Louisiana DMV Services

🕐 When You Must Title & Register

• Time limit after purchase: Generally, you have about 40–60 days from the date you buy or acquire a vehicle to apply for the title and register it in your name to avoid late penalties.
• New residents: If you move to Louisiana with an out‑of‑state car, you must register and title it within 30 days of establishing residency.

🧾 1. Essential Documents for Titling

🆕 New Cars

• Vehicle Application (Form DPSMV 1799) — this is the title/registration form used in Louisiana.
• Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) — assigned and signed over to you by the dealer.
• Dealer’s Invoice — itemized and showing vehicle details, VIN, and dealer permit number; notarization may be required in some cases.
• Odometer Disclosure Statement, if the vehicle is under 10 years old.
• Proof of insurance (if you’re getting plates with the title/registration; dealers often handle this for new cars).

🚗 Used Cars (Louisiana or Out‑of‑State)

• Current title signed before a notary public from the seller to you — all seller and buyer information must be completed.
  • If the vehicle was in a state requiring notarization, that notarization is valid; otherwise, Louisiana still often requires it.
• Bill of Sale or Invoice showing sale price, buyer and seller names, VIN, year, make, and model (notarized if required).
• Odometer Disclosure Statement (if less than 10 years old and not shown on title).
• UCC‑1 Financing Statement or lien documents, if the vehicle has a loan you’re recording.
• Proof of liability insurance (required unless the sale is through a licensed dealer).

If the vehicle is financed and the lienholder keeps the title (“foreign title held by lienholder”), you can often use a copy of the out‑of‑state title showing the lien or valid registration that lists the lienholder instead.

🛡️ 2. Identification & Insurance

• Valid photo identification (driver’s license or other state/US ID) for each owner.
• Proof of Louisiana liability insurance from a company licensed to do business in the state is required before registration is issued.
• Insurance minimums in Louisiana are typically:
  • $15,000 bodily injury per person,
  • $30,000 bodily injury per accident,
  • $25,000 property damage — though you should verify current minimums with your insurer.

💰 5. Sales tax 

When you title and register a vehicle in Louisiana you’ll typically pay:

• Sales/use tax: State and parish taxes apply; based on purchase price minus trade‑in credit (parish tax rates vary).

Fees and taxes can vary by parish, so your total will depend on where you live.

• Trade in allowed only on vehicles registered in LA under the same buyers name and will require a copy of LA registration
• Reciprocal with CA but dealer will need to provide a CA CDTFA letter stating tax collected
• For leases sales tax is paid monthly

🧠 Quick Checklist 

✔ Original title or MCO
✔ Original odometer
✔ Bill of Sale or purchase order
✔ Vehicle color
✔ Proof of Louisiana auto insurance
✔ Valid photo ID or EIN/FEIN number
✔ Bill of sale or purchase order
✔ Copy of contract
✔ Fees/taxes
✔ Power of attorney