity, residency, title, VIN, and insurance documents on the official new-resident list, and talk with a licensed local agent about an Indiana auto policy before the 60-day deadlines.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, New Indiana Residents; Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Proof of Financial Responsibility; Indiana Department of Insurance, Auto Insurance.

Indiana does not set a statewide cap on a residential security deposit. After the rental ends and you deliver possession, the landlord generally has 45 days to return the deposit, minus itemized amounts, once you have provided a written mailing address. Indiana Code 32-31-3 applies statewide, and a waiver of these rights is void.

What the 45-day return rule requires

IC 32-31-3-12 states that the landlord shall return the deposit minus any amount of accrued and unpaid rent, damages, and unpaid utility or sewer charges that the statute allows, in a written notice delivered not more than 45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. The landlord is not liable under the chapter until the tenant supplies a forwarding address in writing. Give that address in a dated letter or email you can keep, even if you think the landlord already has it.

Section 14 adds that, not more than 45 days after termination of occupancy, the landlord shall mail to the tenant an itemized list of damages claimed, with the estimated cost of repair for each, and a check or money order for the difference between the deposit and the amount claimed. If the landlord fails to provide that notice, section 15 treats the parties as agreeing that no damages are due, and the full deposit must be remitted immediately. Section 16 allows the tenant to recover the withheld part of the deposit, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs, when the landlord does not comply.

If the landlord fails to comply with the return rule in section 12, the tenant may recover all of the deposit due the tenant and reasonable attorney's fees. Keep a copy of the lease, move-in and move-out photos, the forwarding-address letter, and any itemized list you receive. The 45-day period runs from termination and delivery of possession, not from the day you first mention that you plan to leave.

These rules are statewide. Unlike some states that limit a uniform landlord-tenant act to certain counties, IC 32-31-3 is not written as a county-option statute. A city ordinance or a lease clause cannot validly waive the chapter, because section 17 makes a waiver void.

Allowed uses of the deposit, and what is not a cap

There is no Indiana statute that limits a deposit to one month's rent or any other fixed multiple. The amount is a matter of the lease, so read it before you sign and before you move. What the statute does limit is how the money may be used. Section 13 lists permitted uses, including actual damages not caused by ordinary wear and tear, rent arrearage or damages from premature termination, the last month's rent if the parties agreed in writing, and unpaid utility or sewer charges that the tenant was required to pay. Ordinary wear, a color preference for new paint, or a repair the landlord simply wants to make is not automatically a lawful deduction.

Do a walk-through at move-in and at move-out, and photograph each room, appliance, and any existing damage. Return the keys in the manner the lease requires so the delivery of possession date is clear. If the itemized list arrives late, or if it withholds money without estimated repair costs, write to the landlord citing the 45-day and itemization rules, and ask for the remainder. If that does not resolve the issue, a small-claims filing and a consultation with a tenant-rights or legal-aid office may be the next step. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division can also take complaints about certain deceptive practices, though a security-deposit dispute is often decided in a local court.

Put the forwarding address in writing even if you have already spoken to the landlord or the property manager. The statute ties the landlord's liability under the chapter to that written address. If you mail the letter, keep the receipt; if you email it, keep the sent message. Calendar day 45 from the date the rental ended and you delivered possession, and follow up in writing the day after if no itemized notice or check has arrived. When an itemized list does arrive, compare each claimed repair to your move-in photographs and to ordinary wear and tear. A deduction for unpaid rent or a utility bill should match amounts you can verify. If you go to small claims court, bring the lease, the photos, the forwarding-address letter, and IC 32-31-3-12 through 32-31-3-17 as your outline of the 45-day and itemization rules.

FAQ

Is there a statewide limit on how large a security deposit can be?

No. Indiana Code 32-31-3 does not set a cap on the amount. The lease sets the figure.

How soon must the deposit be returned?

The landlord generally must send the remainder and an itemized notice not more than 45 days after the rental agreement ends and you deliver possession, and after you have provided a written mailing address.

What if the landlord never sends an itemized list?

If the landlord fails to provide the notice required by section 14, the statute treats the parties as agreeing that no damages are due, and the full deposit must be remitted immediately.

Can a lease waive these rules?

No. IC 32-31-3-17 states that a waiver of the chapter is void.

Next step

Give the landlord a written forwarding address when you move out, photograph the unit, calendar the 45-day deadline, and talk with a licensed local agent or a housing attorney if the itemized return does not arrive or if deductions look inconsistent with the statute.

Sources: Indiana Code 32-31-3, Security Deposits; Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division.