Louisiana Vehicle Bill of Sale
In Louisiana a private-sale title must be signed before a notary or two witnesses (OMV Policy 2.00).
Introduction
A Louisiana vehicle bill of sale records a private car sale, but the civil-law step that makes the transfer valid here is the notarized title. Under Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) Policy 2.00, when the sale is between private parties the certificate of title must be signed by the seller in the presence of a notary public or in the presence of two witnesses. That notary-or-two-witnesses rule is what sets Louisiana apart from most states, where a plain signed bill of sale is enough. Louisiana does publish a state form titled BILL OF SALE OF A MOVABLE in notarial-act format, though the form carries no printed DPSMV number. A separate bill of sale is not required in a private sale when the sales price is included in the title assignment to the buyer; otherwise an original bill of sale is needed. For non-exempt vehicles, an Odometer Disclosure Statement on Form DPSMV1606 is required, with a supplemental statement when the title has no odometer block. You title and register at the Louisiana OMV, and a new resident must apply within 30 days of establishing residency. Sales and use tax on the transfer is governed by OMV Policy 47.00, so check the OMV for the current rate. DocDraft drafts a Louisiana vehicle bill of sale from your facts, with attorney review available.
Key Things to Know
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Louisiana publishes a state form called BILL OF SALE OF A MOVABLE. It is written in notarial-act format and lists no printed DPSMV number on the form. A separate bill of sale is not required in a private sale when the sales price is included as part of the title assignment to the buyer.
- 2
The title must be signed before a notary or two witnesses. Under OMV Policy 2.00, for a sale between private parties the certificate of title must be signed by the seller in the presence of a notary public or in the presence of two witnesses. Dealer sales in Louisiana on or after 01/01/2023 do not require notarization.
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Odometer disclosure uses Form DPSMV1606. An Odometer Disclosure Statement on Form DPSMV1606 is required for non-exempt vehicle types, and a supplemental statement is needed when the back of the title has no odometer block. The federal baseline under 49 CFR 580 applies.
- 4
Sales and use tax is set by OMV Policy 47.00. Louisiana sales and use tax on a vehicle transfer is governed by OMV Section 4, Policy 47.00, Sales Tax On Vehicle Transfers. The exact rate is set by that policy, so check the Louisiana OMV for the current rate that applies to your sale.
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You title and register at the Louisiana OMV. Apply on title application Form DPSMV1799. A new resident who imports a vehicle for use must apply for a title or registration within 30 days of establishing residency in Louisiana.
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A separate bill of sale can be optional or required. It is not required in a private sale when the price is on the title assignment to the buyer, but otherwise an original bill of sale is needed, including for pre-2023 or out-of-state notarial sales.
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The notary-or-two-witnesses rule is the Louisiana difference. Because the title transfer itself must be signed before a notary or two witnesses in a private sale, Louisiana follows its civil-law tradition rather than the simple signed bill of sale that most states accept.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Bill of Sale in Louisiana, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Bill of Sale guide walks through them.
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Louisiana Requirements for Bill of Sale
Louisiana publishes a state form titled BILL OF SALE OF A MOVABLE, written in notarial-act format, that carries no printed DPSMV number. A separate bill of sale is not required in a private sale when the sales price is included as part of the title assignment to the buyer; otherwise an original bill of sale is needed.
Under OMV Policy 2.00, for a sale between private parties the certificate of title must be signed by the seller in the presence of a notary public or in the presence of two witnesses. Dealer sales in Louisiana on or after 01/01/2023 do not require notarization.
Identify the vehicle by year, make, model, body type, color, and the full vehicle identification number (VIN), along with the sale price and date, so the bill of sale matches the title being assigned.
An Odometer Disclosure Statement on Form DPSMV1606 is required for non-exempt vehicle types, and a supplemental statement is needed when the back of the title has no odometer block. The federal baseline under 49 CFR 580 applies.
Louisiana sales and use tax on a vehicle transfer is governed by OMV Section 4, Policy 47.00, Sales Tax On Vehicle Transfers. The rate is set by that policy and is not printed on the bill of sale, so check the Louisiana OMV for the current rate that applies to your transfer.
Title and register the vehicle at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) using title application Form DPSMV1799. The OMV processes the notarized title transfer and the application.
A new resident who imports a vehicle to Louisiana for use must apply for a title or registration within 30 days of the date they establish residency. Missing the window can add cost and delay, so complete the transfer promptly.
A separate bill of sale is not required in a private sale when the price is included in the title assignment to the buyer, but otherwise an original bill of sale is required, including for pre-2023 or out-of-state notarial sales. Keep it as a record of the parties, price, vehicle, and date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. A separate bill of sale is not required in a private sale when the sales price is included as part of the title assignment to the buyer. Otherwise, an original bill of sale is needed. Either way, under OMV Policy 2.00 the certificate of title in a private sale must be signed by the seller before a notary public or two witnesses, so the notarized title transfer is the step that conveys the vehicle.
For a private sale, the certificate of title must be signed by the seller in the presence of a notary public or in the presence of two witnesses under OMV Policy 2.00. Louisiana also publishes a state BILL OF SALE OF A MOVABLE in notarial-act format. Dealer sales in Louisiana on or after January 1, 2023 do not require notarization. The safest path in a private sale is to sign before a notary or two witnesses.
Yes. The Office of Motor Vehicles publishes a state form titled BILL OF SALE OF A MOVABLE, written in notarial-act format. The form carries no printed DPSMV number. A separate bill of sale is not required in a private sale when the sales price is included in the title assignment to the buyer, but the OMV form is available when an original bill of sale is needed.
Louisiana sales and use tax on a vehicle transfer is governed by OMV Section 4, Policy 47.00, Sales Tax On Vehicle Transfers. The rate is set by that policy rather than printed on the bill of sale, and it can change. Check the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles for the current rate that applies to your transfer before you budget the tax.
You title and register at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) using title application Form DPSMV1799. A new resident who imports a vehicle for use in Louisiana must apply for a title or registration within 30 days of establishing residency. Bring the title signed before a notary or two witnesses and, for a non-exempt vehicle, the Form DPSMV1606 odometer statement.
A Louisiana vehicle bill of sale should name the seller and buyer, describe the vehicle by year, make, model, and VIN, state the sale price and date, and record the odometer reading. Because the title in a private sale must be signed before a notary or two witnesses, the document should include a notary acknowledgment block. The Form DPSMV1606 odometer statement applies separately for non-exempt vehicles.