Louisiana
Vehicle Resource Center
Louisiana is well-known for its rich culture, New Orleans, Jazz, and Cajun culture, but few people consider how much driving goes on within the state. There are millions of Louisiana citizens who drive every day. They own vehicles and travel regularly, and doing so comes with its own unique challenges. As a vehicle owner and a driver in Louisiana, there are laws to follow, paperwork to complete, licenses and registrations to renew and so much more.
Ownership and Maintenance
Owning and maintaining a vehicle in Louisiana successfully largely comes down to filing the right papers, maintaining an acceptable insurance policy, and taking care of regular tasks like driver's license renewals. The list of to-do's isn't long, but it can feel overwhelming. With clear information explaining each of these essential tasks, things become much easier.
Louisiana requires each vehicle owner to maintain liability insurance on the vehicle to protect against damages caused during an accident. There are specific liability standards that must be met as a Louisiana citizen, and they are abbreviated as 15/30/25.
This abbreviation means the following coverage limits:
- $15,000 for individual injury costs
- $30,000 for full accident injury costs
- $25,000 for property damage costs
If the minimum limits above are met, the owner is said to have a valid liability insurance plan. Many owners opt for higher coverage limits for additional protection.
Get all the details from the Louisiana Department of Insurance Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance.
Renew using the OMV Express lane
The OMV Expresslane is an online renewal program that makes renewing a vehicle registration quick and easy. To use this process, the owner must input the information provided on a renewal invitation. Once they've done that, they can verify their address and issue a payment through the system to finalize the renewal. It only takes a few moments to renew via this system.
Renew Via Mail or In Person
Vehicle owners who cannot renew online or who do not wish to renew online can renew via mail or in person. They must still provide proof of identity and residency, but the process is largely the same whether it's done in person or online.
Driver's License Renewal
Every six years, drivers must renew their licenses in Louisiana. The fastest and most effective way to do this is online through the OMV Expresslane Program.
While using the program, users only need to supply their Driver's License Number and Date of Birth to pull up the renewal page. Once the page is open, renewing the driver's license takes only a few moments. Drivers can input the required data, pay the license renewal fee, and finalize the renewal process via a computer. Once finished, the replacement license will be mailed to the address listed on the license. It's best to schedule the license renewal soon enough so that the replacement arrives before the original license expires.
Renew in Person
For drivers interested in changing their license in some way or drivers who require a vision test to renew their license, the process must be completed at a Local Office of Motor Vehicles. Drivers can visit the office that's nearest to them, supply the necessary documentation, pay the renewal fees, and renew in a single trip. Renewing in person is more time-consuming than renewing online, but the cost is the same.
Driver's License Renewal
When renewing a driver's license, the standard fee is $32.50. There may also be a $6.00 fee in some locations, and a late renewal comes with a $15 late fee.
For more information about Louisiana license renewal fees, see the IDriveSafely page here.
Registration Renewal
Every few years, residents are expected to pay plate renewal fees to maintain their registration. These fees begin at $20 and go up to $82.00. Residents should also plan on paying taxes for the vehicle at the same time. Registration renewal costs are normally listed on the vehicle's renewal notice when it arrives.
Get more information about registration renewal costs here.
Buying & Selling
When buying or selling a vehicle in Louisiana, it's vital to understand the required paperwork and all the fees and steps involved in the process. This section covers the most important tasks that must be completed for buyers and sellers in Louisiana.
Transfer the Title
The most important step any seller can take is to transfer the title to the buyer. This is accomplished by signing the back of the original vehicle title and inputting any data that's required. In most parts of Louisiana, it's necessary to sign the title in front of a Notary. Use a local bank or another notary provider to get a notary for the deal to make it happen legally.
If there are any liens on the title, they must be released before the vehicle can be sold legally. This is normally accomplished by paying off the loan on the vehicle.
Remove the License Plates
Pull the license plate off the vehicle before allowing the buyer to take the vehicle away. The license plate can be used on another vehicle in the seller's name or returned to the county, but it cannot be used by the buyer, who will have to obtain their own license plate.
Cancel the Insurance
All vehicles must have liability insurance on them to protect other drivers in the event of an accident. After a vehicle is sold, the liability insurance the original owner had can be removed. Cancel the service and stop paying for it to enjoy the savings from not having the vehicle.
Do Research on the Vehicle
No vehicle is perfect, and it's essential to verify a vehicle is a good fit before buying it. The best way to do this is by conducting a Vehicle History Search or a Vehicle VIN Check through GoodCar. Either of these services provides owner history information, vehicle features and specifications, open recalls, odometer readings, and more. This data can help make it clear whether a vehicle is worth purchasing or not.
Obtain Liability Insurance
As soon as the vehicle is purchased, it's time to obtain liability insurance on it. Get the insurance to protect it from damage and to ensure the vehicle is safe and reliable to drive around.
Fill Out a Certificate of Title or Registration
Bring along Form TC96-182 when purchasing the vehicle and fill out the form for registration purposes. Once the form is fully filled out, it can be used at a Louisiana office to register the vehicle. Use the form along with a driver's license and proof of insurance to successfully register and title the vehicle.
Pay the Taxes
When purchasing a vehicle, the buyer must pay taxes on the purchase price of that vehicle. The Louisiana vehicle tax rate is 6%, and the buyer should prepare to pay this amount on the purchase price of the vehicle.
Title and Register the Vehicle
Bring all the documents along to a Louisiana Regional Office to get help titling and registering the new vehicle. There will be some miscellaneous fees to go through the process, but it should be straightforward and simple.
Obtain more information about titling and registering a new vehicle by visiting this section of the Louisiana government website.
Title and Registration Fees
To title a vehicle, the buyer must pay a $17.00 title fee, a $6.00 clerk fee, and a $21.00 plate fee. The plate fee covers the annual registration cost of the vehicle for the first year.
Sales Tax
Each vehicle sold in Louisiana is subject to a 6% sales tax. This amount must be paid when registering the vehicle.
Laws and Regulations
Every Louisiana resident must follow the same automotive laws. Learn about some common laws that residents don't understand well and stay safe.
While everyone should be buckled by a seat belt while riding in a vehicle in Louisiana, things get more confusing when it comes to small children. Today, children must sit in boost seats or car seats depending on their height and weight. The child should remain in their current seat until they outgrow it.
Vehicle owners who stick with these car seat requirements should not face any problems. Double-check the state's car seat laws here to be sure you're using the proper seat.
Many vehicle owners tint their windows in Louisiana for added privacy and to protect the interior from light damage. There are regulations about what tint can be installed on a vehicle, and using the wrong tint can result in traffic stops and tickets.
According to Louisiana state law, a vehicle can have window tint as long as the tint meets the following requirements
DUI, or driving under the influence of alcohol, is a serious offense in Louisiana. Drivers caught breaking this law are punished by being placed in an alcohol treatment program and by having their license suspended. There are stricter punishments applied to some cases, and an overview of all the most common DUI punishments is available on the Louisiana government DUI page.
Drivers over 21 must have a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08 or higher when blowing into a breathalyzer to be charged with DUI. Drivers under 21 only need a BAC of 0.02 to be charged with a DUI. Drivers should be careful to avoid drinking and driving to keep from facing the DUI penalties in Louisiana.
Louisiana protects its new car buyers with a set of special laws known as Lemon laws. These special laws help ensure that a vehicle purchased nearly new is not significantly defective. The law states that any vehicle that is less than 12 months old and that has fewer than 12,000 miles qualifies for protection under the law.
To be considered a lemon in Louisiana, the vehicle must meet the following conditions after the manufacturer is formally notified about the issue.
If the conditions are met, the vehicle is likely to be considered a lemon. Visit the Lemon Law page to learn about follow-up actions that can be taken to get the manufacturer to refund or replace the vehicle.
Useful Things to Know
Along with all the valuable driving information above, this section has important resources that make driving and owning a vehicle in Louisiana simpler.
Locate a Louisiana EV Charging Station
While Louisiana isn't known for having a large number of electric vehicles, it's still essential to understand how to access a local charging station in the state. Use this government resource to access all the public use charging stations in the country. Louisiana EV Charging Station Locator
Louisiana Car Crash Trends
Louisiana is one of the most dangerous states to drive in and suffered 1.68 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2021, making it significantly more dangerous than the state average of 1.37 fatalities. Throughout 2021 there were 806 fatalities in 734 accidents. Learning to understand the circumstances of these accidents can help drivers prepare appropriately. Get a full understanding using Louisiana car crash statistics from GoodCar.
Use the Louisiana Driver's Manual
Whether drivers are looking up information or preparing for the written test when obtaining a driver's license, it's essential to understand the rules of the road. Use the state's online driver's manual to learn those rules. Louisiana Online Driver's Manual
Access and Pay State Tolls
Louisiana manages all state tolls through the Riverlink web portal. Visit this portal to look up vehicle tolls and pay them rapidly. Tolls can be paid via a license plate or bill number. Louisiana River Link Toll Payment Portal
Louisiana Resources
Get the Latest Louisiana Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Louisiana vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN Check and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.