Overview
Do it correctly and the payoff is real: a genuine donation, where the recipient isn't taking over a loan or mortgage on the vehicle, owes zero sales or use tax. That's broader than most states' family-only gift exemptions - Louisiana's Act of Donation works whether you're giving the car to a child, a friend, or a charity, as long as no money or debt assumption changes hands. Add the state's normal $68.50 title fee and $8 handling fee and a donated car costs about $77 to put in the new owner's name.
01 - Official fees
Louisiana gift a car fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sales/use tax on a notarized donation | $0.00 | |
| Certificate of title | $68.50 | |
| Handling fee | $8.00 | |
| Notary fee (private notary, varies) | ≈ $10–$50 | not an OMV charge |
| Registration (if not already current) | 0.1% of value × 2 yrs | |
| Selling for $1 instead of donating | Fully taxed | OMV taxes the real value transferred either way |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) - often a privatized public tag agent, not a government office - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to gift a car in Louisiana
- 1
Get the current title in hand and confirm there's no lien - donating a financed vehicle means the recipient must separately assume or pay off the loan.
- 2
Complete an Act of Donation of a Movable, describing the vehicle by VIN, make, model, and year.
- 3
Sign the Act of Donation together with the recipient in front of a notary public and two witnesses - this step is mandatory, not optional.
- 4
Fill out the Odometer Disclosure Statement if the vehicle is under 10 model years old, plus the Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799).
- 5
File the online Notice of Transfer to record that you no longer own it, then have the recipient bring the notarized Act of Donation, title, DPSMV 1799, and their insurance/ID to OMV or a public tag agent.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Louisiana vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Louisiana gift a car FAQ
Do I owe sales tax if someone gives me a car in Louisiana?
No - as long as the transfer is documented with a properly notarized Act of Donation and you're not assuming a loan balance on the vehicle, Louisiana sales and use tax doesn't apply. You'll still pay the standard $68.50 title fee and $8 handling fee.
Does the Act of Donation only work between family members?
No - that's the key difference from states that restrict tax-free gifting to spouses, parents, and children. Louisiana's Act of Donation works for any recipient: a friend, a partner you're not married to, or a qualifying charity, as long as it's a genuine donation with no payment or assumed debt.
Can I skip the notary and just sign the title over?
You can sign the title over, but without a notarized Act of Donation, OMV has no documentation that it was a gift - it processes the transfer as a sale and assesses the standard combined sales tax on the vehicle's value. The notarization is what actually earns the tax exemption.
What if the car still has a loan on it?
You can't donate a financed vehicle free and clear - the lender holds the title until the loan is satisfied. Either pay it off first, or have the recipient formally assume the loan, which Louisiana treats differently from a pure donation and may trigger tax on the assumed balance.
Is there a federal gift tax on a donated car?
Only in theory for very high-value vehicles. The IRS's annual gift-tax exclusion (per giver, per recipient) covers the value of nearly any used car; it's a federal filing question for the giver on unusually expensive vehicles, not something Louisiana OMV asks about.
Do I still need the odometer disclosure for a gifted car?
Yes, for any vehicle under 10 model years old - the Act of Donation replaces the sale price and tax paperwork, not the federally required odometer statement.
How is registration handled on a donated car?
If the vehicle's registration is still current, it can often carry over; if not, the recipient pays Louisiana's normal 0.1%-of-value registration fee for a fresh two-year term, same as any other title transfer.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.