Louisiana used car dealer paperwork and sales tax guide
How Louisiana sales tax works on a used-car deal, how trade-ins and dealer fees are treated, and the title forms and notices a Louisiana dealer prints.
Last checked November 14, 2026
This is a plain-language summary of how a used-car deal works out in Louisiana: the sales tax, what happens to a trade-in, how dealer fees are treated, and the paperwork a dealer prints. DMS Apex uses these same rules to work out each Louisiana deal.
Louisiana tax and fees at a glance
| Item | Louisiana |
|---|---|
| State tax | 5% state rate plus local tax |
| Who pays it | Collected by the dealer |
| Trade-in | Reduces the tax |
| Documentary fee | Part of the taxable amount |
| Service contract | Not taxed |
| Starting title fee in DMS Apex | $68.50 |
How Louisiana sales tax is worked out
Louisiana: 5% state tax on the price after the trade-in, plus the buyer's parish and local tax (type the combined rate from the OMV parish tax table). The OMV collects the tax when the vehicle is titled. The document fee and other charges are included here and a service contract is not: confirm with the Department of Revenue. Title fee starts at $68.50. The documentary fee is capped by R.S. 6:969.18 and needs the disclosure printed beside it. The documentary fee cap changes every year (2026: $436); the fee amount prints beside the required notice.
Required wording beside the dealer fee
Louisiana requires this wording where the dealer fee appears. The Buyer's Order prints it.
This fee is authorized by R.S. 6:969.18(A)(2). It is not a mandatory state fee. The seller, who may also be an extender of credit, may charge the fee for credit investigation, compliance with federal and state law, preparation of the documents necessary to perfect or satisfy a lien upon the objects sold, and any other functions incidental to the titling of the retail sale.
Louisiana paperwork a dealer prints
DMS Apex prints these documents for a Louisiana deal, all in black and white:
- DPSMV 1799 Vehicle Application
- DPSMV 1606 Odometer Disclosure
- Buyer's Order with the documentary fee disclosure
- Buyers Guide
Step-by-step form guides
- DPSMV 1606 Odometer Disclosure Statement: how to fill it out
- DPSMV 1799 Vehicle Application: how to fill it out
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Louisiana rules change: confirm current requirements with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
Common questions
How much is sales tax on a used car in Louisiana?
5% state rate plus local tax. A trade-in reduces the taxable amount. See the table above and confirm the current rate with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
Does a trade-in lower the tax in Louisiana?
Yes. In Louisiana the trade-in allowance reduces the amount the tax is figured on.
Is the dealer fee taxed in Louisiana?
Yes. In DMS Apex the documentary fee is part of the taxable amount for Louisiana.
Does DMS Apex print Louisiana dealer forms?
Yes. It prints DPSMV 1799 Vehicle Application, DPSMV 1606 Odometer Disclosure, Buyer's Order with the documentary fee disclosure, Buyers Guide.
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