Putnam County drivers who need an Indiana Driver Safety Program can complete the BMV-approved course online through ABetterDriver.com. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles currently lists ABetterDriver.com as an approved Driver Safety Program provider offering online and DVD courses. Every BMV-approved DSP must be at least four hours long.
ABetterDriver.com currently offers its Indiana online Driver Safety Program for $28.95. The course can be completed online at the driver's own pace, and ABetterDriver.com reports successful completion directly to the Indiana BMV.
Putnam County had an estimated 37,876 residents in 2025. Greencastle is the county seat and largest city, while Cloverdale is the second-largest incorporated community. Putnam County's driving environment is unusually varied for a west-central Indiana county because U.S. 231 connects Greencastle and DePauw University with the I-70 corridor near Cloverdale, while U.S. 40, rural roads, state highways, and recreation areas create additional traffic patterns.
Take Your Indiana Driver Safety Program Online
Drivers in Greencastle, Cloverdale, Roachdale, Bainbridge, Fillmore, Russellville, and unincorporated Putnam County can complete a BMV-approved DSP online rather than traveling to a classroom. The Indiana BMV currently identifies ABetterDriver.com as an approved online provider.
The online course may be used when:
The Indiana BMV has required you to complete a Driver Safety Program.
You voluntarily want the Indiana four-point credit and meet the current BMV rules.
A court specifically tells you to complete a BMV-approved DSP.
Drivers taking a course because of a Putnam County court order should read the order carefully. Indiana BMV states that a court may order a Driver Safety Program without necessarily requiring a BMV-approved DSP.
Who Takes an Indiana Driver Safety Program?
There are several reasons an Indiana driver may take traffic school or defensive driving. These programs are not automatically interchangeable.
BMV-Required Driver Safety Program
Indiana law provides that a person convicted of two or more traffic offenses during a 12-month period may be required to complete a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program. A driver under age 21 must complete a DSP after two or more traffic-offense convictions.
After the BMV sends notice, the driver must complete the required course within 90 days or driving privileges can be suspended. This is a statewide BMV requirement and does not depend on whether the convictions occurred in Putnam County.
Voluntary Indiana 4-Point Credit
Any Indiana driver may voluntarily complete a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program. After successful completion, the BMV applies a four-point credit to the driver's Indiana Official Driver Record. The credit may be applied once every three years.
Indiana moving-violation points remain active for two years from the conviction date. The four-point credit does not erase a Putnam County ticket or remove the underlying conviction from driver history.
Court-Ordered or Court-Referred Drivers
A Putnam County judge may separately order a driver to complete a driving or traffic-safety course.
That court requirement is different from:
A BMV-required DSP.
The voluntary Indiana four-point credit.
Putnam County's Infraction Deferral Program.
Indiana BMV specifically states that a court order may not necessarily require a BMV-approved DSP. Drivers should confirm exactly what Putnam Superior Court requires before enrolling for a court-ordered purpose.
How Long Is the Indiana Driver Safety Program?
Every Indiana BMV-approved DSP must be at least four hours long. Approved courses may be offered online, by DVD, or in a classroom. The BMV currently limits the maximum charge for an approved DSP to $55.
ABetterDriver.com currently lists its online Indiana Driver Safety Program for $28.95.
The BMV advises allowing approximately 7 to 10 business days for course completion results to be processed. Its current FAQ states that a four-point credit is generally applied within 7 to 14 business days after the BMV receives the provider's completion notification.
Drivers facing a BMV or court deadline should not wait until the final day to complete the course.
How the Indiana 4-Point Credit Works
Successful completion of a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program produces a four-point credit on the driver's Indiana Official Driver Record. The credit may be applied once every three years.
If another approved DSP is completed before the three-year period expires, the BMV does not add another four-point credit. Instead, the existing credit period is extended for three years from the new completion date.
For a Putnam County driver with a pending citation, remember:
The four-point credit does not dismiss the citation.
A DSP does not remove the conviction.
Taking the DSP does not automatically qualify a driver for Putnam County deferral.
The Prosecutor's Infraction Deferral Program has separate eligibility requirements.
A court-ordered driving program may have requirements different from the BMV-approved DSP.
The BMV expressly states that completing a DSP does not remove a citation from driver history.
Driving in Putnam County: U.S. 231, Greencastle, DePauw and I-70
Putnam County's estimated population increased from 36,726 in 2020 to 37,876 in 2025. Greencastle alone had an estimated 9,924 residents in 2025, accounting for more than one-quarter of the county's population.
The county's major communities remain relatively separated rather than forming one continuous urban area. This means Putnam County drivers move between city streets, rural highways, small towns, college-area streets, and interstate access.
Three transportation environments particularly distinguish the county:
The U.S. 231 corridor through Greencastle.
I-70 and the U.S. 231 interchange at Cloverdale.
Rural travel on U.S. 40 and other highways outside Greencastle and Cloverdale.
DePauw University adds another distinctive element. The university reported 1,858 students for fall 2025, a significant presence in a city with fewer than 10,000 permanent residents.
Putnam County's Primary Driving Issue: The U.S. 231 Corridor
U.S. 231 is the clearest transportation spine connecting Putnam County's major driving environments.
It runs through Greencastle, continues south toward Cloverdale, and intersects I-70 at Exit 41. INDOT also identifies the S.R. 243 interchange at Exit 37 in Putnam County.
In Greencastle, U.S. 231 passes through the county seat and near the DePauw University environment. Historical INDOT project documentation identifies the route locally as Bloomington Street, Washington Street, and Jackson Street through Greencastle.
Farther south, the same highway becomes a primary connection to I-70 at Cloverdale. That creates an unusual transition for one route from downtown and university-area travel to interstate-oriented traffic.
Current 2026 U.S. 231 Work
INDOT's May 2026 highway letting includes a current contract for small-structure and drainage construction on U.S. 231 in Putnam County, extending from 0.79 mile north of U.S. 40 to 0.37 mile south of S.R. 240. The contract lists an October 16, 2026 completion date.
This project is directly relevant to local drivers because it affects the U.S. 231 corridor approaching Greencastle from the south.
It is more useful to highlight this verified current project than to add generic construction language that could appear on any Indiana county page.
Greencastle and DePauw University Traffic
Greencastle is Putnam County's largest incorporated municipality, with an estimated 9,924 residents in 2025. It is also the county seat, location of the courthouse and BMV branch, and home of DePauw University.
DePauw reported a fall 2025 enrollment of 1,858 students, including 1,847 degree students.
The university's academic calendar produces recurring periods when students and families arrive on campus. DePauw documented its Class of 2029 arriving for move-in in August 2025. It is reasonable to expect campus arrival, departure, commencement, and major event periods to change vehicle and pedestrian activity around the campus, although no current authoritative source located during this research publishes a specific congestion figure for those events.
Drivers approaching downtown Greencastle and the DePauw area should therefore expect a different road environment from the rural portions of U.S. 231.
I-70 and Cloverdale
Cloverdale is the second-largest incorporated municipality in Putnam County, with an estimated 2,174 residents in 2025.
Its transportation significance is much greater than its population alone suggests.
INDOT identifies the U.S. 231/Cloverdale interchange as I-70 Exit 41. It also identifies the nearby S.R. 243/Putnamville interchange as Exit 37.
This means drivers in southern Putnam County encounter through interstate traffic, commercial vehicles, travelers entering and leaving I-70, and local traffic using U.S. 231.
The combination gives Cloverdale a substantially different traffic profile from Greencastle, Bainbridge, Roachdale, or Russellville.
U.S. 40 Through Putnam County
U.S. 40 is another significant east-west corridor through Putnam County.
Current INDOT programming includes roadway work on U.S. 40 from the Big Walnut Creek Bridge area east toward U.S. 231, with construction funding programmed for 2027.
INDOT also let a separate 2026 scour-protection contract for the U.S. 40 structure over Walnut Creek, approximately 6.61 miles west of S.R. 243. The contract lists an October 31, 2026 completion date.
These projects demonstrate continuing state investment in a corridor that connects western Putnam County with U.S. 231 and the Greencastle area.
Rural Driving and Recreation Areas
Outside Greencastle and Cloverdale, much of Putnam County travel occurs on rural highways and county roads.
One important recreation destination is Deer Creek Fish & Wildlife Area, located at 2001 W. County Road 600 S. in Greencastle. Indiana DNR describes Deer Creek as approximately 2,175 acres containing mature woods, native grasses, and agricultural habitat.
Putnam County is also associated with Owen-Putnam State Forest, which DNR lists at approximately 6,718 acres and offers hiking, biking, equestrian trails, camping, and hunting.
These recreation properties add seasonal and weekend travel on rural roads, although no authoritative traffic count located in this research supports claiming that they routinely create congestion.
Major Roads and Highways in Putnam County
U.S. 231
U.S. 231 is the county's principal north-south corridor.
It connects Greencastle with the Cloverdale and I-70 area and is central to several current or recent INDOT projects.
Interstate 70
I-70 crosses southern Putnam County.
Important Putnam County exits include:
Exit 37: S.R. 243, Putnamville.
Exit 41: U.S. 231, Cloverdale.
I-70 gives southern Putnam County direct connections toward Terre Haute to the west and the Indianapolis metropolitan area to the east.
U.S. 40
U.S. 40 runs east-west through Putnam County and intersects U.S. 231. Current INDOT programming includes work on portions of U.S. 40 west of U.S. 231.
State Road 240
S.R. 240 connects the Greencastle area eastward. Current INDOT U.S. 231 work is specifically described relative to S.R. 240, confirming the corridor's role in the Greencastle road network.
State Road 243
S.R. 243 connects directly with I-70 at Exit 37 in Putnam County.
State Road 236
S.R. 236 serves northern Putnam County. INDOT's recent bridge work on U.S. 231 over Big Raccoon Creek is identified as being just north of the S.R. 236 junction.
Current Transportation Work in Putnam County
Putnam County has several current or programmed transportation projects worth noting.
U.S. 231 Small Structures and Drainage
INDOT let a 2026 contract covering U.S. 231 from 0.79 mile north of U.S. 40 to 0.37 mile south of S.R. 240. The contract completion date is October 16, 2026.
U.S. 40 Walnut Creek Scour Protection
A separate INDOT contract covers scour protection on U.S. 40 over Walnut Creek, 6.61 miles west of S.R. 243, with an October 31, 2026 contract completion date.
Future U.S. 40 Work Toward U.S. 231
The current 2026-2030 transportation program includes additional work on U.S. 40 from the Big Walnut Creek Bridge area to just west of U.S. 231, with construction funding moved into fiscal year 2027.
Drivers should use INDOT's current travel-condition resources to check construction and restrictions before traveling through an active work area because project schedules and traffic controls can change.
Courts Handling Traffic Tickets in Putnam County
Ordinary Putnam County traffic infractions are administered through Putnam Superior Court.
The official Putnam County Clerk website places its Traffic Infractions division under Superior Court and specifically identifies traffic infractions among the services handled there.
Current Putnam County local rules also state that the county Magistrate Judge hears IF cases, the Indiana case designation used for infractions.
Putnam Superior Court
Putnam Superior CourtOne Courthouse Square, #33Greencastle, IN 46135Phone: 765-653-2658
The current Indiana Judicial Branch directory confirms the court's address and phone number.
The Putnam County Clerk's current website specifically places:
Traffic infractions
Traffic-ticket payment
Criminal cases
Small claims
under the Superior Court section.
Putnam County Clerk
Putnam County ClerkOne Courthouse SquareGreencastle, IN 46135Phone: 765-653-2648
The current Judicial Branch directory confirms the Clerk's location and contact information.
The Clerk's traffic page states that drivers generally have 90 days from the citation date to return the traffic form with a payment, denial, or deferral response. A separate and shorter deadline applies if the driver wants the Prosecutor's deferral program.
What About Putnam Circuit Court?
Putnam Circuit Court is also located at One Courthouse Square, but the county's official traffic-ticket pages direct ordinary traffic infractions through Superior Court. The current local allocation rules divide other civil and criminal cases between Circuit and Superior Courts and state that the magistrate hears IF cases.
A driver should still verify the actual court shown on the citation or Indiana MyCase, especially if the citation involves a criminal traffic offense rather than an ordinary civil infraction.
Can I Take Traffic School for a Putnam County Traffic Ticket?
Possibly. The answer depends on what you are trying to accomplish.
If the Indiana BMV Ordered You to Take a DSP
Yes. ABetterDriver.com is currently listed by the BMV as an approved Driver Safety Program provider and offers the program online.
If You Want the Voluntary Four-Point Credit
Any Indiana driver may take a BMV-approved DSP, subject to the once-every-three-years four-point-credit rule.
If Putnam Superior Court Ordered a Course
Check the court order before enrolling. A court-required driving program is not necessarily required to be a BMV-approved DSP.
If You Want Putnam County Infraction Deferral
Putnam County has a separate, detailed Prosecutor-administered Infraction Deferral Program. Do not simply pay the ticket or take a course and assume the citation will be deferred. Follow the Prosecutor's eligibility and application requirements.
Putnam County Infraction Deferral Program
Putnam County currently publishes detailed rules for its Traffic Infraction Deferral Program.
The Prosecutor states that a driver must enter the program within 60 days of receiving the ticket. The deferral period begins when the signed agreement is filed with the Prosecutor's Office. For qualifying speeding offenses, deferral paperwork is mailed automatically.
This 60-day deferral deadline is important because the Clerk's general traffic page separately states that drivers have 90 days to return the traffic form with a payment, denial, or deferral. Drivers seeking deferral should follow the Prosecutor's shorter 60-day deadline.
Current Putnam County Deferral Eligibility
The Prosecutor currently states that a driver must:
Have no moving-violation conviction during the previous 12 months.
Have not participated in a pretrial diversion or deferral program in any county within the previous 12 months.
Not hold a commercial driver's license, even if the citation was received while driving a noncommercial vehicle.
Citations Currently Excluded From Deferral
Putnam County states that it does not offer infraction deferral for:
Speeding in a work or construction zone.
Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.
Disregarding a flagman or police officer controlling traffic.
Tickets resulting from a traffic accident.
Speeding 27 mph or more over the posted speed limit.
These are current published exclusions. Drivers should still obtain approval from the Prosecutor rather than assuming eligibility from this list alone.
Putnam County Speeding Deferral Length and Cost
The Prosecutor currently publishes the following speeding schedule:
1 to 15 mph Over the Limit
Program length: 6 monthsCurrent cost: $192.50
16 to 25 mph Over the Limit
Program length: 9 monthsCurrent cost: $222.50
26 mph Over the Limit
Program length: 12 monthsCurrent cost: $252.50
Speeding at 27 mph or more over the posted limit is listed as ineligible for deferral.
Can CDL Holders Use Putnam County Infraction Deferral?
No. The current Putnam County Prosecutor's rules expressly state that a person holding a commercial driver's license is not eligible for the program, even if the driver was not operating a commercial vehicle when cited.
The county Clerk's traffic page separately repeats that no deferral will be offered to a person with a CDL.
Does Putnam County Deferral Require Traffic School?
The current public deferral rules do not state that a defensive-driving course or BMV-approved Driver Safety Program is a standard requirement of the Putnam County Infraction Deferral Program.
Therefore, ABetterDriver.com should not state that completing its DSP automatically satisfies Putnam County deferral.
A driver should enroll in ABetterDriver.com for a deferral purpose only if the Prosecutor or court specifically tells the driver that the course is required and acceptable.
Putnam County Deferral Contact
The current Prosecutor page identifies the Infraction Deferral Program Coordinator and lists the deferral contact number as 765-653-9466.
The county's current Prosecutor page identifies Austin Malayer as Putnam County Prosecutor.
Special Rule for Drivers Ages 16 to 18
Putnam County's current traffic-infraction page contains an unusually specific local instruction stating that all 16- to 18-year-old violators must attend defensive driving school and pay the applicable judgment.
This is a local published court instruction and is distinct from the statewide BMV rule for drivers under age 21.
However, the county traffic page does not expressly state on that page that the required defensive-driving school must be a BMV-approved DSP or that ABetterDriver.com is automatically accepted for this local requirement. A 16- to 18-year-old driver should therefore confirm the approved course with the Clerk before enrolling for this specific court requirement.
BMV Branch Information
Putnam County currently has an Indiana BMV branch in Greencastle.
Greencastle BMV Branch
Greencastle BMV Branch1010 Mill Pond LaneGreencastle, IN 46135BMV Customer Service: 888-692-6841
The Indiana BMV's current branch list confirms the location. Current listed hours are Tuesday through Saturday, with the branch closed Sunday and Monday. Drivers should verify hours before visiting because branch schedules can change.
A driver does not need to visit the Greencastle branch merely to complete an approved Driver Safety Program. ABetterDriver.com is approved to offer the DSP online.
Putnam County Driver Safety Program FAQ
Is ABetterDriver.com approved by the Indiana BMV?
Yes. The current Indiana BMV approved-provider list includes ABetterDriver.com and identifies it as offering online and DVD Driver Safety Programs.
Can I take Putnam County traffic school online?
If you need a BMV-approved Indiana Driver Safety Program, yes. Indiana permits approved DSP providers to offer the program online, and ABetterDriver.com is currently listed as an online provider.
How long is the Indiana Driver Safety Program?
Every Indiana BMV-approved DSP must be at least four hours long.
How much does the ABetterDriver.com Indiana DSP cost?
ABetterDriver.com currently lists its online Indiana Driver Safety Program for $28.95.
Can I take the course for the Indiana four-point credit?
Yes. Any Indiana driver may take a BMV-approved DSP. Successful completion produces a four-point credit under the BMV's current rules, subject to the once-every-three-years restriction.
Does the four-point credit erase my Putnam County ticket?
No. Indiana BMV expressly states that completing a Driver Safety Program does not remove a citation from driver history.
Which court handles ordinary Putnam County traffic infractions?
Putnam County's official Clerk website places traffic infractions under Putnam Superior Court, and current local rules state that the magistrate hears IF cases.
Where is Putnam Superior Court?
Putnam Superior Court is located at One Courthouse Square, #33, Greencastle, Indiana 46135.
Does Putnam County have a traffic-ticket deferral program?
Yes. The Putnam County Prosecutor currently publishes a Traffic Infraction Deferral Program with detailed eligibility requirements.
How quickly must I apply for Putnam County deferral?
The Prosecutor states that a driver must enter the program within 60 days after receiving the ticket.
Can I receive Putnam County deferral if I have a CDL?
No. The Prosecutor expressly excludes commercial driver's license holders.
Can I receive deferral for speeding 27 mph over the limit?
No. The current Prosecutor rules state that speeding citations for 27 mph or more above the posted limit are not eligible. A 26 mph-over citation is currently placed in the 12-month program category.
How much does Putnam County speeding deferral cost?
The current Prosecutor schedule is $192.50 for 1 to 15 mph over, $222.50 for 16 to 25 mph over, and $252.50 for exactly 26 mph over. Program periods are six, nine, and twelve months respectively.
Does Putnam County deferral require traffic school?
The current published deferral criteria do not state that a Driver Safety Program or defensive-driving course is a standard requirement. Drivers should not enroll solely for deferral unless the Prosecutor or court confirms that a course is required.
Are teenage drivers subject to a special Putnam County traffic-school rule?
The current county traffic-infraction page states that all violators ages 16 through 18 must attend defensive driving school and pay the applicable judgment. The page does not expressly identify which providers satisfy that requirement, so the driver should confirm acceptance with the Clerk.
What is the most important highway in Putnam County?
U.S. 231 is particularly important because it runs through Greencastle and connects south to I-70 at Cloverdale. INDOT identifies the U.S. 231/Cloverdale interchange as I-70 Exit 41.
What makes driving in Putnam County different?
Putnam County combines a college-town environment around DePauw University and Greencastle, the U.S. 231 corridor, I-70 access at Cloverdale, U.S. 40 travel, rural roads, and recreation destinations such as Deer Creek Fish & Wildlife Area.
Is there current construction on U.S. 231?
INDOT let a 2026 small-structures and drainage contract covering U.S. 231 from north of U.S. 40 to south of S.R. 240. The published contract completion date is October 16, 2026.
Is there a BMV branch in Putnam County?
Yes. The current BMV branch list identifies the Greencastle BMV Branch at 1010 Mill Pond Lane.
Complete Your Putnam County Indiana Driver Safety Program Online
Putnam County drivers who have received a BMV Driver Safety Program requirement or want the voluntary Indiana four-point credit can complete a BMV-approved DSP online through ABetterDriver.com.
The Indiana BMV currently lists ABetterDriver.com as an approved provider offering an online course.
ABetterDriver.com currently lists the Indiana online course for $28.95.
If your requirement comes directly from Putnam Superior Court or the Putnam County Prosecutor, verify exactly what is required before enrolling. A BMV-approved DSP, a court-ordered defensive-driving requirement, and Putnam County's Infraction Deferral Program are separate processes.
Complete your Putnam County Indiana Driver Safety Program online with ABetterDriver.com.
Cities and Towns in Putnam County
Putnam County has six incorporated municipalities. Greencastle is the county's only incorporated city. Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Fillmore, Roachdale, and Russellville are incorporated towns. Current STATS Indiana population estimates and Indiana DLGF records support these municipal classifications.
Greencastle is by far the largest incorporated community, followed by Cloverdale and Roachdale.
Complete List of Incorporated Cities and Towns in Putnam County
City
Greencastle - estimated 2025 population: 9,924
Towns
Cloverdale - estimated 2025 population: 2,174
Roachdale - estimated 2025 population: 865
Bainbridge - estimated 2025 population: 707
Fillmore - estimated 2025 population: 553
Russellville - estimated 2025 population: 313
Indiana DLGF's current 2026 records independently identify Greencastle as a civil city and Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Fillmore, Roachdale, and Russellville as civil towns.