Policy 2.00 Basic Requirements for Obtaining a Certificate of Title - Section 4 - Motor Vehicle Registration Requirements

Sep 20, 2026

Policy 2.00 sets baseline requirements for obtaining a Louisiana motor vehicle certificate of title, focused on motor vehicle registration requirements under Section 4. It defines the certificate of title, the manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO/MSO), and private sale. The document explains when alterations to title or MCO/MSO require an affidavit of correction, details notarization requirements and exceptions tied to sales dates, and lists required documents for newly registered or previously unregistered vehicles, including forms, origin statements, invoices, odometer disclosure, financing statements, and identification.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Policy 2.00 Basic Requirements for Obtaining a Certificate of Title

Section: 4. Motor Vehicle Registration Requirements

Effective Date and Revisions

Definitions

General Requirements (Alterations to Title or MCO/MSO)

Notary Requirements

Requirements: New, Previously Unregistered Vehicles

Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles Policy 2.00 Basic Requirements for Obtaining a Certificate of Title Section: 4. Motor Vehicle Registration Requirements Effective Date: 05/04/1996 Revised Date: 07/30/2026 Authority: R.S. 32:707 R.S. 47:501(C)(1)(2) R.S. 47:513 .2 To view Louisiana Statutes: [http://www.legis.state.la.us/](http://www.legis.state.la.us/) Definitions: • Certificate of Title-A legal form issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles that provides proof of ownership for a motor vehicle. A title is also used to execute a transfer of ownership at the time of sale between the buyer and seller. • Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)–The original ownership document for a vehicle which is also used to transfer ownership, also referred to as a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) • Private Sale – A transfer of vehicle ownership between parties who are not licensed to sell motor vehicles General: • Alterations to the Certificate of Title or MCO/MSO o Alterations on a title or MCO/MSO that can be accepted (without providing an Affidavit of Correction) must be submitted with a properly endorsed supporting document (e.g. bill of sale, etc. ) include: ▪ Spelling of seller or purchaser’s name is in error or illegible ▪ Seller signed their name incorrectly ▪ Seller or purchaser’s name is misspelled and corrected with a strike over ▪ Error(s) in the address ▪ Error(s) in the date of sale, provided that the error does not impact fees or penalties o A notarized Affidavit of Correction must be submitted with a title or MSO if: ▪ A bill of sale is unavailable or not submitted with the file ▪ A different person or company than originally included on the assignment of title is to be recorded as the owner ▪ A change to the date of sale will affect taxes or penalty and interest due and/or conflicts with a lien date ▪ An address correction resulting in a change to the amount of sales or use tax o Titles or MSO’s with alterations or erasures , other than stated above, will not be accepted without providing an affidavit of correction as indicated below: ▪ Affidavit of Correction for alterations made, other than a name correction, must be signed by the seller and purchaser and notarized. ▪ Affidavit of Correction used for a name correction of the purchaser must be signed by the purchaser and notarized. o An affidavit of correction may not be accepted to correct odometer errors. • Notary Requirements o MSO and Certificate of Title must be notarized if the vehicle sale takes place in Louisiana or another state that requires notarization at the time of vehicle transfer. o Exception: Notarization will not be required on the MSO, certificate of title, or bill of sale if the sale occurred in Louisiana on or after 01/01/23 and the vehicle is being: ▪ Transferred to a new or used motor vehicle dealer licensed in Louisiana ▪ Transferred from a Louisiana licensed new or used motor vehicle dealer to a purchaser • Any person who is a new resident of Louisiana who imports a vehicle to Louisiana for use shall apply for a title and/or registration for each motor vehicle he owns and operates on the public streets of Louisiana within thirty (30) days of the date he/she establishes residency. The date a person establishes residency shall be the date he/she is issued a Louisiana driver's license. For additional information, refer to Out-of-State Transfers and Reciprocity with Other States. Requirements: • New, Previously Unregistered Vehicles o Vehicle Application Form ( DPSMV1799 ) o Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) ▪ New vehicle sales completed in Louisiana by a licensed dealer will not require notarization, if the sale occurred on or after 01/01/2023 . ▪ Vehicle sales that occur in Louisiana may be witnessed by an authorized agent of a federally insured financial institution in lieu of notarization when: − The seller is present −

FAQs

What documents must be submitted when the certificate of title or MCO/MSO has accepted alterations?

Alterations that can be accepted without an affidavit must be submitted with a properly endorsed supporting document, such as a bill of sale. Examples include spelling/name errors, incorrect address or certain date-of-sale errors that do not affect fees or penalties.

When is a notarized Affidavit of Correction required?

A notarized affidavit is required when a bill of sale is unavailable or not submitted, when recording a different person or company as the owner than originally listed, when correcting sale dates affects taxes or penalty/interest or conflicts with a lien date, or when an address correction changes sales or use tax. Other alterations or erasures generally require a notarized affidavit signed by both seller and purchaser as specified.

What are the key requirements for new, previously unregistered vehicles?

Required items include a completed Vehicle Application Form (DPSMV1799), Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO), an original itemized invoice from dealer to purchaser with specific vehicle and sales details, a properly completed Odometer Disclosure Statement (DPSMV1606), and a UCC-1 or other security agreement if a lien is recorded. Each owner must provide a current driver’s license or identification card, and the correct notarization handling depends on whether the sale occurred on/after 01/01/2023 and related exceptions.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Lucas Martin