Moving to Louisiana: How to Transfer Your Driver's License in 30 Days
How long do I have to switch my driver's license to Louisiana, and do I need a test?
Apply for a Louisiana driver's license within 30 days after you establish a domicile (your permanent home) in Louisiana, and surrender your old license. With a valid out-of-state license that matches a Louisiana Class E or Class D, you take only the vision test, with no written or road skills test. A nonresident with a valid home-state license may drive in Louisiana for up to 90 days.
Where these rules come from
This guide uses the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) license transfers page, the new-resident law R.S. 32:409.1 and the nonresident law R.S. 32:404, as of 2026. It also uses the OMV policy manual (out-of-state transfers, residency, fees and driver education), the OMV REAL ID page and the Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide; where they differ, it follows the law and the newest OMV text. Confirm the rules with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.org) before you drive.
How long do I have to transfer my license to Louisiana?
State law gives you no more than 30 days after you establish a domicile in Louisiana to apply for a Louisiana license. To apply, you need a valid Louisiana address.
When the OMV issues your Louisiana license, you surrender the out-of-state license, and it is destroyed. You may hold only one valid driver's license from any state at one time, so you cannot keep the old card as a spare.
Do I need to take a test to transfer my license?
If you transfer a valid non-commercial out-of-state license that matches a Louisiana Class E or Class D, the OMV gives no exam other than the vision test: no written test and no road skills test.
The vision test checks that your vision meets the minimum standard of 20/40. If you need glasses or contact lenses to pass, your license shows restriction 01, and you must wear them when you drive.
Transfers that follow different rules
How to transfer your license to Louisiana, step by step
- 1Establish your Louisiana domicile and address. Your 30 days start on the day you establish the domicile.
- 2Collect your documents: one primary document, your Social Security number, one original proof of residency with your name and Louisiana address (for example a utility bill, a bank statement or a current lease), and the photo license from your last state. All documents must be originals or certified copies and show the same name, except for a name change by marriage.
- 3If you do not have your photo license, get an official driving record from your last licensing state (see the next section).
- 4If you have a vehicle registered in Louisiana, bring proof of insurance.
- 5Go to the OMV, pass the vision test, pay the license fee and surrender your old license. The OMV then issues your Louisiana license.
What if I do not have my old license card?
Without the photo license, bring an official driving record from the last state that licensed you. It must list your personal information and your license number. OMV policy names this option for drivers from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada or West Virginia: the record must show your name, date of birth and license number. Order the record from your old state before your OMV visit.
Do I need insurance to get a Louisiana license?
Yes, if you own a vehicle. Every vehicle used on Louisiana highways must have liability coverage or another allowed substitute, and you show proof for the vehicles you own when the license is issued. The proof must show the insurance company, the policy number, the effective dates, the vehicle, the insured person and the NAIC number. The NAIC number shows that the company is authorized to do business in Louisiana.
What a REAL ID transfer needs in Louisiana
- If you never had a REAL ID in Louisiana, bring all the original REAL ID documents, even if you hold a REAL ID from another state.
- Proof of identity, proof of lawful status in the United States and proof of date of birth.
- Your Social Security number.
- Two original proofs of principal residence with your name and Louisiana street address, from separate sources.
- The cost is the same as for a license that is not a REAL ID. The card has a white star with a gold outline.
Who must switch, and who may keep a home-state license
| Your situation | The rule | How long |
|---|---|---|
| New resident with a Louisiana domicile | Apply for a Louisiana license | Within 30 days after you establish the domicile |
| Nonresident visiting Louisiana | Drive with a valid home-state license in your immediate possession | Up to 90 days |
| Student at a Louisiana school, domiciled in another state | Carry the home-state license and a current student ID | During enrollment and up to 90 days after |
| Active-duty service member stationed in Louisiana, domiciled elsewhere | Carry the home-state license and a military ID | During your stay and up to 90 days after |
| Military dependent who lives with that service member | Carry the home-state license and a military dependent ID | During the stay and up to 90 days after |
What do teens need when they move to Louisiana?
A teen with a valid out-of-state learner's permit that matches the Louisiana Class E gets a Louisiana learner's permit with no written test, at any age. No proof of driver education is needed, because the teen is no longer a first-time applicant.
A teen who is 16 but not yet 17 can get an intermediate license with proof of an equivalent driver education course and a learner's license held at least 180 days in the last state, unless the teen turns 17 first. The intermediate license rules explain this stage. For a minor, the custodial parent or legal guardian signs, both show ID, and custody documents are needed.
What if I get only a Louisiana ID card, or my license is from another country?
If you get only a Louisiana ID card, you do not have to surrender your out-of-state license, but your home state may cancel your driving privileges. Ask that state before you choose this option. A license from another country follows different rules: read the guide to a foreign driver's license in Louisiana first.
Key takeaways
- Apply for a Louisiana license within 30 days after you establish a Louisiana domicile, and surrender your old license.
- A valid out-of-state Class E or Class D equivalent license needs only the vision test (20/40 minimum).
- Bring one primary document, your Social Security number, one proof of Louisiana residency and your old photo license. For a REAL ID, bring all REAL ID documents.
- Nonresidents may drive up to 90 days on a home-state license. Students and military people domiciled in another state may drive during their stay and 90 days after.
- Next step: practice on the free Louisiana Class E practice test (in English only) to review the Louisiana rules of the road.
Moving to Louisiana: common questions
How much does it cost to transfer a driver's license to Louisiana?
As of 2026, a Louisiana Class E license (the personal license for a car) for 6 years costs $32.25 to $40.25 in total for a driver younger than 70. This is a $20.25 license fee, a $12.00 handling fee and a service fee of $0 to $8.00. A driver who is 70 or older pays $18.75 to $26.75.
Do I have to switch my car registration to Louisiana too?
Yes. A new Louisiana resident must transfer the title and registration of each vehicle brought during the move. Go to a local Motor Vehicle Office or a public tag agent with your out-of-state title, your registration certificate and proof of insurance. The fees depend on the current book value of the vehicle.
What happens if I fail the vision test at the OMV?
You get a vision report, and a vision specialist of your choice completes it. If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the 20/40 standard, your Louisiana license shows restriction 01, and you must wear them every time you drive.
Can college students keep their home-state license?
Yes, if you attend a Louisiana school and your domicile is in another state. Carry your valid home-state license and a current student ID card. You may then drive without a Louisiana license while you are enrolled and for up to 90 days after.
Do service members stationed in Louisiana need a Louisiana license?
Not if you are on active duty, stationed in Louisiana and domiciled in another state. Carry your valid home-state license and your military ID card. You may drive during your time in Louisiana and for up to 90 days after. A dependent who lives with you uses a military dependent ID card.
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