Moving out of Louisiana: plates, license, deadlines
The duties below bind a person leaving Louisiana. Each carries its source
and a visible verification date; expand any citation for the exact quoted
text. Verified Oct 2026.
Every quoted source on this page was found on a saved copy of its page dated Sep 29, 2026 or later.
License address
binds: Person who has applied for or received a Louisiana driver license and permanently moves from the address named in the application · verified Sep 2026 · quotes found on saved pages, Sep 29, 2026 or later
Permanently moves from the recorded address or place of residence
Who this covers, exactly
Notify the driver license division in writing or electronically of the change and new address within ten days. This is triggered by a permanent address change, including an interstate move, rather than departure alone. For correction of a REAL ID credential, the statute requires a motor vehicle field office or an authorized public license tag agent; ordinary Class D/E correction methods do not override that restriction.
note
The address notice is a statutory duty. This record does not assign a separate penalty or require Louisiana credential renewal after becoming resident elsewhere.
Statute Louisiana R.S. 32:406(A) verified Sep 2026
https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=88383
Whenever any person after applying for or receiving a license shall move permanently from the address or place of residence named in the application he shall, within ten days thereafter, notify the driver's license division, in writing or electronically, of such change and of his new address.
Statute Louisiana R.S. 32:406(C) verified Sep 2026
https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=88383
The address of a REAL ID compliant license shall be changed at a motor vehicle field office or the office of a public license tag agent authorized to issue REAL ID compliant licenses.
CDL new domicile
binds: An applicant who transfers a CDL from one State of domicile to a new State of domicile · verified Oct 2026 · quotes found on saved pages, Oct 8, 2026 or later
Establishing his/her new domicile
Who this covers, exactly
An applicant must apply for a CDL from the new State of domicile within no more than 30 days after establishing his/her new domicile.
Plate surrender nonuse
binds: The owner or lessee who wishes to discontinue the use of a vehicle registered in his name · verified Oct 2026 · quotes found on saved pages, Oct 6, 2026 or later
Cancellation of liability security on the vehicle
Who this covers, exactly
He shall surrender the vehicle's license plate to the secretary within ten calendar days of cancellation or, prior to the cancellation, he shall notify the secretary by written statement containing the date of cancellation of liability security on the vehicle, that the vehicle is no longer in use and the intended period of nonuse, and shall have the agent who previously issued the policy of insurance on the vehicle submit an affidavit that the insurance on the vehicle will be cancelled during the period of time that the vehicle will not be in use.
Statute La. R.S. 32:861(A)(3) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=88604
If the owner or lessee wishes to discontinue the use of a vehicle registered in his name, he shall surrender the vehicle's license plate to the secretary within ten calendar days of cancellation or, prior to the cancellation, he shall notify the secretary by written statement containing the date of cancellation of liability security on the vehicle
Statute La. R.S. 32:861(A)(3) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=88604
he shall notify the secretary by written statement containing the date of cancellation of liability security on the vehicle, that the vehicle is no longer in use and the intended period of nonuse, and shall have the agent who previously issued the policy of insurance on the vehicle submit an affidavit that the insurance on the vehicle will be cancelled during the period of time that the vehicle will not be in use
Income tax nonresident return
binds: Every nonresident individual required to file a federal individual tax return · verified Oct 2026 · quotes found on saved pages, Oct 6, 2026 or later
Net income derived from property located, services rendered, business transacted or sources within the state, except as hereinafter exempted
Who this covers, exactly
Every nonresident shall pay a tax upon such net income as is derived from sources within the state, except as hereinafter exempted. All individuals required to file a federal individual tax return shall be required to file an individual income tax return. Returns shall be filed on or before the fifteenth day of May, following the close of the calendar year. For individual, partnership, and fiduciary income tax returns for taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022, there shall be an automatic six-month extension of the time to file the return.
Exceptions on record
La. R.S. 47:103(D)(2)
For individual, partnership, and fiduciary income tax returns for taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022, there shall be an automatic six-month extension of the time to file the return.
Statute La. R.S. 47:31(2) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=101932
Every nonresident shall pay a tax upon such net income as is derived from property located, or from services rendered, or from business transacted within the state, or from sources within the state, except as hereinafter exempted.
Statute La. R.S. 47:101(A)(1) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=101069
All individuals required to file a federal individual tax return shall be required to file an individual income tax return.
Statute La. R.S. 47:103(A)(3) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=101072
Returns other than corporation and partnership returns made on the basis of the calendar year shall be made and filed with the secretary at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on or before the fifteenth day of May, following the close of the calendar year.
Homestead notice
binds: A person who has claimed a homestead exemption under this Section · verified Oct 2026 · quotes found on saved pages, Oct 6, 2026 or later
The property upon which he has claimed a homestead exemption no longer qualifies for that exemption
Who this covers, exactly
Notify the assessor in writing that the property no longer qualifies for that exemption, within sixty days after the disqualification occurs.
If missed
Shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Statute La. R.S. 47:1703.1(B) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=101334
Any person who fails to notify the assessor in writing that the property upon which he has claimed a homestead exemption under this Section no longer qualifies for that exemption, within sixty days after the disqualification occurs, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
Statute Act 34 (SB 340), 2026 Regular Session, resume digest (amends R.S. 47:1703.1(A)) verified Oct 2026
https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1481356
New law eliminates the list of certain parishes and requires that the assessor in each parish of the state provide a form to property owners within the parish for permanent registration of the homestead exemption. Effective April 30, 2026.
Firearm permit address
binds: A permittee under this Section · verified Oct 2026 · quotes found on saved pages, Oct 6, 2026 or later
An address or name change
Who this covers, exactly
Shall notify the department of any address or name change within thirty days of the change.
If missed
Failure to timely notify the department of a name or address change may result in suspension of the permit for up to thirty days.
Statute La. R.S. 40:1379.3(C)(1)(a) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=169362
Any permittee under this Section shall notify the department of any address or name change within thirty days of the change. Failure to timely notify the department of a name or address change may result in suspension of the permit for up to thirty days.
Regulation LAC 55:I:1313(B)(3) verified Oct 2026
https://www.doa.la.gov/media/4hphiwka/55v1-17.docx
Each permittee shall notify the department in writing of any change of address, name, phone number, or other information required in any application, including the effective date of the change, within 30 days of the effective date of the change.
Vessel address
binds: A holder of a certificate of number · verified Oct 2026 · quotes found on saved pages, Oct 6, 2026 or later
His address no longer conforms to the address appearing on the certificate
Who this covers, exactly
Notify the commission within fifteen days and furnish the commission with his new address.
Statute La. R.S. 34:851.20(H) verified Oct 2026
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=92507
Any holder of a certificate of number shall notify the commission within fifteen days if his address no longer conforms to the address appearing on the certificate and shall, as a part of such notification, furnish the commission with his new address.
Duties people expect here that the cited law does not impose
Each of these is a claim commonly made about leaving Louisiana. Each was
checked against the provision named with it, and is not there. The
finding is bounded by that provision and says nothing about the rest of
Louisiana law.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A holder of a Louisiana special identification card must notify the state of a change of address within a fixed number of days after moving
What the cited law does instead. The section lets a Louisiana resident obtain the card and states no move-based notice
Statute La. R.S. 40:1321(A) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=97429
Any Louisiana resident may obtain a special identification card from the office of motor vehicles within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A titled vehicle owner must surrender or transfer the Louisiana certificate of title on moving out of Louisiana
What the cited law does instead. The title-application clock in this section runs from delivery to a purchaser, not from the owner leaving the state
Statute La. R.S. 32:707(A) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=88520
Any purchaser of a vehicle, other than a factory-built home as defined by R.S. 9:1149.2, shall file an application for a new certificate of title within ... after the delivery of a previously issued certificate of title for the vehicle
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A registered owner who leaves Louisiana must cancel or surrender the Louisiana registration on leaving
What the cited law does instead. The registration section ties expiration, renewal and delinquency to renewal dates and does not mention leaving the state.
Statute La. R.S. 47:508(C) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=102304
Failure to make application and payment of registration fees, as provided herein, on or before the renewal dates provided in this Section, or on or before renewal dates established by rule of the secretary, shall cause the license due to become delinquent and subject to penalties and interest charges as provided in Chapter 18 of this Title
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A registered owner must surrender Louisiana plates on leaving the state
What the cited law does instead. The number-plate section requires removal of plates upon termination of the lawful use by the owner and does not say whether leaving the state is such a termination.
Statute La. R.S. 47:505(B)(1) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=102301
The commissioner shall require the removal of all number plates upon termination of the lawful use thereof by the owner.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A vehicle owner must notify the state of a new address within a fixed number of days after moving
What the cited law does instead. The registration application section requires an address on the application and states no later notice of a changed address
Statute La. R.S. 47:503(A)(2) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=102299
Every application shall be signed by the owner and contain the address of his domicile, or if he is not domiciled in Louisiana, the address of his residence
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A registered owner who moves must keep Louisiana liability security in force after the vehicle is registered in another state
What the cited law does instead. The security requirement is stated for vehicles registered in this state
Statute La. R.S. 32:861(A)(1) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=88604
Every self-propelled motor vehicle registered in this state except those motor vehicles used as agricultural or forest vehicles during seasons when they are not used on the highway, those used primarily for exhibit or kept primarily for use in parades, exhibits, or shows, and lease-bound mobile rig haulers as defined in Subsection D of this Section, shall be covered by an automobile liability policy
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A registered owner must complete a Louisiana safety inspection because of leaving the state
What the cited law does instead. The inspection requirement is stated for vehicles registered in this state and names no move-based trigger
Statute La. R.S. 32:1304(A)(1) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=88051
The secretary shall ... require that every motor vehicle, low-speed vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer registered in this state be inspected and that an official certificate of inspection and approval be obtained for such vehicle.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A registered owner must complete a Louisiana emissions inspection because of leaving the state
What the cited law does instead. The emissions inspection sentence concerns emission control devices installed on motor vehicles and names no move-based trigger
Statute La. R.S. 32:1304(A)(2) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=88051
The secretary shall require the inspection of all approved automotive emission control devices installed on motor vehicles produced after model year 1980 to insure that such devices are operative and have not been tampered with.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: A person who leaves Louisiana must file a separate final return for the part of the year ended by the move
What the cited law does instead. The individual return section attaches to individuals required to file a federal individual tax return and does not mention moving
Statute La. R.S. 47:101(A)(1) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=101069
All individuals required to file a federal individual tax return shall be required to file an individual income tax return.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 6, 2026
Not in the cited law: An owner of a mini-truck registered as an off-road vehicle must notify the state of a new address or surrender the registration on leaving
What the cited law does instead. The mini-truck registration subsection concerns operation upon a highway and names no move-based trigger
Statute La. R.S. 32:299.2(C) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=726498
Any mini-truck operated upon a highway of this state shall register as an off-road vehicle and shall display a decal issued by the office of motor vehicles.