Does Louisiana require a front license plate?

No. Cars display one plate, on the rear.

What does a Louisiana plate number look like?

Three numbers and three letters, like 123 ABC. Older plates read ABC 123.

How long is a Louisiana dealer temporary plate good for?

Sixty days or until the permanent plate arrives, whichever is first. One 60-day extension is allowed if the title transfer is delayed.

How do I cancel a Louisiana license plate?

Cancel it online, at an OMV office or by mail. If you cancel online, remove the plate and destroy it. Cancel the plate before you cancel your liability insurance.

Can I get a VIN from a Louisiana license plate?

Yes. Enter the license plate number with Louisiana selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.

Can I find the owner of a Louisiana license plate?

Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Louisiana vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.

Louisiana License Plate Lookup

Enter a Louisiana plate number to get the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model and trim.

Louisiana plates are issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles, part of the Department of Public Safety, at OMV offices and private public tag agents. Cars carry one plate, on the rear, and standard plates read three numbers and three letters. Many OMV services run through the state’s Expresslane website.

Louisiana plate to VIN

A Louisiana platenumber points to one current registration, and the registration records the vehicle’s 17-character VIN. Enter the plate above to get the VIN with the year, make, model, trim, body and engine. It is the quickest way to get the VIN of a car you are not standing next to: one in a listing, one you are quoting a repair for, or your own when the title is in a drawer somewhere.

Louisiana license plate formats

Standard passenger plates use these formats. Personalized, specialty, commercial and motorcycle plates follow their own rules, and every format works in the lookup.

Format	What it is
123 ABC	Three numbers and three letters, the standard format since 2016, now on the America 250 plate issued since January 2025.
ABC 123	Three letters and three numbers, used on standard plates before 2016.

Louisiana issues one plate, for the rear of the vehicle.

Who issues plates in Louisiana

Plates and registrations in Louisiana come from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, and people go in person to OMV offices and public tag agents. Plate Decoder is an independent service and is not affiliated with the OMV or any other government agency.

Temporary tags in Louisiana

Louisiana dealer temporary plates expire after 60 days or when the permanent plate arrives, whichever comes first. If the title transfer is delayed, the buyer can get one 60-day extension through the dealer.

Personalized and specialty plates

Personalized plates can be requested online through the OMV’s Expresslane site.

A plate for America’s 250th

The standard plate issued since January 2025 carries an America 250 logo and 18 stars, for Louisiana as the 18th state. A legislative resolution has it issued through December 31, 2026, or until stock runs out, before the earlier design returns.

What a Louisianaplate lookup can and can’t show

You get the vehicle: VIN, year, make, model, trim, body and engine. You do not get the person. See what a plate lookup shows for the full list.

What we don’t show, and why

No owner names, addresses, phone numbers or photos. Owner details in DMV records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and looking someone up out of curiosity is not a purpose it allows. Any site that promises the owner of a plate for a few dollars is either breaking that law or not going to deliver.

Who can get owner records, and what to do instead

FAQ

Louisiana plate lookup questions

Does Louisiana require a front license plate?: No. Cars display one plate, on the rear.
What does a Louisiana plate number look like?: Three numbers and three letters, like 123 ABC. Older plates read ABC 123.
How long is a Louisiana dealer temporary plate good for?: Sixty days or until the permanent plate arrives, whichever is first. One 60-day extension is allowed if the title transfer is delayed.
How do I cancel a Louisiana license plate?: Cancel it online, at an OMV office or by mail. If you cancel online, remove the plate and destroy it. Cancel the plate before you cancel your liability insurance.
Can I get a VIN from a Louisiana license plate?: Yes. Enter the license plate number with Louisiana selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.
Can I find the owner of a Louisiana license plate?: Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Louisiana vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.