Registering and titling a vehicle in Louisiana: new residents, purchases and renewals

How to title and register a new or used vehicle with the Louisiana OMV or a Public Tag Agent, what the Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799) needs, how to renew online, and how plates and insurance rules work.

Guide · Louisiana · Vehicle registration · Titles · updated October 29, 2026

Vehicle titles and registration in Louisiana are handled by the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), the same agency that issues driver's licenses. You can process a title in an OMV office or at a Public Tag Agent (PTA), or mail or deliver the paperwork to OMV headquarters in Baton Rouge. PTAs are state-authorized and may charge a convenience fee of up to $23 per transaction. This guide covers new and used vehicles, vehicles from other states, renewals, insurance and plates.

The basics

The OMV says all new and used vehicles must be titled with the OMV. The key form for any title or registration transaction is the Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799).

According to the OMV, Public Tag Agents can:

• Collect sales/use tax and registration fees
• Issue registrations and license plates
• Process title applications, including duplicate and corrected titles
• Handle plate transfers, replacements and registration renewals

Services vary by PTA, so check before you go. The OMV's office locator lists both OMV offices and PTAs.

Buying a new vehicle from a dealer

To title a new vehicle, the OMV lists:

• A completed Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799)
• The Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO), assigned from the dealer to you
• The dealer's original itemized invoice, with a full description of the vehicle, any trade-in, and the dealer's permit number
• A completed, signed odometer disclosure statement
• A UCC-1 financing statement or other security agreement, if a lien is being recorded
• Payment of fees

Buying a used vehicle

For a used vehicle, the OMV lists:

• A completed Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799)
• The current certificate of title, assigned by the seller to you before a notary, with any lien properly released
• A supplemental odometer statement, if the vehicle is not exempt and the title has no odometer disclosure
• An original notarized bill of sale or invoice showing the price and a full description of the vehicle. A separate bill of sale is not needed if the selling price is on the title assignment.
• A UCC-1 or other security agreement, if a lien is being recorded

For a license plate, add a copy of each owner's current photo ID. You also need proof of liability insurance, unless a licensed dealer is submitting the transfer.

If you are the seller, the OMV lets you report the sale, donation or trade online through the Notice of Vehicle Transfer. Your record is flagged right away. Ownership only legally transfers when the new owner applies for title.

Fees

The OMV lists these title and registration fees:

• $68.50 title fee
• $8.00 handling fee
• A local fee of up to $6.00 may apply
• $15.00 to record a lien with a UCC-1, or $10.00 with another security agreement

Automobile plate fees are based on the vehicle's selling price. The OMV gives the rate as 0.1% of the value per year, with a minimum base of $10,000. Plates are sold in two-year increments, so the minimum plate fee is $20.00.

Sales/use tax is based on where the vehicle is domiciled. It is charged on the sale price, minus any qualifying trade-in and rebate. The OMV links to a parish tax table.

Vehicles from out of state

The OMV's FAQ explains how to register a vehicle purchased out of state:

• Complete and sign the Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799).
• Submit the current certificate of title, with the assignment completed and notarized if applicable. Any recorded lien must be properly released.
• For vehicles less than 20 years old, include the federal odometer disclosure, on the title or as a separate statement.
• Include a notarized bill of sale or invoice if the title assignment does not show the date of sale, price and signatures.
• Include a copy of the owner's current photo ID.

The FAQ says all documents and fees must be submitted together, at a local OMV office or by mail to headquarters. The OMV title and registration pages do not state a registration deadline for new residents who bring a vehicle with them, so ask the OMV. Your driver's license must be transferred within 30 days. See the Louisiana driver license and ID card guide.

Renewing registration

The OMV lets you renew registration online with the Renewal Identification Number from your mailed renewal notice. You can also use the details on your current registration certificate. You need a Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express card.

If your renewal notice has no renewal ID number, the OMV says you are not eligible to renew online because more information is needed. Call the OMV at 225-925-6146.

You can also renew at an OMV office or a PTA that offers renewals. If you mail paperwork to headquarters, pay by personal or business check, cashier's check, money order or electronic funds transfer.

Insurance

The OMV says Louisiana law requires every vehicle you have registered to be covered by the required liability insurance or other security. It also says the law is enforced by civil and criminal penalties.

If you stop using a vehicle, cancel the plate before you cancel the insurance. Plates can be turned in at any OMV location or by mail, or cancelled online. If you cancel online, you do not need to turn the plate in, but you must remove it from the vehicle and destroy it.

Plates

Louisiana offers specialty and personalized plates. You can browse and request them through the OMV's Specialty Plates Viewer and personalized plate service. The vehicle must already be titled and registered in your name in Louisiana. For help, the OMV lists its Specialized Vehicle Unit at 225-925-6278.

When your new special or personalized plate arrives, the OMV's FAQ says your old plate is cancelled. You don't have to turn it in, but you should destroy it.

For office visits, see Visiting the Louisiana OMV and the Louisiana office list.