Louisiana Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)
State + parish/local sales tax · 5% state rate
Calculate Louisiana car tax & fees
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How much is car sales tax in Louisiana?
Louisiana charges a 5% state sales tax on vehicles bought from January 1, 2025 through 2029 (it was 4.45% before), plus parish and local taxes based on where you live. Louisiana's license plate fee is unusual too: it's tied to the vehicle's price.
For a dealer sale, take the price, subtract your trade-in and any rebate, then multiply by 5% plus your parish and local rates. Private sales get no trade-in reduction.
A passenger plate runs for two years and costs 0.1% of the price per year, with a minimum based on $10,000 of value. So it's $20 for vehicles priced at $10,000 or less, rising $2 for every additional $1,000.
Expect a $68.50 title fee and an $8 handling fee, plus $15 to record a UCC lien ($10 for other liens). Electric vehicles pay a $110 annual road usage fee and hybrids $60, prorated in the first year. Dealer documentary fees aren't a state fee; for 2026 they're capped at $436.
- Taxable base = price - trade-in (dealer sales only) - rebate
- Tax = taxable base x (state rate + local rate)
- Apply out-of-state credit or new-resident cap if applicable
- Total = tax + title + handling + lien fee + local office fee + plate (or plate transfer) + EV/hybrid road-usage fee + tag agent fee + doc fee + notary
Louisiana car tax example with real numbers
Dealer purchase in a parish with local taxes
You buy a car for $24,000, trade in your old one for $5,000 and receive a $500 rebate. Your parish and local taxes total 4.5%.
- Taxable amount: $24,000 − $5,000 − $500 = $18,500.
- State tax at 5%: $925. Parish and local tax at 4.5%: $832.50.
- Plate: the price is $14,000 over $10,000, so it's ($10 + $14) × 2 years = $48.
- With the title and handling fees, the estimated total is $1,882.
| Taxes | |
|---|---|
| State sales tax5% of $18,500.00 | $925 |
| Parish/local tax4.5% of $18,500.00 | $832.50 |
| Title & registration | |
| Title | $68.50 |
| Handling fee | $8 |
| License plate (2 years) | $48 |
| Estimated total | $1,882 |
Computed with the calculator on this page using the figures in our data. Local add-ons not mentioned in the example are left out.
Exceptions that change your Louisiana tax bill
Donations (Act of Donation)
A genuine donation owes no tax. If the recipient takes over a mortgage from someone other than a spouse, the outstanding balance is taxed.
Inheritance
A vehicle received through succession owes no tax. If the heir then sells it to a third party, that sale is taxed.
Divorce settlements
Transfers under a divorce or property settlement are generally not taxed.
New residents and active-duty military
A new resident bringing a personal vehicle titled elsewhere, within 90 days of moving, pays no more than $90. Active-duty members whose vehicle is titled in their own name and was taxed in another state may owe nothing.
Nominal sales
A $1 bill of sale is still a sale. Use an Act of Donation for a real gift.
Louisiana vehicle sales tax rates
| State rate | 5% |
|---|---|
| State rate note | 5% for purchases 2025-01-01 through 2029-12-31; 4.45% before 2025-01-01 |
| Local rate | Varies by parish/domicile; added to state rate |
Louisiana title & registration fees
| Title | $68.50 |
|---|---|
| Handling | $8 |
| Lien UCC | $15 |
| Lien other | $10 |
| License plate transfer | $3 |
| Local office fee max | $6 |
| Public tag agent convenience fee max | $23 |
| Dealer doc fee max 2,026 | $436 |
| Plate passenger 2-year | $20 if value <= $10,000; otherwise ($10 + $1 per $1,000 of value over $10,000, rounded to nearest $1,000) x 2 |
| Plate by class | Show all 9 rows
|
| EV road usage annual | $110 |
| Hybrid plug-in hybrid road usage annual | $60 |
| EV road usage prorated by months remaining |
|
| Hybrid road usage prorated by months remaining |
|
Louisiana car tax exemptions & special cases
| Private-party sale | Trade-in does not reduce the taxable base |
|---|---|
| Donation / gift (OMV Policy 52) | Tax $0 unless a non-spouse mortgage is assumed; then the outstanding principal is taxed |
| Inheritance (Policy 18) | Tax $0; if the heir sells to a third party, that sale is taxed on the selling price |
| Divorce / property settlement (Policy 52/74) | Tax $0 |
| Active-duty military (Policy 50) | State and local tax $0 when titled in the member's name with tax paid out of state; not for spouse-titled vehicles or new purchases with no prior tax |
| Tax paid to another state (Policy 48) | Credit against Louisiana tax |
| New resident (Policy 48) | Tax capped at $90 for a personal vehicle with prior title, moved within 90 days |
| Nominal ($1) bill of sale | Still treated as a sale, not a donation |
Louisiana car tax FAQ
What is Louisiana's state sales tax on cars?
5% for purchases from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029, plus parish and local taxes.
How is the Louisiana plate fee calculated?
0.1% of the price per year for two years, with a minimum based on $10,000 of value, which is $20.
Do private sales get a trade-in credit?
No. Only dealer sales reduce the taxable amount for a trade-in.
Do EVs pay extra in Louisiana?
Yes, a $110 annual road usage fee. Hybrids pay $60, prorated in the first year.
Sources & verification
We checked these figures against the following official pages on October 7, 2026:
- www.expresslane.org/vehicles/vehicle-registration-title-plate-fees/
- revenue.louisiana.gov/tax-education-and-faqs/faqs/sales-tax-reform/what-is-the-state-sales
- revenue.louisiana.gov/individuals/general-resources/electric-and-hybrid-vehicle-road-usage
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