Louisiana residents must register their vehicles with the Office of Motor Vehicles. You can go in person to register and have the option to personalize your license plates.
You must visit the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) to register your vehicle and acquire license plates.
You should bring the following to the office for your registration:
Depending on the type of plates you want, additional documents and fees may be required.
You must apply for a license plate if:
In Louisiana, you’ll require T-Markers (i.e., Temporary Plates) to drive legally until your official license plates are prepared.
You’ll have 60 days to use these T-Markers, and they must be removed and recycled once you have received your vehicle’s plates.
If you have no preference, you’ll receive a set of standard Louisiana license plates. These are white with blue lettering and the state name across the top in red.
Alternatively, there are various specialized license plates that you can choose for your vehicle.
If you have a disability, you can apply for a special permit that allows you to park in disabled parking spots. These license plates are issued only to people with permanent disabilities.
Specialized Louisiana license plates require additional fees. Here’s a list of some available:
Personalized license plates must be approved by the Louisiana OMV before they are issued to you.
Follow these guidelines to determine your license plates' unique number:
You can check to see if the plate number you want is available online.
The fees for personalized plates are $25, plus $3.50 administration fee, $8 handling fee, and standard registration fees. You will only have to pay if your personalized plates are approved.
You must renew your Louisiana license plates every 2 years. To do so, you can submit your application by mail, online, or in person to the nearest OMV.
You’ll receive a new set of decals to be placed over the old ones on your license plate. Renewal fees vary per person and vehicle.
It takes up to 30 days to get your license plates replaced if they were stolen or lost. You must visit your nearest OMV in person to apply for replacements.
Here’s what you should bring with you:
File a report with the police immediately if you believe your license plates have been stolen. Doing so reduces the likelihood of your plates being abused by the wrong people.
You are not permitted to transfer your license plates to a new owner. The only situations where license plates can be transferred are for:
The fees for transferring your license plate vary by office in Louisiana. Contact your OMV for more information.
There are a few situations that require you to surrender your license plates. These include:
To surrender your license plates, you can send them to an OMV office in person or by mail. You’ll require the following if you surrender your plates in person:
If you are registering your vehicle in Louisiana, these are a few of the costs required:
You can provide payment to the OMV in the following forms:
There may also be taxes, services fees, and other fees to register your vehicle in Louisiana.
In some cases, you may want to perform a background search on a vehicle to discover whether it was stolen or severely damaged.
You can look up license plates in Louisiana online to get a brief background check. This can help you make a decision when you're buying a used car from a private owner.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to look up Louisiana License Plates and report bad drivers:
