What you pay in tax when you buy a vehicle in Louisiana, from the statute and the revenue department.
Verified September 21, 2026 · statute and revenue department cross-checked
The statute and the actual bill do not match. The state rate rose from 4.45 to 5 percent on January 1, 2025 and runs through 2029. The Department of Revenue’s own motor vehicle guide R-20164 still prints 4.45 percent.
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Buying the car is only half the cost. You still owe an annual registration fee.
Louisiana has some of the largest local add-ons in the country, and the rate follows where you live rather than where you buy. Combined rates of 9 to 12 percent are normal. You have 40 days to pay after an in-state purchase.
Louisiana DOR R-20164, Motor Vehicle Sales Tax “In addition to the 4.45 percent state sales tax, most parishes and many municipalities have a local sales tax ranging from 1.85 percent to 7 percent. The rate of tax is based upon the domicile of the purchaser, not the location of the seller.”
Last verified: September 21, 2026.
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Estimates only. Your dealer or the state issues the final bill, and exemptions can change what you owe. This page does not collect or store anything you enter.