Indiana Gun Transportation Laws: Car, Work, School, Air

Can you keep a gun in your car in Indiana?

Yes, if you are allowed to carry. Since July 1, 2022, an adult 18 or older who is not prohibited under IC 35-47-2-1.5 can carry a handgun in a vehicle without a license. The Indiana State Police describe the change as removing the permit requirement to carry, conceal or transport a handgun within the state. Indiana does not require a license for rifles or shotguns at all.

If you are a prohibited person, none of this applies. For people who are prohibited from carrying but not from possessing, IC 35-47-2-1(b) lists narrow situations where a handgun may be carried, including in a vehicle if it is unloaded, not readily accessible and secured in a case. If that describes you, talk to an attorney before moving a gun anywhere.

Guns in your car at work

Indiana’s parking lot law, IC 34-28-7-2, says an employer generally can’t adopt or enforce a rule that prohibits employees from keeping a legally owned firearm or ammunition:

• locked in the trunk of the employee’s vehicle,
• in the glove compartment of the employee’s locked vehicle, or
• stored out of plain sight in the employee’s locked vehicle.

There are exceptions. The law lists child care facilities, certain group homes, postsecondary schools, domestic violence shelters, an employer’s residence, facilities licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, certain electric utility property, and situations where federal law prohibits it, among others. Penal facilities have their own storage requirements. The law also does not let you carry the gun into the workplace itself if your employer bans it.

Guns in school parking lots

Possessing a firearm on school property or a school bus is a Level 6 felony under IC 35-47-9-2. There is a defense when the firearm is locked in the trunk, kept in the glove compartment of a locked vehicle, or stored out of plain sight in a locked vehicle. IC 35-47-9-1 contains a similar exception for vehicles, with limits for enrolled high school students.

Leaving a gun in plain view in a vehicle parked in a school parking lot is a separate Class A misdemeanor under IC 35-47-9-2(c). If you drop off or pick up kids, keep the gun locked and out of sight.

Federal law adds a wrinkle. The Gun-Free School Zones Act, 18 U.S.C. 922(q), covers the area within 1,000 feet of a school. It has exceptions for people licensed by the state where the school is, and for guns that are unloaded and in a locked container or locked rack in a vehicle. Permitless carry is not a license, which is one reason the Indiana State Police still suggest getting the free license to carry.

Driving through other states

Indiana’s permitless carry law stops at the state line. The federal Firearm Owners Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. 926A, protects you when you travel from a place where you can legally have the gun to another place where you can legally have it, if:

• the gun is unloaded,
• neither the gun nor ammunition is readily accessible from the passenger compartment, and
• in a vehicle without a trunk, the gun is in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

Illinois is the neighbor that trips people up. It does not honor out-of-state carry licenses for general carry. It lets non-residents keep a concealed firearm in their vehicle only if they are eligible to carry in their home state and hold a carry license from that state (430 ILCS 66/40). An Indiana resident carrying without a license doesn’t meet that rule. If you cross into Illinois, either follow the 926A rules or get the Indiana license and learn Illinois’ limits first.

Flying with a gun from Indiana

TSA rules apply at every airport:

1. Firearms go in checked baggage only, never carry-on.
2. The gun must be unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided container.
3. Declare it to the airline at the ticket counter.
4. Check the airline’s own rules on ammunition and magazines.

Indiana law also makes it a crime to enter an airport inspection area with a firearm (IC 35-47-6-1.3), and to check a bag you know contains a firearm without telling the airline (IC 35-47-6-1.1). Empty your bags and car before you head to the checkpoint.

Shipping a gun instead

Sometimes it’s easier to ship. Federal rules apply, and in most cases the gun goes to a licensed dealer. See how to ship a gun, or use us for the receiving end: FFL transfers at Condition Red Tactical are $35 for the first firearm.

Practical tips for carrying in a vehicle

• Use a holster or a mounted holster. A loose gun under the seat is a safety problem.
• Don’t leave guns in an unattended car if you can help it. If you must, lock them in a vehicle safe and out of sight.
• Keep ammo in its box or magazines and away from heat when stored.

Gun laws change, and this guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current Indiana Code or talk to an Indiana attorney about your specific situation.