Free Louisiana As-Is Bill of Sale
Louisiana is a civil law state that does NOT follow the Uniform Commercial Code — instead, vehicle sales are governed by the Louisiana Civil Code (La. C.C. Arts. 2520–2548) under the doctrine of 'redhibition,' which allows a buyer to rescind a sale for hidden defects that make the vehicle useless or significantly diminish its value. Simply writing 'AS IS' on the bill of sale is NOT sufficient to waive redhibition under Louisiana law — the seller must use specific waiver-of-warranty language that is express and clear. The #1 risk in a Louisiana private sale is using boilerplate UCC-style 'AS IS' language that Louisiana courts will not recognize as a valid redhibition waiver.
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Louisiana As-Is Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Louisiana's state sales tax rate is 4.45%, but parish (county) sales taxes vary significantly — the total effective rate depends on the parish where the transaction occurs.
Inspection Requirements
Louisiana does not have a mandatory statewide vehicle safety inspection for private sales, though some parishes may have emissions programs.
Louisiana As-Is Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Do NOT use generic 'AS IS' language alone — Louisiana courts will not treat it as a valid waiver of redhibition. Instead, use explicit civil code language such as: 'Seller hereby expressly waives all warranties, whether express or implied, including the warranty against redhibitory defects under La. C.C. Art. 2520, and buyer accepts the vehicle in its present condition with all faults.'
- Include the Louisiana-specific redhibition waiver language in the body of the bill of sale, not in fine print — it must be express and clear under La. C.C. Art. 2548.
- Understand the limits of the waiver: if you KNEW of a hidden defect at the time of sale, the redhibition waiver does not fully protect you. The buyer can still seek a price reduction (quanti minoris) even with a waiver when the seller had actual knowledge.
- Disclose all known defects in writing — Louisiana law treats seller knowledge as the dividing line between full rescission (redhibition) and a price reduction action (quanti minoris).
- Sign the Louisiana certificate of title over to the buyer and complete the odometer disclosure for vehicles under 10 years old.
- Confirm the applicable parish sales tax rate with the buyer — Louisiana's state rate is 4.45% but parish taxes vary, and the combined rate can be significantly higher.
- Retain a signed copy of the bill of sale for your records for at least 3 years.
Common Pitfalls
- Writing 'AS IS' without Louisiana-specific redhibition waiver language — under Louisiana Civil Code, 'AS IS' alone does not waive redhibitory defects. A buyer can still sue for rescission or price reduction if the waiver language is not express and specific.
- Believing the redhibition waiver fully protects a seller who knew of the defect — La. C.C. Art. 2548 does not allow a knowing seller to escape all liability. If you knew of the defect, the buyer can still bring a quanti minoris action for a price reduction even with a written waiver.
- Using a UCC-based as-is template from another state — Louisiana does not follow the UCC. A standard UCC-style warranty disclaimer will not be interpreted under Louisiana law as a valid civil code redhibition waiver.
- Ignoring parish-level sales tax — the combined state plus parish sales tax rate in Louisiana can significantly exceed the 4.45% state rate. Failing to account for this leads to post-sale tax disputes.
Pro Tip
Louisiana's civil law system makes it uniquely dangerous to import boilerplate 'AS IS' language from other states. The redhibition doctrine requires express, specific waiver language, and even that language will not shield a seller who knew of the defect. Written disclosure of all known defects is not just good practice in Louisiana — it is essential legal protection.