Selling a car in Louisiana: the paperwork
| Louisiana seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Required |
| Report the sale | Notice of Vehicle Transfer, online |
| Duplicate title | Vehicle Application, DPSMV 1799 (with notarized duplicate title affidavit); $68.50 |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (Auto Hulk Affidavit (DPSMV1801)) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Louisiana
We buy cars in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette and Lake Charles, and in every other town in Louisiana a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Louisiana
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Louisiana, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Louisiana
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Louisiana too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Louisiana car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Louisiana?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Louisiana title, apply to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) with Vehicle Application, DPSMV 1799 (with notarized duplicate title affidavit). The fee is $68.50.
Can I junk a car without a title in Louisiana?
Sometimes. Scrap processors and licensed dismantlers can buy an auto hulk (not self-propelled, worth only parts or scrap) with the owner's signed Auto Hulk Affidavit (DPSMV1801) and ID instead of a title (R.S. 32:718). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Louisiana title, apply to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) with Vehicle Application, DPSMV 1799 (with notarized duplicate title affidavit). The fee is $68.50.
Does the title need to be notarized in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana requires the seller's signature on the title to be notarized, so plan a stop at a bank, shipping store or mobile notary before pickup. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title.
How do I tell the Louisiana DMV that I sold my car?
File the Notice of Vehicle Transfer with the state after the sale, and you can file it online. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Louisiana?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Louisiana a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Louisiana OMV: Used Title & Registration
- Louisiana OMV: Notice of Vehicle Transfer
- Louisiana OMV: Cancel Plate
- Louisiana OMV Policy 38.00 Automobile License Plates
- Louisiana OMV Policy 15.00 Duplicate Titles
- Louisiana OMV Policy 69.00 Fees
- Louisiana OMV: policy index (Vehicle Registration Requirements)
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Policy 120.00, Auto Hulk
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Auto Hulk Affidavit, DPSMV1801
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, vehicle title and registration forms
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.