In the state of Louisiana, your vehicle registration must be renewed every two years, no later than the last day of the month indicated on your registration certificate. It is illegal to drive with an expired registration in LA.

Registration Renewal Notice

You should receive your renewal notice in the mail, prior to your vehicle’s expiration date. Your renewal notice will tell you the fee for renewing your registration, in addition to instructions to renew online or by phone (as opposed to in person or by mail), if you are eligible.

If you do not receive a notice about your registration renewal, contact your local Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV).

Registration Renewal Online

 
The OMV website allows eligible parties to renew their car registration online. In order to renew online, you must provide the renewal number found on your registration renewal notice, in addition to a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit card or debit card for the renewal fee.

Registration Renewal by Phone

 
You can renew by phone by calling the automated renewal system at: (888) 956-5111. Be prepared to pay the register car renewal fee with a credit or debit card, and to provide your renewal number.

Registration Renewal by Mail

 
When renewing by mail, you must pay with a personal check or money order, payable to the Department of Public Safety. Your renewal notice will inform you of the documents required to renew by mail.

In order to complete your renewal, mail all required documents and fees to the following address:

LA Department of Public Safety
Office of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 64866
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Registration Renewal in Person

 
You can renew your vehicle registration in person by presenting your current registration certificate or your renewal notice to your local OMV.  A complete list of OMV locations is available online. When you renew in person, you can pay with cash, a personal check, a money order, or one of the accepted credit or debit cards.

Emissions Testing Requirements

The state of Louisiana includes an emissions and smog check in the required routine vehicle inspection. When you register your car for the first time in LA, you will be placed on an inspection schedule, depending on your vehicle’s make and model. If you are particularly concerned about the amount of smog your vehicle is emitting, contact the OMV division of the DPS directly: (225) 925-6146.