by Armando Martinez
Congratulations on purchasing a car in a private owner car sale in Louisiana! Now, it's time to register it with the state. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it may seem but you are required to complete the process with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) within 40 days of your moving to Louisiana or purchasing a vehicle to be titled and registered in Louisiana. In this guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of registering your car in Louisiana. Let's get started!
Step 1: Gather the Required Documents
Before you can register your car, you'll need to gather a few documents. These include:
- The car's title properly signed over to you
- The car’s current registration
- A Bill of Sale (if applicable) or other proof of purchase
- The Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799)
- Louisiana Auto Insurance ID card
- A current Driver's License or current photo ID for each owner
Make sure you have all of these documents before moving on to the next step.
Step 2: Get Your Car Inspected
In Louisiana, you're required to get your car safety inspected before you can register it. Vehicles older than 25 years old and registered as an antique vehicle are exempt from inspection requirements. In some parishes you may also need to have your vehicle emissions tested. Those parishes are Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge. Depending on where your vehicle is registered, you may be limited to where you can complete an inspection. You can have this done at any Louisiana State Police office or state inspection station, however, if your vehicle is to be registered in the aforementioned parishes, you must complete your vehicle inspection within your particular parish. If your vehicle is to be registered in the cities of New Orleans, Kenner, or Westwego, you must contact the OMV office in your city to obtain information about where to take your vehicle for your inspection. For more information regarding inspection office locations visit the Louisiana DMV site. The inspection will check things like your car's brakes, lights, and emissions and your results will be automatically uploaded. Please note that if your vehicle fails inspection, you have 30 days to correct the issue and reinspect your vehicle.
Step 3: Complete the Registration Application
Once your car has passed inspection, you can complete the registration application form DPSMV 1799 found here: https://public.powerdms.com/LADPSC/documents/355820 You can do this through the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles in person or through the mail or through a Public Tag Agent licensed by the OMV. In person and mailing instructions can be found here. Be prepared to provide information about yourself, all other registered owners and your car on the application, including the car's make, model, year, and mileage. For additional information and a list of fees, you may visit the state OMV website.
Step 4: Pay the Fees
When you submit your registration application, you'll also need to pay the title and registration fees as well as use tax owed. To determine the amount of tax applicable to your parish, visit https://taxes.mfn.dps.la.gov/. The amount you'll owe will depend on your car's value and the parish you live in. You can pay these fees with cash, check, or money order. If you are in the military, you may apply for a use tax exemption.
Step 5: Get Your License Plates
Once you've paid the fees, you'll receive your license plates in the mail. In Louisiana, license plates stay with the car, not the owner, so you'll need to attach them to your car before you can legally drive it.
Step 6: Get Your Car Insured
Before you can legally drive your car, you'll need to have it insured. You can purchase car insurance from any licensed insurance company in Louisiana. Make sure you have proof of insurance with you whenever you're driving your car.
Conclusion
Registering a car bought in a private owner car sale in Louisiana is a fairly straightforward process. Just make sure you have all of the required documents, get your car inspected, and pay the registration fees. Once you've completed these steps, you'll be ready to hit the road in your new car. For more information you may visit https://www.expresslane.org/vehicles/title-and-registration/used-title-registration/
This article was written by Armando Martinez. Armando Martinez is among the nation’s experts on automotive titling, registration, DMV services and document operations. With nearly two decades of experience across a broad range of financial services functions and some of the largest names in auto, from Wells Fargo to Uber, Armando combines vision and ingenuity with a wealth of information so auto shoppers and sellers can learn from his experience.
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