Overview
Buying a bike still triggers the same purchase-side costs as a car: the $68.50 title fee, $8 handling fee, and combined state-plus-parish sales tax (5% state plus your local rate) on the purchase price, with the usual trade-in credit at a dealership. A helmet law and Class M motorcycle endorsement apply to riding legally, but neither shows up on the registration bill.
01 - Official fees
Louisiana motorcycle fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle / moped registration | $12.00 | flat, valid 4 years - no value-based math |
| Handling fee (new/transfer) | $8.00 | |
| Certificate of title (new purchase) | $68.50 | |
| Sales tax (new purchase) | 5% state + parish | trade-in credit applies at dealer sales |
| Public tag agent convenience fee | up to $23 | only if using a private tag agent |
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.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Louisiana vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Louisiana motorcycle fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a motorcycle in Louisiana?
$12 flat, and that covers you for four full years - no annual renewal, no value calculation the way cars get. It's the cheapest per-year registration of any powered vehicle in the state.
Why don't motorcycles use the 0.1%-of-value formula cars use?
Louisiana statute sets motorcycles and mopeds at a flat statutory fee instead of the value-based formula that applies to passenger cars and trucks - one of the few vehicle categories exempt from that math entirely.
Do motorcycles pay the same sales tax as cars when purchased?
Yes - the same 5% state rate plus your parish's add-on applies to a motorcycle purchase, with the same dealer trade-in credit and the same rules for private sales (no casual-sale exemption, unlike boats).
Does a gifted motorcycle skip tax the same way a gifted car does?
Yes - a notarized Act of Donation works identically for motorcycles: no sales tax owed as long as it's a genuine gift with no assumed loan, just the standard $68.50 title fee and $8 handling fee to put it in the new owner's name.
How do I register a custom-built or imported motorcycle?
Assembled and imported bikes typically need a VIN verification/inspection before OMV will issue a title, in addition to the standard DPSMV 1799 application - budget extra time for that step before the flat $12 registration applies.
Will motorcycles still need an inspection sticker after 2026?
Under HB 1085, the statewide sticker program ends January 1, 2027 in 59 of 64 parishes, replaced by a $6 QR code tied to registration. Motorcycles in the five parishes with federally mandated emissions testing, or in New Orleans, Kenner, and Westwego's local brake-tag programs, may still face their own local requirements.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.