Louisiana Vehicle Transfer After Death
Transfer a car title after a death in Louisiana through the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). Louisiana is a civil-law state, so the vehicle passes through a succession, and there are three paths: a small succession affidavit validated by the Department of Revenue, a court succession that ends in a judgment of possession, or the OMV Affidavit of Heirship when neither can be used. Titling happens at an OMV customer service center or an authorized public tag agent, not a parish office.
- Transfer fee
- Processed at an OMV office or public tag agent
- Title fee
- Verify the current Louisiana OMV title fee schedule before filing
- Registration
- Varies by vehicle value and registration period
- Small estate limit
- $125,000 gross small succession (La. C.C.P. art. 3421); heirship affidavit path
How Was the Vehicle Titled?
The transfer process depends on ownership type. Pick your situation below.
Small Succession Affidavit (Department of Revenue Validated)Succession may not be needed
The decedent left Louisiana property worth $125,000 gross or less at the date of death, or died 20 or more years ago, and no judicial succession has been opened
Louisiana’s small succession procedure lets heirs transfer a vehicle without opening a court succession when the estate qualifies under La. C.C.P. art. 3421: Louisiana property with a gross value of $125,000 or less as of the date of death, or a death that occurred 20 or more years before the affidavit. The surviving spouse (if any) and one or more heirs execute the small succession affidavit (La. C.C.P. arts. 3431, 3432) and file it with the Louisiana Department of Revenue for validation. The heirs then present the validated (stamped) affidavit and a descriptive list of property that includes the vehicle year, make, model, and VIN, along with the Vehicle Application (DPSMV1799), at an OMV customer service center or authorized public tag agent. No attorney is required for this path.
- Validated Affidavit of Small Succession (stamped by the Louisiana Department of Revenue)
- Descriptive list of property including the vehicle year, make, model, and VIN
- Vehicle Application (DPSMV1799) executed by the recipient
- Certificate of title, if available
- Current certificate of registration, if available
- Federal odometer disclosure statement (vehicles within twenty model years)
- Photo identification of the recipient
- Satisfaction of lien (if a lien was recorded on the decedent’s title)
Court Succession (Judgment of Possession)Succession likely needed
A succession was opened in the district court of the parish where the decedent was domiciled, and the judgment of possession shows who receives the vehicle
When a succession is opened through the courts, the heirs or legatees present a certified copy of the final judgment of possession showing the disposition of the vehicle, and the OMV issues a new title to the person or persons named in the judgment. Open the succession in the district court of the parish where the decedent was domiciled; upon appointment of a succession representative or by judgment, obtain a certified copy of the judgment of possession. Present it with the Vehicle Application (DPSMV1799) and supporting documents at an OMV customer service center or authorized public tag agent (La. C.C.P. arts. 2811 et seq.; La. R.S. 47:501 et seq.). An attorney is recommended, and is required for formal court succession proceedings.
- Certified copy of the final judgment of possession showing disposition of the vehicle
- Vehicle Application (DPSMV1799) executed by the recipient of the vehicle
- Certificate of title, if available (title assignment must be notarized if the issue date is January 1, 1990 or later)
- Current certificate of registration, if available
- Federal odometer disclosure statement (vehicles within twenty model years)
- Photo identification of the recipient (driver’s license or state ID)
- Satisfaction of lien (if a lien was recorded on the decedent’s title)
Affidavit of Heirship (No Succession Filed)Succession may not be needed
The requirements for opening a court succession or filing a small succession cannot be met, so the heirs transfer the vehicle directly at the OMV
If neither a court succession nor a small succession can be used, the heirs complete the Louisiana OMV Affidavit of Heirship (available at OMV offices and public tag agents) and have it notarized. It must be accompanied by a photostatic copy of the death certificate, and if the decedent left a will, a copy of the will or a notarized statement of its contents relevant to vehicles. All heirs must sign a notarized bill of sale or an Act of Donation of a Movable transferring the vehicle to the recipient. Present the full package, including the Vehicle Application (DPSMV1799), at an OMV customer service center or authorized public tag agent. If the vehicle is being sold, sales tax is due based on the selling price and the buyer’s domicile. No attorney is required.
- Affidavit of Heirship (Louisiana OMV form; available at OMV offices and public tag agents; must be notarized)
- Photostatic copy of the death certificate
- Copy of the will or a notarized statement of its contents relevant to vehicles (if the decedent died testate)
- Vehicle Application (DPSMV1799) executed by the recipient
- Certificate of title, if available (assignment notarized if the issue date is January 1, 1990 or later)
- Current certificate of registration, if available
- Notarized bill of sale or Act of Donation of a Movable from all heirs to the recipient
- Federal odometer disclosure statement (vehicles within twenty model years)
- Photo identification of the recipient
- Satisfaction of lien (if a lien was recorded on the decedent’s title)
- UCC-1 or security agreement and $15.00 recordation fee if a new lien is recorded (other lien instrument: $10.00)
See the full step-by-step processThe forms, the order to do them, and what to bring
Read the Louisiana title before anyone signs
Confirm whether the title is in the decedent’s name alone and whether a lien is recorded. A deceased owner cannot sign, so the transfer runs on succession paperwork instead. If the title was issued on January 1, 1990 or later, the title assignment must be notarized. If the original title is missing, get a duplicate first.
Match the estate to one of Louisiana’s three succession paths
An estate with Louisiana property worth $125,000 gross or less at the date of death, or a death 20 or more years ago, can use the small succession affidavit if no judicial succession has been opened. An opened court succession ends in a judgment of possession that names who takes the vehicle. If neither procedure can be used, the OMV Affidavit of Heirship is the fallback.
Gather the DPSMV1799 and your path documents
Every path needs the Vehicle Application (form DPSMV1799) executed by the recipient, plus proof of death. Add the Department of Revenue validated small succession affidavit with its descriptive list, a certified copy of the judgment of possession, or the notarized Affidavit of Heirship with a bill of sale or Act of Donation of a Movable signed by all heirs.
File at an OMV office or public tag agent
Louisiana has no parish DMV offices. Bring the package to any OMV customer service center or authorized public tag agent. The title fee is $68.50. If the vehicle is being sold rather than kept, sales tax is due based on the selling price and the buyer’s domicile.
Keep insurance and registration current
Louisiana sets no statutory deadline to transfer a deceased owner’s vehicle title, but keep the registration current and insurance in force until ownership changes. Recording a new lien costs $15.00 with a UCC instrument or $10.00 with another instrument.
Good to knowShort notes that save a second trip to the title office
- Louisiana has no vehicle transfer on death designation. Unlike many states, Louisiana does not let a vehicle owner name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on the title. Advice written for other states about adding a TOD beneficiary does not apply here. A Louisiana vehicle passes through the succession: the small succession affidavit, a judgment of possession, or the Affidavit of Heirship.
- The two affidavits are not interchangeable. The small succession affidavit must be validated (stamped) by the Louisiana Department of Revenue before the OMV will accept it. The OMV Affidavit of Heirship needs no Department of Revenue validation, but it requires a notarized bill of sale or Act of Donation of a Movable signed by all heirs, and it is only for estates that cannot use a court succession or the small succession procedure.
- Out-of-state heirs may need extra paperwork. If an heir lives outside Louisiana and their home state will not accept the Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship, the OMV requires written documentation from that state indicating non-acceptance along with the transfer package.
- Get a duplicate title first if the original is missing. If the original certificate of title is lost or destroyed, obtain a duplicate before attempting the transfer. File the Vehicle Application (DPSMV1799) at an OMV customer service center or public tag agent; the Title Correction fee is $68.50, and any unreleased liens will be noted on the duplicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a car title without succession in Louisiana?
What documents do I usually need to transfer a vehicle after death in Louisiana?
What if there is a loan on the vehicle?
Do I need to keep the car insured during the transfer?
What if several heirs inherit the car together?
What if the car is titled in another state, not Louisiana?
Not Sure Whether Probate Is Required?
Use the Louisiana probate assessment before you submit DMV paperwork if the vehicle was solely owned or the estate looks close to a small-estate threshold.
Still weighing whether to keep or sell the car? Read what to do with the car when someone dies for the keep-or-sell decision, or see how to sell the car if you cannot find the title in Louisiana.
Official Louisiana Sources
Information current as of July 8, 2026
Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in Louisiana can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
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