Official fees
Louisiana title transfer fee chart
Certificate of title
$68.50
Handling fee
$8.00
Lien recording (if financed)
$10–$15
Tax penalty, 1–30 days late
5% of tax owed
Tax penalty, 31–60 days late
10% of tax owed
Tax penalty, 61+ days late
up to 25% of tax owed
statutory cap
Figures verified July 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.
Official Louisiana forms you'll need
- DPSMV 1799Vehicle Application
required for every title transfer - sale, gift, or inheritance
Get the current version of each form from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) - often a privatized public tag agent, not a government office before you file - agencies revise forms, and offices reject outdated ones.
Step by step
How to transfer a title in Louisiana
- 1
Have the seller sign the title's assignment section; both signatures must match government ID exactly.
- 2
Complete the Vehicle Application, Form DPSMV 1799, and record the odometer reading for vehicles under 10 model years old.
- 3
Bring the title, DPSMV 1799, proof of Louisiana insurance, and ID to an OMV field office or a licensed public tag agent within 40 days (30 for out-of-state purchases).
- 4
Pay the $68.50 title fee, $8 handling fee, combined sales tax, and registration together - it's one transaction.
- 5
If you used a public tag agent, budget for their added convenience fee, capped at $23, on top of the state's own charges.
- Title fee
- $68.50
- Handling fee
- $8.00
- Deadline
- 40 days (30 for out-of-state)
- Tax penalty
- 5% per 30 days, capped 25%
- File at
- OMV office or public tag agent
Overview
Miss that window and the penalty lands on the tax, not the title fee: 5% of the unpaid sales tax for every 30-day period you're late, stacking up to a 25% maximum, plus interest that keeps running on top. A $20,000 purchase with roughly $1,900 in combined tax can pick up almost $475 in penalties alone if you let it slide three months. Use the calculator below to see exactly where you stand.
Same state, other costs
More Louisiana vehicle costs
Common questions
Louisiana title transfer FAQ
- How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Louisiana?
- The title itself is $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee. The real cost driver is the combined state-and-parish sales tax due at the same visit - commonly 9.5% to 11% of the purchase price depending on where you live.
- What exactly happens if I title the car late?
- The state doesn't charge extra on the $68.50 title fee itself - the penalty hits the unpaid sales tax instead: 5% for every 30-day period you're delinquent, capping at 25% of the tax owed, plus interest. Being three months late on $1,900 of tax adds roughly $285–$475 depending on exactly how the periods land.
- Is the deadline really different for out-of-state purchases?
- Yes - 30 days instead of 40, whether you bought the vehicle out of state or just moved to Louisiana with a car you already owned. New residents also get a use-tax credit for tax already paid elsewhere, capped at $90 owed to the state, if they file within 90 days of establishing residency.
- Can I transfer a Louisiana title online?
- No - new-owner title transfers require an in-person visit to an OMV field office or a licensed public tag agent, since the office verifies the signed title, insurance, and ID together. Registration renewals on a title you already hold can be done online through ExpressLane.
- Why would I use a public tag agent instead of an OMV office?
- Shorter lines and more locations, mostly - public tag agents are private businesses licensed under R.S. 47:532.1 to do the same title and registration work as an OMV office. The tradeoff is their own convenience fee, capped by law at $23 per transaction, which a state-run field office doesn't charge.
- What about titling a car I inherited in Louisiana?
- Inherited vehicles use a different path depending on whether there's a will or a succession judgment, and typically skip sales tax on the transfer itself. The OMV field office or a title-services company that handles successions can walk you through the paperwork - it isn't the same DPSMV 1799 process as a straightforward purchase.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
