I'm a new resident in Louisiana: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Louisiana. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Louisiana

Each rule comes from the Louisiana driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Deadline to switch your license

  30 days from when residency is established

  What the manual says

  • New residents have 30 days from the time residency is established to obtain a Louisiana license.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 1

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Valid non-commercial out-of-state license: only the vision test; no other exam.

  What the manual says

  • Tests when you transfer

    A person who transfers a valid, non-commercial out-of-state license is not required to take any examination other than the vision test. A person who transfers a valid out-of-state learner’s permit that is equivalent to Class E is issued a Louisiana learner’s permit with no written test.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Liability insurance

  Any vehicle used on Louisiana highways must be insured with liability insurance or an allowable substitute.

  What the manual says

  • Any vehicle used upon the highways of Louisiana must be insured by liability insurance or other allowable substitute.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 7

• Change of address

  Correct the address on your license within 10 days after a move, in person.

  What the manual says

  • Louisiana law requires correcting the address on your license within 10 days after a move.

  • Changing your address

    You must correct the address on your license within 10 days after a move, and you must appear in person to have this transaction completed. If your license expires within 90 days, you are required to renew it instead. Changing the address on your driver’s license does not automatically change the address on your vehicles.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 10

  Source: [3] [4]

• How long the license lasts

  Six years from your nearest birthday.

  What the manual says

  • The manual states the license expires six years from your nearest birthday.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 10

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  Intermediate license restricts driving between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

  What the manual says

  • The intermediate license restricts driving between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 7

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Under 21: legal limit .02; a BAC of 0.02% or more means 180-day suspension.

  What the manual says

  • The manual states the legal limit is .02 if you are 20 years of age and younger.
  • The manual says a driver under 21 whose test shows a BAC of 0.02% or more has driving privileges suspended for 180 days.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 123, 127

• Refusing a chemical test

  Driving means consent to testing; refusing suspends driving privileges 365 days (first offense), 730 days (second or later).

  What the manual says

  • The manual says that by driving on the highways of Louisiana you are deemed to have given consent to such a test, which is known as implied consent.
  • The manual says refusing the test suspends your driving privileges for 365 days on a first offense.
  • The manual says refusing the test on a second or subsequent offense suspends your driving privileges for 730 days.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 126

• Seat belts

  All passengers in front and back seats of cars, vans and pickup trucks must be buckled.

  What the manual says

  • Louisiana's mandatory safety belt use law requires all passengers in both the front and back seats in cars, vans and pickup trucks to be properly buckled.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 39

• Child safety seats

  Birth to 2: rear-facing car seat; 2-4: forward-facing car seat; 4-9: booster seat.

  What the manual says

  • From birth to at least 2 years, a child rides in a rear facing, federally approved car seat.
  • Children aged 2-4 years ride in a forward facing, federally approved car seat.
  • Children aged 4-9 years ride in a booster seat with restraints.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 40

• Phone use while driving

  Anyone, of any age, may not write, send or read text-based communication while driving.

  What the manual says

  • Louisiana law prohibits anyone, regardless of age, from writing, sending, or reading a text-based communication while driving.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 78

• School buses

  Stop for a school bus loading or unloading, meeting or behind it, unless a ditch, grassy median or concrete barrier separates you.

  What the manual says

  • The guide says stopping is required by law whether you are meeting the bus or traveling behind it.
  • The guide says you are not required to stop when the bus is in opposite lanes of a roadway separated by a ditch, grassy median, elevated concrete barrier or any obstacle that prevents traffic from driving there.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 88

• Move Over law

  Move-over law: slow down and change lanes when approaching a roadside incident.

  What the manual says

  • The "move over" law requires you to slow down and change lanes when approaching a roadside incident.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 30

• Headlights

  Sunset to sunrise; when moisture or precipitation requires wipers; when weather makes your vehicle hard to see from 500 feet.

  What the manual says

  • Louisiana law requires that your headlights, not just parking lights, be on between sunset and sunrise.
  • Headlights are required when moisture in the air or precipitation makes the use of windshield wipers necessary, and when weather conditions are unfavorable.
  • Your headlights must be on when weather makes it difficult for other people to see your vehicle clearly from a distance of 500 feet.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 75

• Right turn on red

  Allowed after stopping and yielding to traffic and pedestrians, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.

  What the manual says

  • If no sign prohibits it, you may turn right on red after stopping and yielding to traffic, including pedestrians.
  • When a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted you may not turn right during the red light and must wait for the traffic signal to turn green.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 34, 28

• Speed limits

  Interstate maximum 70 mph unless posted; reduced limits in residential/business areas; school limit only when sign flashes.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says the maximum speed allowed on the interstate is 70 miles per hour unless otherwise posted.
  • The guide requires reduced speed limits on streets in residential or business areas.
  • The school speed limit is required only when the sign is flashing; otherwise you obey the roadway's speed limit.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 100, 87, 27

• Left lane and keeping right

  Slower traffic stays in the right lane where signed; on interstates the far left lane is for passing.

  What the manual says

  • The sign is posted on a multilane highway and tells drivers going slower than the normal speed of traffic to stay in the right lane.
  • The manual says the far left lane is for passing.

  Source: Class D & E Driver’s Guide (Revised August 2025 (DPSMV2052 R08/25)), page 29, 101

Official steps for moving to Louisiana

• Get a Louisiana license within 30 days

  A driver’s license must be transferred from the state of your previous domicile to Louisiana within 30 days of establishing a domicile in Louisiana. You may hold only one valid driver’s license from any state at a time. Non-residents with a valid license from another state may drive in Louisiana for 90 days.

  Source: [3] [1] [2]

• What to bring when you transfer

  You need:

  • your most recent out-of-state license, which must be surrendered, because it is unlawful in Louisiana to have more than one driver’s license;
  • identification documents (see the License Transfers page, linked below);
  • proof of residence;
  • your Social Security number;
  • proof of insurance on any personal vehicle you have registered in Louisiana.

  Source: [3] [1] [5]

• Matching names

  The names on your primary and secondary documents must match, except for a marriage certificate. The documents must be originals or certified copies from the issuer.

  Source: [5]

• Tests when you transfer

  A person who transfers a valid, non-commercial out-of-state license is not required to take any examination other than the vision test. A person who transfers a valid out-of-state learner’s permit that is equivalent to Class E is issued a Louisiana learner’s permit with no written test.

  Source: [1] [2]

• If you do not have your out-of-state license

  If you do not have your out-of-state picture license, you may have to submit a letter of clearance or an official driving record from your last state of license. You must also meet all identification and Social Security requirements. Read the License Transfers page, linked below, to see what applies to you.

  Source: [3]

• If you are 16

  An out-of-state applicant who is 16 and has had a license or permit for at least 180 days may be eligible to skip the learner’s permit stage and be issued an intermediate license. You must give the OMV proof that you completed an equivalent driver education course and proof that you held a learner’s license for at least 180 days in your previous state, unless you turn 17 before the 180 days are over.

  Source: [3] [6]

• If you have a foreign license

  First-time applicants who show a foreign driver’s license from a country that has no reciprocal agreement with the Department must give proof of driver education training and, if eligible, pass the knowledge, vision and road skills tests. First-time applicants from Germany, Switzerland, South Korea and Taiwan, and from certain U.S. territories, do not need the driver education training or the knowledge and road skills tests but must pass the vision test.

  Source: [1]

• If you are not a U.S. citizen

  The OMV verifies immigration documents for status before it issues a Louisiana license or ID card. Visitors to the United States are not eligible. For a non-immigrant or refugee, there must be at least 30 days remaining on the visa or I-94 for the application to be considered. If you are not a Louisiana resident, you are not eligible for a driver’s license or ID card.

  Source: [3] [1]

• REAL ID for new residents

  If you want a REAL ID credential in Louisiana and have not had one in this state, you must submit all the original documents required for REAL ID, even if you had a REAL ID in another state. See “REAL ID”.

  Source: [1] [2]

Sources

1. License Transfers (expresslane.la.gov) — Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
2. OMV Policy 18.00 Out-of-State Transfers (public.powerdms.com) — Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
3. Class D & E Driver’s Guide, DPSMV2052 (R08/25) (public.powerdms.com) — Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
4. Frequently Asked Questions (expresslane.la.gov) — Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
5. OMV Policy 6.00 Identification Requirements (public.powerdms.com) — Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
6. OMV Policy 6.01 Driver Education Requirements (public.powerdms.com) — Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles