Eligibility for Louisiana License Plates
Every motor vehicle, trailer, and semi-trailer operated on Louisiana public roads must be registered before use. The owner submits an application to the Office of Motor Vehicles under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (La. R.S. 47:501).
- Residency: New residents must register each vehicle within 30 days of establishing residency in Louisiana, determined by the issuance date of the Louisiana driver’s license (La. R.S. 47:513.2). Registration occurs in the owner’s parish of residence.
- Vehicle: Vehicles with a title are subject to license plate issuance. Salvage and non-repairable titles block standard registration until the vehicle completes the OMV title recovery process. Trailers and semi-trailers have separate license plate categories by weight class.
- Applicant: A valid photo ID showing the owner’s full legal name is required at initial registration and first renewal (La. R.S. 47:501(C)). OMV accepts IDs issued by Louisiana, other states, or the U.S. military.
- License Plate Categories: Louisiana issues standard automobile, truck, motorcycle, motor home, trailer, and commercial license plates. Special plates include disabled veteran plates (50% or more service-connected disability, La. R.S. 47:463.4), military unit plates, university plates, and organizational plates, each with separate eligibility requirements.
How to Get a License Plate in Louisiana?
The first registration is processed through an OMV customer service center, a public tag agent office, or by mail to the OMV headquarters in Baton Rouge. Fees in the next section are added to these documentation requirements.
- Submit a completed Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799), a certificate of title (notarized transfer from seller to buyer for used vehicles), or a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin for new vehicles, along with an odometer disclosure statement.
- Provide proof of liability insurance and a copy of the owner’s photo ID. A lien record requires the original UCC-1 financing statement or another security agreement.
- Inspection: Every registered vehicle must have a valid Louisiana safety certificate (La. R.S. 32:1301). As of January 1, 2027, personal non-commercial vehicles will be exempt from the inspection sticker requirement.
- Pay all fees at the cashier; credit and debit cards incur a $1.25 fee plus 1% of the transaction amount. OMV issues license plates and a registration certificate upon processing.
Automobile license plates are renewed every two years. Renewal notices are mailed and include a renewal identification number for online processing. Plates remain with the owner, not the vehicle, and can be transferred to a replacement vehicle at any OMV field office (La. R.S. 47:505(B)).
How Much Does a License Plate Cost in Louisiana?
The base registration fee is the easy part; title fee, handling fee, and parish sales tax are where the total amount increases. All fees below reflect the published OMV fee schedule.
- Automobile license plates are assessed at 0.1% of the vehicle’s sales price per year, sold for two years. Minimum plate fee: $20 (vehicles valued at $10,000 or less).
- Motorcycles cost $12 for a plate for four years. Motor homes cost $50 for two years. Trucks up to 6,000 pounds GVW cost $40 for four years; 6,001 to 10,000 pounds cost $112 for four years.
- Title fee: $68.50. Handling fee: $8.00. A local fee up to $6.00 may apply depending on the parish. A lien record adds $15 (UCC-1) or $10 (other agreements).
- Personalized prestige plates cost $25 per year; a one-character prestige plate costs $250 per year, plus a $3.50 administrative handling fee at initial issuance.
- Additional fee for electric vehicles and hybrids: Electric vehicle owners pay a $110 annual road usage fee; hybrid owners pay $60 (La. R.S. 47:818.161 et seq.), filed separately with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
- Vehicles found with expired or missing registration face a 25% penalty on the annual plate price (La. R.S. 47:516).
Can I Get a License Plate Online in Louisiana?
The online service covers renewals, not first-time registration. New titles and initial plate issuance require in-person or mail processing. The OMV ExpressLane portal handles registration renewals, duplicate registrations, vehicle transfer notifications, and personalized plate requests.
Renewals require the renewal identification number from the mailed renewal notice (or details from the current registration certificate) and a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card. Processed renewals generate a printable receipt immediately.
For in-person transactions, OMV customer service centers and public tag agent offices operate statewide; find locations via the OMV Office Locator. Mail-in packages are sent to:
- Office of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.
- Include a completed DPSMV 1799, original title, odometer disclosure statement, copy of photo ID, proof of insurance, and payment by personal check, cashier’s check, or money order.
If Louisiana can renew your registration online, it’s the fastest route; the office or mail channel handles anything the portal does not accept.