Register Your Vehicle With Confidence: Avoid These Louisiana Paperwork Mistakes
By Perkins Road Notary
Before you pay for a used vehicle, make sure the seller can provide the ownership documents needed to title and register it. A few checks before the sale can prevent a second trip or a delayed application.
Check the owner and VIN
Compare the seller’s name with the current title and compare the VIN on the title with the vehicle. Ask about every listed owner and any lien. If the title is missing, altered, or already assigned to someone else, resolve the problem before completing the purchase.
Do not leave important blanks
Make sure the parties’ names, actual selling price, date, vehicle description, and required mileage disclosure are accurate. Do not sign a blank title or erase information to correct a mistake. Ask the notary or OMV how to handle an error.
Confirm which document needs notarization
Louisiana OMV accepts the notarized bill of sale, invoice, or title as described in its used-vehicle checklist. A separate bill of sale is not required when the sale price is included on the title assignment. Out-of-state transactions can have different requirements and supporting-document options. Do not assume that both parties must sign every document before the same notary or that every out-of-state bill of sale must be notarized.
Call before signing so we can identify the required parties and documents for your transaction. A donation has its own paperwork; read our sale-versus-donation guide.
Bring the rest of the application package
OMV’s used-title checklist includes a completed vehicle application, current assigned title, applicable lien release or financing papers, and any required odometer statement. A license-plate application also calls for each owner’s valid photo identification and proof of liability insurance, subject to the dealer exception.
Submit the transfer promptly and confirm the applicable deadline, taxes, and fees with OMV or the processing agent. Requirements can depend on where the vehicle was purchased and the type of transaction.
Ask before making the trip
Tell us if the owner is deceased, a business owns the vehicle, someone will sign under a power of attorney, or the vehicle has an out-of-state title. For a broader overview, see Vehicle Title Transfers and Registration in Baton Rouge.
Official sources
OMV used-title checklist and OMV vehicle information.
Get help in Baton Rouge
Call Perkins Road Notary at (225) 341-3828 or visit 6161 Perkins Road, Suite 1C, Baton Rouge. See our notary services. Curbside service is available at our office; call when you arrive. We do not provide mobile visits.
Updated October 8, 2026: This article was revised to reflect current Louisiana law, agency procedures, and Perkins Road Notary service information, as applicable.