In Louisiana
, you can get a temporary license plate for your new vehicle from the dealer that sold you your car. If you are buying a car privately, you can get temporary tags at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). Fraudulent temporary license plates are becoming increasingly common in Louisiana, so it’s important to know where you can get legitimate temporary plates. It’s also important to know what the rules for using temp tags are, so you can avoid unnecessary fines.
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Start earning nowDoes Louisiana issue temporary plates?
TheLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
allows certified dealers to issue a temporary cardboard license plate to car buyers. You can also get a temp plate directly from the OMV. This temporary tag must be fastened to the rear of the vehicle or clearly displayed in your car’s rear window. Temporary permits are good for 30 days from the day they were issued. The temporary tag must be destroyed when it expires, either after 30 days or whenever you receive your permanent metal license plates, whichever comes first.
What’s the problem with temporary Louisiana license plates?
Unfortunately, because temporary license plates are typically made of paper or cardboard, they are somewhat easy to replicate—and this has caused problems in Louisiana.
Recently, there has been an increase in reports of people making and selling fake Louisiana temporary license plates, inspection stickers, and emissions certificates. Some of the people involved in these incidents were also caught with fake Texas temporary license plates, aka buyer’s tags, suggesting that Texas’s rampant fake temp tag problem is bleeding over into neighboring Louisiana.
Criminals often use false temporary license plates to avoid being identified by the police. Only certified dealersand the OMV can legally issue temporary license plates in the state of Louisiana.
How to get a temporary license plate in Louisiana
There are times when temporary plates are totally legit and necessary, of course. For example, you may need to take your new vehicle to have a safety inspection done. In order to get your unregistered vehicle there legally, you’ll need temporary plates.
If you are in need of temporary tags it’s important to remember that you can only get them through a licensed dealer or directly from the Office of Motor Vehicles.
Third-party websites that advertise temporary license plates might be a scam—and you are encouraged to report fake temp tags to the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto-Theft Unit here
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Start earning nowTemporary registration permits in Louisiana
Temporary registration permits, temporary license plates, temp tags—they’re all terms for the same thing. If you are in need of a temporary license plate, you can get one through a licensed dealer or directly from the Office of Motor Vehicles at the following office locations:
These temporary permits come at a cost of $5.50 with a handling fee of $8.
Can I drive a car without plates if I just bought it in Louisiana?
You cannot drive a car in Louisiana with absolutely no plates. If you do not have plates that you are transferring onto your new vehicle, you’ll need to get yourself a temporary tag. Your dealer should have some on hand and can provide you with one. If you’re buying from a private seller, you can get a temporary permit from the OMV.
The penalty for a registration violation in Louisiana is a $119 fine, which is a lot more than the $13.50 you’ll pay to get a nice, legal temporary permit.
How to find affordable car insurance in Louisiana
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