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Free Louisiana Used Car Bill of Sale

Buying a used car in Louisiana means a notary is part of the deal: the title assignment, the bill of sale, or the invoice must be notarized, and a separate bill of sale is not required if the price is on the title assignment. Capture VIN and odometer accurately (federal law requires odometer disclosure on vehicles of model year 2011 or newer), and bring the signed title (plus any notarized bill of sale) and Form DPSMV1799 to OMV, paying the sales tax by the 40th day after the sale. Sales tax runs 5.0% state plus parish add-on. Run a VIN check before money changes hands — Louisiana flooded vehicles from Katrina, Ida, and other hurricanes have a habit of showing up with washed titles, and a notarized bill of sale won't protect you from a salvage rebuild you didn't know about.

Louisiana Requirements: A notarized title or bill of sale is needed. The 40 days is the sales-tax due date after the sale; the tax is paid when applying for title and registration. 5% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Used Car Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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Selling a used car as-is? Our private sale checklist walks you through price research, safely screening buyers, and the exact paperwork steps — so nothing slips through and you stay protected from post-sale disputes. Read: Private Car Sale Checklist →

Louisiana Used Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
DPSMV 1799
Vehicle Application for Certificate of Title
Agency
LA OMV
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
5%
Title Required
Yes
For any used car of model year 2011 or newer, federal law requires an odometer disclosure on the title or on a separate odometer statement. Louisiana additionally requires one notarized document — the title assignment, or the bill of sale or invoice (a separate bill of sale is not required if the price is on the title assignment). Seller assigns the Louisiana title to the buyer; buyer files DPSMV1799 at OMV and pays the sales tax by the 40th day after the sale.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

5.0% Louisiana state sales tax plus parish/local add-on (combined typically 8–11%). For used cars, OMV calculates tax on the sale price, less any qualifying trade-in and rebate.

Exemption: Some family transfers may be exempt — confirm eligibility and documentation with the OMV. A qualifying trade-in and rebate reduce the taxable amount; ask the OMV whether a trade-in qualifies in your transaction.

Inspection Requirements

No statewide safety inspection required as of 2025 — Louisiana eliminated the annual sticker. No statewide emissions testing. Used cars from out of state must still pass a VIN inspection (visual VIN verification by OMV staff or law enforcement) when first titled in Louisiana.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (LA OMV) — not the same agency that handles cars in Louisiana. Plan for separate filings.

Louisiana Used Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Run a VIN history check (NMVTIS, Carfax, AutoCheck) — flood and salvage history is a real Louisiana risk.
  2. Verify the title is a clean Louisiana title (not salvage, flood, or rebuilt) before signing.
  3. Get the title assignment (with the price) or the bill of sale notarized — sign before a Louisiana notary public with the seller present.
  4. Record VIN, year/make/model, exact odometer reading, sale price, and date.
  5. Complete federal odometer disclosure for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer.
  6. Seller assigns the Louisiana title; buyer files DPSMV1799 at OMV and pays the sales tax by day 40.
  7. Pay 5.0% state sales tax plus parish add-on (8–11% combined).
  8. Obtain Louisiana liability insurance (15/30/25 minimum) before driving.

Common Pitfalls

  • Skipping the notary — if neither the title assignment nor the bill of sale is notarized, OMV will not process the title.
  • Buying a flood vehicle — Louisiana has high flood-title fraud risk; always run NMVTIS.
  • Underreporting the sale price — Louisiana assesses the tax on the actual sale price (less any qualifying trade-in and rebate).
  • Missing the 40-day sales-tax due date triggers penalty and interest.
  • Forgetting parish sales tax on top of the 5.0% state rate.

Pro Tip

Notarize, run an NMVTIS check for flood history, and budget 5.0% + parish add-on for tax — flood-title fraud is the silent killer in Louisiana used car deals.

Louisiana Used Car Bill of Sale — FAQs

Why does Louisiana require notarization when most states don't?
Louisiana is a civil law state (a holdover from its French and Spanish legal heritage) rather than a common law state like the rest of the U.S. Civil law systems traditionally rely on notaries to authenticate transfers of property, and Louisiana extended that tradition to vehicle sales. The notarization requirement reduces title fraud and gives OMV third-party verification that both parties actually signed. Practically speaking it adds a $5–$10 step and 15 minutes at a bank, UPS Store, or notary public — annoying but enforceable. In practice the OMV accepts the file when the title assignment, the bill of sale, or the invoice is notarized — one notarized document is enough.
How can I check if a used car has a flood or salvage history?
Run the VIN through NMVTIS (National Motor Vehicle Title Information System) at vehiclehistory.gov — it pulls title data from all 50 states and is the gold standard for catching washed flood titles. Supplement with Carfax or AutoCheck for accident and service history. Louisiana has a higher-than-average flood-title fraud rate because of recurring hurricane damage (Katrina, Rita, Ida, Laura), and unscrupulous resellers move flooded vehicles to other states, retitle them clean, and sell them back into Louisiana. Inspect for water lines under carpets, rust on bolt heads under seats, and musty smells in the trunk and spare tire well.
Do I need a safety inspection on a used car in Louisiana?
No — Louisiana eliminated the statewide annual safety inspection sticker in 2025. You no longer need an inspection to title or register a used car bought from a private party. There is also no statewide emissions test. The only inspection that may apply is a one-time VIN verification when titling a vehicle that was previously titled in another state — OMV will visually confirm the VIN matches the title. For an in-state Louisiana-to-Louisiana private sale, no inspection step is required.
What if the seller and I can't meet at the same notary?
You can use two notaries with what's called a "split" or "remote" notarization — each party signs separately in front of their own Louisiana notary, who completes their respective acknowledgment. This is more cumbersome and some OMV clerks scrutinize split notarizations more carefully, so it's worth scheduling a single in-person notary appointment if at all possible. Louisiana also recognizes Remote Online Notarization (RON) under Act 86 of 2020 — both parties can appear via secure video before a Louisiana RON-commissioned notary. Always verify the RON notary is properly commissioned in Louisiana.
How does sales tax work on a used car bought from a private party?
Private-party used car sales are taxed at the OMV window: 5.0% state plus your parish add-on, totaling 8–11% combined. The taxable amount is the sale price, less any qualifying trade-in and rebate — ask the OMV whether a trade-in qualifies in a private sale. The tax is due by the 40th day after the sale.

Other Louisiana Templates

Vehicle Bill of SaleCar Bill of SaleMotorcycle Bill of SaleBoat Bill of SaleTrailer Bill of SaleHorse Bill of SaleATV Bill of SaleGun / Firearm Bill of SaleRV Bill of SaleGeneral Bill of SaleFree Printable Bill of SaleOdometer Disclosure Bill of SaleAs-Is Bill of SaleGift Bill of Sale

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