Louisiana License Plate Lookup /Car Registration for New Residents

Car Registration Requirements for New Louisiana Residents

Individuals relocating to Louisiana with a vehicle registered in another state must complete the title and registration transfer process. Louisiana law establishes specific obligations for new residents that begin upon establishing residency.

Timeline for New Louisiana Residents

Any person who is a new resident of Louisiana shall apply for a certificate of registration for each motor vehicle within thirty days of the date residency is established. Any motor vehicle owned and operated by a new resident on public streets and roadways shall bear a valid safety inspection certificate within thirty days of establishing residency. For purposes of Louisiana law, a person is considered to have established residency on the date a Louisiana driver's license is issued.

Establishing Louisiana Residency

Every vehicle required to be registered shall be registered in the parish of domicile of the owner. Domicile determines the applicable local fees and sales tax rates for vehicle registration.

Required Documentation for Car Registration in Louisiana

New residents must submit documentation to the Office of Motor Vehicles headquarters, an OMV office, or a Public Tag Agent location:

Essential Documents

Completed Vehicle Application form (DPSMV 1799)
Current certificate of title assigned before a notary by seller to purchaser, with properly released lien if applicable
Original notarized bill of sale or invoice specifying actual consideration and full vehicle description
Supplemental odometer disclosure statement if the vehicle is not exempt from odometer requirements and the title lacks a disclosure statement
Original or copy of properly completed UCC-1 form or security agreement if lien is recorded
Copy of each vehicle owner's current and valid photo identification (driver's license or identification card issued by Louisiana or another state)
Proof of liability insurance coverage unless vehicle transfer is submitted by a licensed vehicle dealer

Insurance Requirements

Louisiana law requires each vehicle to have 15/30/25 liability limits providing:

$15,000 for bodily injury to one person
$30,000 for bodily injury to more than one person in a single accident
$25,000 coverage for damage to someone else's vehicle or other property

Application Submission Methods

Applications may be mailed or delivered to OMV Headquarters, processed in person at an OMV office, or submitted at a Public Tag Agent location. Louisiana does not offer online title and registration processing for new residents transferring out-of-state vehicles.

Louisiana Vehicle Inspection Requirements

Safety Inspections

Louisiana requires annual safety inspections for all motor vehicles. The inspection fee is $10.00 per year of validity. Inspection stations retain $4.75 of each fee, with $4.00 transferred to the Office of State Police and $1.25 to the Office of Motor Vehicles.

Emissions Testing

The Louisiana emissions testing program operates in the five-parish Baton Rouge ozone nonattainment area. Only vehicles registered in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge parishes are subject to emissions testing.

Emissions testing is performed as part of annual safety inspections on gasoline-fueled vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.

Registration Fees and Costs in Louisiana

Title and Processing Fees

Title fee: $68.50
Lien recordation fee: $15.00 for UCC-1 financing statements
Lien recordation fee: $10.00 for other security agreement documents
Handling fee: $8.00
Local fee: up to $6.00 (varies by parish)

License Plate Fees

Automobile license plates are based upon the selling price of the vehicle at a rate of 0.1% of value per year. License plates are sold in two-year increments with a minimum base of $10,000, resulting in a minimum fee of $20.00.

Motorcycle plates: $12.00 (valid for 4 years)
Motor home plates: $50.00 (valid for 2 years)
Truck plates (up to 6,000 lbs GVW): $40.00 (valid for 4 years)
Truck plates (6,001 lbs - 10,000 lbs): $112.00 (valid for 4 years)

Sales Tax

Sales tax is assessed on the sales price of the vehicle minus any qualifying trade vehicle and rebate. Tax rates vary by parish of domicile.

Contact Information

Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LOUISIANA 70896
Phone: (225) 925-6146
Louisiana OMV

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Planning and Assessment Division
Emissions Inspection Program
Phone: (225) 219-3570 or (225) 219-3571
Louisiana DEQ

Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit
Phone: (225) 925-6113 ext. 257
Louisiana State Police

Louisiana Department of Insurance
P.O. Box 94214, Baton Rouge, LOUISIANA 70804
Phone: 1-800-259-5300
Louisiana Insurance