ATTENTION: Be prepared to satisfy any insurance requirements when you register & title your motorcycle.
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This page will cover the street legal requirements and registration and title process in Louisiana and provide some tips on how to register if you bought the motorcycle without a title.
Louisiana Title & Inspection Requirements for Used Motorcycles
- Does Louisiana have a motorcycle inspection requirement?
- Periodic safety inspection required.
- Does Louisiana require VIN Inspections for motorcycles bought out of state?
- Not required.
- Does Louisiana require a title for old motorcycles?
- All motorcycles require a title.
How to Title and Register a Motorcycle in Louisiana
To register and title your motorcycle in Louisiana, you’ll need the following:
- Signed title.
- Bill of sale and old registration if bought in a state that doesn’t issue titles.
- Notarized affidavit from previous owner certifying they are not an LA resident if the Bill of sale or out of state title is not notarized.
- Bill of Sale.
- Registration and title fees and sales tax.
- Vehicle Application form
Notarization Required on the following documents in Louisiana:
- Bill of sale
- Title
Register a Motorcycle with No Title in Louisiana
If you bought a motorcycle without a title, you can try to do the following:
Option 1: Bikes from LA
Before sale is complete, ask previous owner to get a duplicate title:
Option 2: Bikes from out of state
If the motorcycle was bought in a state that requires motorcycle titles:
- Have the previous owner request a duplicate title in that state.
- Find motorcycle registration and title details for all states here.
Option 3: Register in a No-Title State
Register the bike in a non-title, no residency requirement, mail-in registration application state, such as Vermont.
- Follow the registration requirements in Vermont.
- Transfer your registration to your own state.
Louisiana Street Legal Motorcycle Equipment Requirements
Street legal motorcycles in Louisiana must have:
- Left side rearview mirror.
- Handlebar grips no higher than shoulder height.
- Passenger footrests when riding with passengers.
- Turn signals.
- Speedometer and odometer.
This information was correct at the time of writing it, but state laws are subject to change.
More Louisiana Motorcycle Resources
- How to Get a Motorcycle License in Louisiana
- How to Get Cheaper Motorcycle Insurance
- Free Bill of Sale
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I have a Motorcycle with a title from the previous owner, the title will be notarized.
I dont have a bill of sale because it was a trade.
Can I still register it?
Hi i bought a moped outside the us and bringing it to Louisiana and i trying to grt omates and tittle tranfer but the vin the currently on the bike is only an 11 nunber vin not a 17 how can i tranfer and get plates
If it’s an older bike (pre 1981), it may have a VIN with less than 17 characters. Assuming you have the necessary documentation (title/MCO that matches the VIN, customs documents, Bill of Sale, etc.), you should be okay.
I have a friend who has a motorcycle that was in a barn for 10 years does no title and it runs good how can I get it legal we don’t know who the title belong to who has the title anyway
You can try going through Louisiana’s process for registering an untitled bike – this may require a Statement of Facts, a VIN inspection, and some applications. If that doesn’t work, you could look into first registering it in Vermont.