AutoTaxCalculatorHow much is tax, title and license in Louisiana?
Louisiana TT&L = sales tax (5% state + local) on the price after trade-in + plate (0.1% of price × 2 years) + $68.50 title + $8 handling. A $30,000 car with an $8,000 trade-in in a 5% parish comes to $2,336.50.
Louisiana collects the state and local sales tax at the same time you title and register the car, either through the dealer or directly at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). The title isn't issued in your name until all taxes and fees are paid.
Louisiana license plate fees
Private passenger car plates are priced by the vehicle's selling price: 0.1% of the value per year, with a minimum base of $10,000. Plates are sold for two years at a time, so the minimum is $20. In practice the OMV rounds the value to the nearest $1,000 and charges $2 per $1,000:
| Vehicle value | Plate fee (2 years) |
|---|---|
| Up to $10,499 | $20.00 |
| $14,500–$15,499 | $30.00 |
| $19,500–$20,499 | $40.00 |
| $24,500–$25,499 | $50.00 |
| $29,500–$30,499 | $60.00 |
| $39,500–$40,499 | $80.00 |
| $49,500–$50,499 | $100.00 |
Other vehicles pay flat fees: pickups and vans up to 6,000 lbs GVW $40 for four years, trucks from 6,001 to 10,000 lbs $112 for four years, motorcycles $12 for four years and motor homes $50 for two years. Transferring a plate to another vehicle costs $3.
Louisiana vehicle sales tax
The state sales tax rose from 4.45% to 5% on January 1, 2025, and that rate applies to vehicles. Most parishes and many cities add local sales tax. The local rate is set by where you live, not where the dealer is. Buy in Baton Rouge but live in Lafayette, and you pay Lafayette's local rate.
- Trade-ins: the market value of a vehicle traded in is excluded from the taxable price.
- Manufacturer rebates on new vehicles are also excluded.
- Deadline: tax on a vehicle bought in Louisiana is due by the 40th day after the sale. Late payment adds a penalty of 5% of the tax per 30 days, up to 25%, plus interest.
Title and other fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title | $68.50 |
| Title correction | $68.50 |
| Handling fee | $8.00 |
| Record mortgage with UCC | $15.00 |
| Record mortgage other than UCC | $10.00 |
| License plate transfer | $3.00 |
Worked examples
$30,000 sedan with an $8,000 trade-in, 5% local rate
- Taxable price: $30,000 − $8,000 = $22,000
- Sales tax: $22,000 × (5% + 5%) = $2,200.00
- Plate: $30,000 × 0.1% × 2 = $60.00
- Title $68.50 + handling $8
- Total: $2,336.50
Used $9,000 car from a private seller, 4.5% local rate
- Sales tax: $9,000 × 9.5% = $855.00
- Plate: minimum $20 (value under $10,500)
- Title $68.50 + handling $8
- Total: $951.50
Out-of-state purchases and new residents
Tax on a vehicle bought outside Louisiana for use here is due by the 30th day after it first enters the state. Residents get a credit against the state tax for similar tax paid to the other state, if that state gives a reciprocal credit. The credit works rate to rate, not dollar for dollar.
New residents bringing a vehicle registered in another state owe use tax on its fair market value, with the same reciprocal credit. A Louisiana resident who moves away and returns with a vehicle previously titled in Louisiana in their name owes no use tax. Active-duty military personnel are exempt from use tax on a vehicle they bring in if they can show sales tax was already paid in one of the 50 states.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Louisiana tax, title and license calculator for trucks?
Pickups and vans up to 6,000 lbs GVW have a flat $40 plate for four years, so use this calculator for the sales tax and title, then swap the plate fee for $40.
Does a private sale in Louisiana pay sales tax?
Yes. You pay state and local sales tax to the OMV when you title the car, with a notarized bill of sale showing the price and any trade-in.
Do nonprofits pay Louisiana vehicle sales tax?
Yes. The Department of Revenue notes that nonprofit, charitable and religious organizations aren't exempt from the vehicle tax.
Sources
- Louisiana OMV: Vehicle registration, title and plate fees
- Louisiana Department of Revenue: Revenue Information Bulletin 25-007, state sales tax rate (PDF)
- Louisiana Department of Revenue: Motor vehicle sales tax, R-20164 (PDF)
- Louisiana Department of Revenue: R-1002 (1/25) taxable rates for exemptions and exclusions (PDF)
This calculator gives an estimate. The Louisiana OMV calculates the final amount. How we calculate