In Louisiana, driving without a valid and prominently displayed license plate issued by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) is illegal. Each license plate has a unique combination of letters and numbers, known as the license plate number, which serves to identify the vehicle and link it to its owner for security and legal purposes.
If you're considering to buy a used vehicle, you can easily conduct a Louisiana license plate lookup here. This service provides comprehensive details about the vehicle, including its history report, odometer records, and technical specifications, which are crucial when evaluating a second-hand vehicle.
According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), in 2021, there were 914 highway crashes and 997 fatalities. With the increase in vehicle-related incidents, it’s advisable to verify that the car you intend to purchase is roadworthy by performing a license plate lookup. VinFreeCheck offers a free and efficient Louisiana license plate lookup service. Simply enter the license plate number and the state where the vehicle was registered, and you will receive the report within seconds.
Note that for a license plate lookup to be conducted, the vehicle’s title and registration must already be approved by the Louisiana OMV.
Pelican Plates🤍
The state is known for its unique "Pelican" license plates. Louisiana's traditional license plate design prominently features the brown pelican, the state bird, which is a symbol of Louisiana's wildlife and natural beauty.
Where Can I See the Louisiana Plate Number?
At the rear end of the vehicle, you’ll find your vehicle's license plate. Inscribed on it are a blend of letters and numbers written in boldface, representing your license plate number. Alternatively, you can get this information from the registration certificate issued by the Louisiana OMV. For confirmation, you can visit any Louisiana OMV office near you.
How to Get License Plates for My Vehicle in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, your vehicle’s title and registration must have been approved and your certificate handed to you in order to acquire a Louisiana license plate. Upon completion of vehicle registration, you can proceed to get a certificate through any of the following means:
- Visiting a local OMV office
- Through mail; you must first make a license plate request through the LA OMV website; thereafter, you can mail your application materials to the Louisiana OMV headquarters located at 7979 Independence BLVD, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
To successfully apply for license plates, vehicle owners must submit the following documents:
- A completed Application form
- Vehicle’s current certificate of title
- A copy of the vehicle’s security agreement or financial statement (if applicable)
- Vehicle’s bill of sale or manufacturer’s statement of origin
- Lien release (if applicable)
- Proof of Auto insurance
- Proof of photo identification
- Proof of all required fees
Following the purchase of the car, you are given 60 days in which you are expected to apply for a Louisiana license plate. You will receive the metal plate alongside a sticker which you must attach to the plate. This sticker displays the expiration date of the plate. The law requires that vehicle owners display the license plate on their motor vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers.
In Louisiana, front plates are not necessary; what is required is that the license plate is clearly displayed at the rear end of the vehicle.
Types of License Plates in Louisiana
Standard: A standard plate will be given out if you do not express a preference. These license plates came into existence in 1915 and, following Louisiana law, are attached at the rear end of the vehicle. They come with blue lettering imprinted on a white background. The state name is found across the top in a deep red color, which led to it being nicknamed ‘the "lipstick plate".
Personalized: These plates afford car buyers the benefit of selecting or customizing license plates to suit their taste and preference.
If you decide on a personalized plate, you will be required to choose what should be written on it. This could come in the format of a phrase, a quotation, or distinctive writing. You could also carry out a mix and match of letters and numbers. There are a few guidelines to follow when picking out a unique license plate number:
- You can have up to 7 characters printed
- For motorcycles and vehicles for handicapped drivers, the length is only up to 6 characters
- You cannot use any vulgar language or profanity
- Apply a mix of letters, numerals, and spaces
Make sure the writing on your plate is permissible by the general public and the government, as the government has the right to ban plates that go against what is acceptable. You can order and make payment for your distinctive car number online, via mail, or by visiting the local OMV office.
If your personalized plate is approved, you can proceed to make payment. Personalized license plates in Louisiana cost $25. You will also be required to pay an administrative fee of $3.50, as well as a handling fee of $8.
Specialized: This variety of plates is targeted toward creating unique plates for organizations, charitable groups, etc. These organizations or groups may have a unique style or design of plates, and the criteria for this style may vary from state to state.
Individuals with disabilities are equally given leverage to apply for handicap permits that give them legal rights to park in handicapped spots. To be eligible for a handicap permit, you must show that you indeed have a disability.
As a member of any of these groups/organizations, you may be allowed to apply for any of the following:
- Universities or college vehicles
- Persons with disabilities
- Antique cars
- Military license plates
- Organizations
You may also be required to make a donation when applying for a specialty plate.
What is in the License Plate Lookup Report?
A license plate lookup provides you with relevant data on the vehicle you intend to purchase or have already purchased. Information you will be able to access includes:
Market value: This prevents you from overpaying by providing you with an estimate of the true worth or market value of the car if you intend to buy it.
Vehicle specifications: You may be interested in knowing the vehicle’s make, model, and VIN before you purchase the car. This report gives you detailed facts on the vehicle’s primary and performance-related attributes.
Accidents records: This checks if the car being looked up has been involved in any reported accidents. There could be underlying faults with the car due to accidents, making it risky to be on the roads. This report helps car buyers make a more informed decision.
According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), there were 762 crashes and 828 fatalities in 2020, and 914 highway crashes that led to 997 deaths in 2021.
Junk/salvage title check: This tells you if the car has been damaged and is therefore considered a ‘total loss’ by an insurance company.
Odometer record: You can find out if the odometer has ever been tampered with. Sellers sometimes tamper with the odometer to deceive the buyer into thinking that the vehicle has been driven for less than it was. This report protects you from odometer fraud.
Lien records: Provides information on whether the car has been used in a lease, as collateral for a debt, as a rental car unit, etc. A car dealership is legally required to clear off existing liens before selling the car to you, but in the case that they do not, this report will let you know.
Previous owners: Gives you comprehensive information on the number of owners the vehicle has had, and the duration of ownership for each owner. This information helps you determine whether the vehicle has been overused, and therefore if it’s fit enough for the road.
Flood records: This informs you of any previous damage to the car caused by floods. Intense weather conditions such as this are capable of destroying a car. Sometimes, these faults may not be visible and you may not even be informed beforehand by the vehicle seller. With this license plate lookup, you can access this information.
In recent years, Louisiana has been the worst hit state by flooding in the US. In 2016, Louisiana suffered from what the International Relief Teams (IRT) termed the worst natural disaster to hit the US in recent history. It is therefore good to know if the car you're checking might have suffered significant flooding damage, and whether it was repaired or otherwise.
A commonly reported problem is that of odometer fraud, but this can be avoided by leveraging online research tools like the VIN Free Check license plate lookup, which gives you extensive and verifiable information from reputable sources like the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).
Vehicle look-ups aren't restricted to vehicles personally owned; it even transcends look-ups for a suspicious vehicle on the road, or out of curiosity to look up a car you might like.
A 2023 report published by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reviewing car theft data from 2022, revealed that of over 1 million vehicles stolen across the country, Louisiana numbered almost 20,000 vehicles. There seems to be a rise in vehicle theft each and every year, and car-buyers are advised to adopt preventive measures, including a simple, yet powerful license plate lookup, that may be a game changer when making a big purchase.
Is This Legal?
You might be wondering if we are breaching anyone's privacy, and if this is against the law. Rest assured that we do not give out the private information of the vehicle owner which conforms with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)’s restriction on disclosing private information of a car owner. Moreover, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants individuals the right to access information collected by the government.
So yes, this is legal and does not break any rules.
In fact, if you have suspicions over a certain vehicle you see, don't hesitate to perform a quick look up. VinFreeCheck guarantees you 100% reliable data taken from officially registered sources such as NMVTIS. Go ahead and run a free check on that vehicle!