1. (a) A school corporation that owns a school bus or a special purpose bus and uses the school bus or special purpose bus to transport students is exempt from the payment of the annual registration fee for the school bus or special purpose bus. On application by a school corporation, the commissioner of motor vehicles shall furnish registration number plates for exempted vehicles without charge. Application for registration of exempted vehicles shall be:

   1. (1) made whenever a newly acquired school bus or special purpose bus requires a registration number plate;
   2. (2) made whenever a registration number plate is transferred from one (1) school bus or special purpose bus owned by the school corporation to another school bus or special purpose bus owned by the school corporation;
   3. (3) made in the name of the school corporation that owns the school bus or special purpose bus to be registered; and
   4. (4) signed by the proper official of the school corporation.

2. (b) An owner other than a school corporation that owns a school bus or a special purpose bus and uses the school bus or special purpose bus to transport students is not exempt from annual registration under IC 9-18.1-3 or payment of the annual registration fee for school buses.

   [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-9.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.31-2008, SEC.5; P.L.257-2017, SEC.45.