Real Louisiana deals, worked out
Each example runs through the same calculator above, line by line, so you can check every number yourself.
1Baton Rouge: new car with a trade-in and rebate
A buyer pays $35,000, trades in $10,000 and gets a $1,500 rebate. Tax is on $23,500, and the plate is 0.1% of $35,000 for two years.
| Vehicle price | $35,000.00 |
| Rebate | −$1,500.00 |
| Sales tax (5% state + 5% local) on $23,500.00 | $2,350.00 |
| Title fee | $68.50 |
| Handling fee | $8.00 |
| License plate (2 years) | $70.00 |
| Out-the-door | $35,996.50 |
| Due after the $10,000 trade-in | $25,996.50 |
2Used car under $10,000
A buyer pays $8,000 for a used car. The plate fee uses the $10,000 minimum, so it's $20 for two years.
| Vehicle price | $8,000.00 |
| Sales tax (5% state + 5% local) on $8,000.00 | $800.00 |
| Title fee | $68.50 |
| Handling fee | $8.00 |
| License plate (2 years) | $20.00 |
| Out-the-door | $8,896.50 |
How the tax is figured
The Office of Motor Vehicles assesses sales and use tax on the sale price minus any qualifying trade-in and rebate, based on where the car is domiciled. Act 11 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session raised the state rate to 5% from January 1, 2025, scheduled to drop to 4.75% in 2030. Parish and city rates differ widely, so the calculator starts with a typical 5% local rate.
Louisiana car tax at common prices
What a new gas car bought from a dealer comes to at four prices, using a 5% local rate. The trade-in column shows how much a $10,000 trade-in changes the tax under Louisiana's rules.
| Price | Tax | Tax with $10,000 trade-in | Taxes + fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $1,500.00 | $500.00 | $1,606.50 |
| $25,000 | $2,500.00 | $1,500.00 | $2,626.50 |
| $35,000 | $3,500.00 | $2,500.00 | $3,646.50 |
| $50,000 | $5,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $5,176.50 |
Title, plate and EV fees
The title fee is $68.50, with an $8 handling fee and a $15 lien fee for a UCC-1 financing statement. The license plate costs 0.1% of the car's value a year with a $10,000 minimum, and plates are sold in two-year terms, so the minimum is $20. Since 2026 the OMV collects the road usage fee: $110 a year for electric cars and $60 for hybrids.
Louisiana taxes and fees at a glance
Officialfrom a state agency sourceEst.varies or not yet confirmed
| Item (baton rouge: new car with a trade-in and rebate) | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax (5% state + 5% local) | Estimate | $2,350.00 |
| Title fee | Official | $68.50 |
| Handling fee | Official | $8.00 |
| License plate (2 years) | Official | $70.00 |
| Total taxes and fees | $2,496.50 |
Louisiana car tax FAQ
What is the state sales tax on cars in Louisiana?
5% since January 1, 2025, plus parish and city taxes.
Do rebates lower sales tax in Louisiana?
Yes. Tax is on the price minus any qualifying trade-in and rebate.
How much is a Louisiana license plate?
0.1% of the car's value a year, on at least $10,000, sold in two-year terms.
Sources
We build every number from these agency pages. If something has changed, tell us and we'll fix it.