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The bottom line: To sell a car in Louisiana, you sign the title over to the buyer in front of a notary, then file a Notice of Transfer with the OMV.
The same rule applies to the bill of sale: required, the bill of sale must be original and notarized. Plan to handle both signings at the same notary visit.
File the Form DPSMV 1697 (Notice of Transfer) with the Louisiana OMV Immediately. That filing protects you from tickets, taxes, and other issues tied to the car after the buyer drives off.
License plates stay with the seller, so remove them before the buyer leaves. If you’ve lost the title, a duplicate costs $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent. Processing takes typically 7 to 10 business days through the OMV in person or by mail.
Louisiana at a glance
- Title required to sell: yes
- Title notarization required: required
- Cost to replace a lost title: $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent
- Replacement title processing time: typically 7 to 10 business days through the OMV in person or by mail
- Title replacement available online: no
- Bill of sale required: required, though a separate bill of sale is not required if the selling price is included on the title assignment
- Bill of sale notarization required: required, the bill of sale must be original and notarized
- Emissions testing required to sell: not required to complete a sale, though it is required for vehicle registration and operation in five Baton Rouge area parishes
- Safety inspection required to sell: not required to complete a sale, though Louisiana requires an annual safety inspection sticker for vehicle operation on public roads
- License plates stay: with the seller
- Buyer’s deadline to register: 40 days from the date of purchase to avoid penalty and interest
- Buyer penalty for missing deadline: late penalty and interest assessed by the OMV at the time of title and registration; contact the OMV for the current amount
- Form to release yourself from liability: Form DPSMV 1697 (Notice of Transfer)
- Deadline to file release of liability: Immediately
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Step-by-Step Process for Louisiana
Step 1: Prepare Your Louisiana Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Louisiana driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form DPSMV 1799 (Vehicle Application) and submit it to your local OMV office with your ID. The cost is $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent. Processing is typically 7 to 10 business days through the OMV in person or by mail.
If you need it faster, Louisiana offers a next-business-day option through a Public Tag Agent. The expedited fee is $10.00 plus all other applicable fees.
If you can’t get a duplicate title:
If your car is too damaged to register and qualifies as a junk vehicle, Louisiana Revised Statute 32:718 allows selling an auto hulk to a licensed scrap metal processor or automotive dismantler and parts recycler without a title, using a signed affidavit in place of the title.
If you still owe money on the car:
Contact your lender to arrange payoff at the time of closing, or request an official lien release letter on their letterhead. In Louisiana, for a paper title the lienholder signs a release on the title before transfer, and for an electronic lien the lender releases it through the Electronic Lien and Title system, after which a paper title is issued before the sale can proceed.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Notarization required:
Title notarization is required, and bill of sale notarization is also required, the bill of sale must be original and notarized. Banks, credit unions, shipping stores like UPS or FedEx, and many libraries offer notary services, usually for a small fee.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Louisiana, especially in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states.
Emissions testing is not required to complete a sale, though it is required for vehicle registration and operation in five Baton Rouge area parishes, so older cars with lots of miles tend to sell well across most of the state. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, Carvana gives competitive offers if you have a newer car, or you can compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor before deciding.
Best for Newer Cars
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
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Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 5/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at the bank), or meet at the buyer’s bank for a wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Louisiana Title Transfer
Find the “Assignment of Title by Registered Owner” section on the back of the title. Enter the buyer’s full name and address, the date of sale, the odometer reading, and the sale price.
In Louisiana, signature notarization on the title is required, so both you and the buyer must sign in front of a notary. Plan to meet at a bank, credit union, or another notary location to complete the signing together.
Write your name exactly as it appears on the front of the title. Use only black or blue ink.
Any corrections, cross-outs, or white-out completely voids the Louisiana title. If you make a mistake, you’ll need to order a duplicate title before the sale can proceed.
Multiple owners on the title? If the names are connected with “AND,” everyone listed must sign and notarize. If connected with “OR,” just one owner needs to sign.
The buyer must complete the title transfer at the OMV within 40 days from the date of purchase to avoid penalty and interest. Missing the deadline means late penalty and interest assessed by the OMV at the time of title and registration; contact the OMV for the current amount.
Learn more: What is Odometer Disclosure Statement? (Each State Guide)
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
A bill of sale is required, though a separate bill of sale is not required if the selling price is included on the title assignment. The official form is the Louisiana OMV Bill of Sale of a Motor Vehicle, available from the Louisiana OMV and Public Tag Agent locations, and a generic notarized bill of sale is accepted as long as it identifies the vehicle and the consideration.
Notarization is required, the bill of sale must be original and notarized. Plan to have this done at the same time and place as the title notarization to keep things simple.
If you’d rather skip the OMV form, our free bill of sale generator creates a complete document you can take to a notary.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Louisiana License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Louisiana, plates stay with the seller, not with the car.
You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, return them to your local OMV office, or destroy them, and the OMV provides an online portal to cancel a plate.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File the Form DPSMV 1697 (Notice of Transfer) with the Louisiana OMV Immediately.
You have two channels: File the Notice of Transfer online through the OMV portal, or submit Form DPSMV 1697 at an OMV office.. This removes your name from the vehicle record and protects you from tickets, accidents, or any other issues that happen after the sale.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Louisiana Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
Louisiana OMV Resources
State Resources:
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)
- OMV Office Locations
- Notice of Transfer (online filing)
- List of All 50 State DMV Websites
Phone Support:
- (225) 925-6146
Louisiana Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent | Before sale |
| Expedited title service (optional) | $10.00 plus all other applicable fees | For next-business-day pickup |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sell a car without a title in Louisiana?
Usually no, you need a title to sell a car in Louisiana. The main exception is selling a junk car for scrap: Louisiana Revised Statute 32:718 allows selling an auto hulk to a licensed scrap metal processor or automotive dismantler and parts recycler without a title, using a signed affidavit in place of the title.
To use this exception, the vehicle must qualify as an auto hulk under RS 32:702(3), meaning it is not self-propelled, not capable of carrying persons or property on a public highway, and its highest or primary value is its sale or transfer as parts or scrap metal, and the buyer must be a licensed secondary metal processor or automotive dismantler and parts recycler. You then sign an Auto Hulk Affidavit (Form DPSMV 1801), provided by and signed at pickup with the licensed scrap yard or dismantler.
Learn more: How to Sell a Car Without a Title
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer must complete the title transfer at the Louisiana OMV within 40 days from the date of purchase to avoid penalty and interest. After that, late penalty and interest assessed by the OMV at the time of title and registration; contact the OMV for the current amount.
If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, they have until the next business day.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Louisiana?
Yes, title notarization is required in Louisiana. Both you and the buyer must sign in front of a notary at the same time.
Banks, credit unions, and many shipping stores offer notary services, usually for $5 to $15.
When is a bill of sale required in Louisiana?
A bill of sale is required, though a separate bill of sale is not required if the selling price is included on the title assignment. The official form is the Louisiana OMV Bill of Sale of a Motor Vehicle. Notarization is also required, the bill of sale must be original and notarized.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Louisiana?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first. In Louisiana, for a paper title the lienholder signs a release on the title before transfer, and for an electronic lien the lender releases it through the Electronic Lien and Title system, after which a paper title is issued before the sale can proceed.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional Louisiana forms do I need?
The form you use depends on the size of the estate. In Louisiana, $125,000 or less in gross succession estate, or any amount when the decedent died more than 20 years ago, under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 3421. For larger estates, a formal Louisiana Succession (probate court process) is required before the title can be transferred.
Both my spouse and I are on the Louisiana title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the names appear on the title. If the names are connected with “AND,” everyone listed must sign and have their signature notarized. If connected with “OR,” just one owner needs to sign.
What if I make a mistake on the Louisiana title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any corrections void the Louisiana title entirely.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form DPSMV 1799 (Vehicle Application). The cost is $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent. Then you can start the transfer process over.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Louisiana require anything special?
Your obligations as the Louisiana seller are the same. Complete the notarized title assignment, sign the notarized bill of sale, and file your Form DPSMV 1697 (Notice of Transfer) with the OMV.
The buyer will use your completed Louisiana title to register the car in their home state.
Do Louisiana license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Louisiana license plates stay with the seller, not with the car. Remove them before the buyer leaves.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Louisiana?
Yes. File the Form DPSMV 1697 (Notice of Transfer) online at the Louisiana OMV website Immediately.
This removes your name from state vehicle records and protects you from tickets, accidents, or other issues that happen after the sale.
Article Update History
Louisiana's OMV requirements, fees, and forms were verified against the state's official sources.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
Bill of Sale Notarization Required?
"required, the bill of sale must be original and notarized" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form DPSMV 1697 (Notice of Transfer)" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"Immediately" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
"yes" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Title Replacement Available Online?
"no" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Emissions Testing Required to Sell?
"not required to complete a sale, though it is required for vehicle registration and operation in five Baton Rouge area parishes" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Safety Inspection Required to Sell?
"not required to complete a sale, though Louisiana requires an annual safety inspection sticker for vehicle operation on public roads" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Buyer Registration Deadline After Sale
"40 days from the date of purchase to avoid penalty and interest" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Expedited Title Replacement Fee
"$10.00 plus all other applicable fees" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Sell Without Title: Legal Authority
"Louisiana Revised Statute 32:718 allows selling an auto hulk to a licensed scrap metal processor or automotive dismantler and parts recycler without a title, using a signed affidavit in place of the title" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
"for a paper title the lienholder signs a release on the title before transfer, and for an electronic lien the lender releases it through the Electronic Lien and Title system, after which a paper title is issued before the sale can proceed" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
"Louisiana OMV Bill of Sale of a Motor Vehicle" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, return them to your local OMV office, or destroy them, and the OMV provides an online portal to cancel a plate" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Conditions to Sell Without Title
"the vehicle must qualify as an auto hulk under RS 32:702(3), meaning it is not self-propelled, not capable of carrying persons or property on a public highway, and its highest or primary value is its sale or transfer as parts or scrap metal, and the buyer must be a licensed secondary metal processor or automotive dismantler and parts recycler" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
"Auto Hulk Affidavit (Form DPSMV 1801), provided by and signed at pickup with the licensed scrap yard or dismantler" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Estate Value Threshold
"$125,000 or less in gross succession estate, or any amount when the decedent died more than 20 years ago, under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 3421" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Form Requirements
"Present the Affidavit of Heirship plus a certified death certificate and the original title at any OMV office, or for a probated estate present Letters Testamentary or a Judgment of Possession instead, and the OMV will issue a new title in the heir's name." Accessed Jun. 1, 2026
"required, though a separate bill of sale is not required if the selling price is included on the title assignment" Accessed Jun. 1, 2026