Louisiana is a civil-law state, and its vehicle paperwork reflects that. The notarized act of sale isn’t a formality here — it’s the transfer document, and getting it wrong means starting over.
Just moved to Louisiana? Your clock and your tax treatment are both different — see the deadlines and the $90 cap below. Start with transferring your license to Louisiana.
The short version
- Both buyer and seller must sign the title in front of a notary, at the same time. Louisiana is one of the few states that requires this.
- 40 days for cars bought in Louisiana — but 30 days for cars brought from another state.Different clocks, and most guides only mention one.
- New residents can cap their use tax at $90 by registering within 90 days.
Louisiana Requires Notarization — Both Parties, Same Time
This is the rule that catches out anyone who’s bought or sold a car elsewhere.
The title must be signed and notarized, and both the buyer and the seller must appear before the notary together. A seller who signs in advance and hands the title over hasn’t completed a valid transfer.
If more than one owner is named on the title, the connecting word decides who signs. Joined by “AND”, every owner must sign and notarize. Joined by “OR”, one is enough.
If someone genuinely can’t attend, you’ll need a notarized Power of Attorney.
Notary services run about $5 to $15 at banks, credit unions and many shipping stores. Budget for it rather than being surprised — and note this is the opposite of Texas, Arizona, Colorado and most other states, where no notary is needed at all.
Louisiana Title Transfer Deadlines: 40 Days, 30 Days and 15 Days
| Deadline | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| 40 days | Buyer, in-state purchase | Title and pay sales tax |
| 30 days | Buyer, vehicle from another state | Pay use tax after the vehicle enters Louisiana |
| 20 days | Dealers | Apply for title |
| 15 days | Seller | File Notice of Transfer (DPSMV 1697) |
The 30-day rule is the one most articles miss. The familiar 40-day deadline applies to vehicles bought inside Louisiana. When a car comes from another state, the Louisiana Department of Revenue sets use tax due by the 30th day after the vehicle first enters the state.
Penalties run at 5% of the sales tax for every 30 days or fraction thereof, with 1.25% interest per month on top. On out-of-state use tax the penalty caps at 25%; on an in-state purchase it can keep climbing.
The seller’s 15-day notice matters too — until it’s filed, you remain liable for the vehicle.
How to Transfer a Louisiana Car Title Step by Step
Step 1: Meet at a Notary
Both parties attend together with photo ID. The seller signs the title assignment to the buyer, records the odometer reading, and the notary stamps it.
Prepare a bill of sale that matches the title exactly — names, VIN, price and date consistent across both. A mismatch is a rejection at the counter.
If a lien appears on the title, the seller must produce a lien release from the lender first.
Step 2: What the Seller Does Next
- Remove the license plates before handing over the keys. Louisiana plates stay with the seller — keep them for your next vehicle or surrender them to the OMV.
- File the Notice of Transfer (DPSMV 1697) within 15 days, online.
Step 3: What the Buyer Brings
- The original notarized title, assigned to you
- The notarized bill of sale
- A completed Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799)
- Proof of active Louisiana liability insurance
- An odometer disclosure statement, for vehicles under 20 model years old
- Valid photo ID
- A lien release, if one applied
- Payment for title, registration and tax
Step 4: File at an OMV Office or Public Tag Agent
OMV office — same-day processing, best when you’re against the deadline.
Public Tag Agent — private contractors, usually faster with better hours, but they add a service fee of $18 or more. Our guide to Louisiana OMV offices and tag agents covers the difference.
By mail — 14 to 21 days, useful if you’re out of state.
If you need to drive before plates are issued, ask about a temporary tag.
Do You Need a Bill of Sale in Louisiana?
Yes in practice, though with one exception.
A separate bill of sale isn’t required if the selling price is already recorded on the title assignment. Where it isn’t, the OMV needs a notarized bill of sale to verify the purchase price for tax purposes.
Louisiana publishes an official Bill of Sale of a Motor Vehicle, available from OMV offices and Public Tag Agents. A generic version is accepted provided it identifies the vehicle and the consideration — and is notarized.
Since you’re already at a notary for the title, do both documents in the same visit.
Louisiana Title Transfer Fees and Sales Tax
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $68.50 |
| Handling fee | $8.00 |
| Registration | $20 – $82, by vehicle value |
| Public Tag Agent service fee | $18+ |
| Notary | $5 – $15 |
| State sales tax | 4.45%, plus parish and municipal |
| Late penalty | 5% of tax per 30 days, plus 1.25% monthly interest |
Base fees come to $76.50 — the $68.50 title fee plus the $8.00 handling charge. You’ll still see $18.50 quoted as the title fee on older pages; that figure is long out of date.
Sales tax is where the money is. The 4.45% state rate plus parish and municipal rates can push the combined total past 10% in some parishes. Tax is calculated on the purchase price from the notarized bill of sale or the NADA fair market value, whichever is greater — so under-reporting doesn’t work.
New residents get a significant break. If you register within 90 days and the vehicle was already titled in your name in your previous state, your total Louisiana use tax can be capped at $90. Louisiana also credits tax paid to another state where that state offers a matching credit, so bring proof of what you paid.
Gifting a Car in Louisiana: Act of Donation
Classification changes the bill entirely.
A genuine gift using an Act of Donation is taxed at $0.
A “sale” to family for $1 is not the same thing — the buyer pays minimal tax, but you’ll need both a bill of sale and an Act of Donation to support it.
Get the classification right before you draft anything, because the notary appointment is where it becomes permanent.
Louisiana Car Title Transfer FAQs
No. Both parties must sign before the notary at the same time. A pre-signed title isn’t a valid Louisiana transfer.
No. Louisiana plates stay with the seller, who removes them before handing over the keys and either keeps or surrenders them.
Only in specific cases — rebuilt, salvage or assembled vehicles — performed by a State Police certified officer. A standard titled car generally doesn’t need one, but confirm with the OMV or your tag agent.
No. Louisiana doesn’t require emissions testing for private-party vehicle sales, and the statewide safety inspection was eliminated. Registration afterwards follows the normal renewal cycle.
Two things account for most failed Louisiana transfers: a title signed without both parties at the notary, and buyers who assume the 40-day rule applies to a car they drove in from another state.
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