How to Sell a Car in Louisiana

The steps and process for selling a vehicle online are different in every state. Learn how to sell your used car or truck privately in Louisiana.

Whether you live in Greater New Orleans, Cajun Country, Plantation Country, Sportsman’s Paradise, or the Crossroads of Louisiana, if you are thinking about privately selling your used car or truck, you’ve come to the right place. With an estimated 1.4 million registered trucks and cars in the state of Louisiana, it’s no wonder that thousands of private vehicle sellers from the Bayou State have used Autotrader to sell their car. Below, we’ve outlined the five steps and forms required for how to sell a car in the state of Louisiana so you can sell your car quickly for the most cash.

Remember, most states consider the vehicle title a legal document, so the legal names (no nicknames) of both parties involved should be used, along with legible handwriting using black or blue ink. Mistakes or errors may void the document so be careful and take your time filling it out. Also, don’t use White-Out, that can also void the document.

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party
Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation
Step 3: Fill out a Notice of Transfer of Vehicle
Step 4: Transfer the title
Step 5: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party

Many vehicle shoppers who buy a car privately pay for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection conducted by a qualified and licensed auto mechanic of their choosing. Although the buyer pays for this inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on when and where the inspection is to be held. If the inspection does find any issues with the car, it is a good idea for you as the seller to keep the report for your records. Louisiana does not require this inspection and doesn’t have any forms that need to be filled out, but it’s a good idea for the buyer to have the inspection performed prior to the purchase.

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Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation

Find all maintenance records, the owner’s manual and other paperwork related to the vehicle. If you can provide the buyer with extensive and detailed maintenance records, this will help provide the buyer with confidence that you’ve maintained the car in a proper and regular manner. You may even want to consider including a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax or AutoCheck. In some cases, you can ask your mechanic for electronic records – this is most likely if you’ve take the car to a new car dealer for regular service.

The most important document when selling a car is the certificate of title. If there is a lien on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before the car is sold. This can be achieved either by the seller paying off the car or by the lienholder providing a letter of lien release. If you can’t pay off the car, then a lien release statement from your lienholder with Vehicle Application Form DPSMV 1799 must be submitted to the OMV plus a fee of $68.50 plus a handling fee (usually $8, but it varies by office).

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Step 3: Fill out a Notice of Transfer of Vehicle

For private car sales, Louisiana requires a document called a Notice of Transfer of Vehicle (Form DPSMV 1697) to be filled out and filed with the state OMV. This document requires information on the vehicle being sold including the VIN, year, make, model, and license number. It also requires information on the seller including your name, address, and driver’s license number. Then, you need to check a box stating whether it was sold, donated, or traded and fill out the name and address of the buyer, the sales price, the date of the sale, and finally a signature from the seller. You can either fill out this form and mail it to the address at the top of that form or you can submit a notice of vehicle transfer online. It’s worth noting that transfer of registration does not officially happen until the buyer takes the title to the OMV and gets it registered in their name.

Depending on the model year of your car, you may need to fill out an Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form DPSMV 1606). This requires information and signatures from both the buyer and the seller showing that the two parties agree on the mileage of the vehicle being sold

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Step 4: Transfer the title

If the vehicle’s title has been lost, stolen or badly damaged, you can get a replacement/duplicate Louisiana title by filling out Form DPSMV 1799 and filling out the Duplicate Title Affidavit that’s on the form. With that form filled out plus a $68.50 fee and a handling fee you can get a duplicate title.

When selling a car privately in Louisiana, the buyer and the seller both need to fill out the relevant sections on the back of the title. This information includes the legal name, address, and signature of the buyer and the seller(s) along with the date of the sale, the odometer reading, and the purchase price. When this is filled out accurately and legibly, it makes it easy for the buyer to transfer registration and acquire a new plate. If there is more than one owner showing on the title, the following number of signatures will be required based on the connection between the names: And – All persons listed must sign. Or – Either seller can sign, only one signature required. And/Or - Both sellers must sign. If no connection listed, it will default to ‘and’ and all owners (sellers) must sign.

In the state of Louisiana, the seller is required to sign the title in the presence of a notary. If you’re not sure where to find a notary, you can find a local Louisiana notary by name or zip code here. From there, the buyer takes the assigned title plus proof of Louisiana insurance, their ID, and money for fees and applicable taxes to their local OMV office and transfers ownership of the vehicle.

If you’re looking to gift a vehicle or transfer a title to a relative, you can follow the same process that is outlined here. As for inherited cars, it’s a little more complicated. If you’re inheriting a car, you need a copy of the death certificate, a copy of the will, and possibly an Affidavit of Heirship which is Form DPSMV 1696. Lastly, if you’re wondering how to transfer a vehicle title from a deceased owner in Louisiana, read the FAQ information in the vehicle section of this page.

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Step 5: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

The seller must remove their license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer. If you do not do so, you may be liable for any violations after the buyer has taken possession of the vehicle. After the sale is complete, you can officially cancel your license plate with the Louisiana OMV online. You can either destroy your plates, return them to your local OMV office, or mail them to the following address:

Office of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 64886
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after the sale is made so you don’t continue paying to insure a car that you no longer own.

For more information, visit Louisiana’s Office of Motor Vehicles’ website.

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Questions about selling your car in Louisiana? We have answers.

What paperwork do I need to privately sell a car in Louisiana?

Is a Bill of Sale required for selling a car in Louisiana?

Do I remove my license plate when I sell a car in Louisiana?

Does a vehicle Bill of Sale have to be notarized in Louisiana?

Does a vehicle title have to be notarized in Louisiana?