License costs in Louisiana span a wide range: a resident basic fishing license runs $17, a standard driver’s license is $32.25, forming an LLC costs $75, and a lifetime concealed handgun permit tops out at $500. What you actually pay depends on the license type, your age, whether you’re a Louisiana resident, and sometimes which office handles the paperwork. The figures below cover the licenses most people need.
Driver’s Licenses and State IDs
A standard Class E driver’s license costs $32.25 and is valid for roughly six years. Drivers 70 and older pay $18.75. Fees can vary slightly depending on which Office of Motor Vehicles location processes your application.1LA DPS Office of Motor Vehicles. Class E – First Time Driver’s License – Adults
Renewing through the LA Wallet app costs the same $32.25, plus a $23 convenience fee that applies to any transaction run through the app.2LA Wallet. Pay Fees and Reinstate a License
State ID cards cost less than driver’s licenses and are available at any OMV office. Residents 60 and older pay nothing for the card itself, though processing fees may still apply.
A REAL ID-compliant license or ID costs the same as the standard version. Louisiana charges no surcharge for the upgrade; the burden is the extra documentation you’ll need to produce.3Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
Vehicle Registration and License Plates
Automobile plate fees are calculated at 0.1% of the vehicle’s selling price per year, with a minimum vehicle value of $10,000 used in the formula. Plates are sold in two-year increments, so the minimum you’ll pay is $20. A $25,000 vehicle runs $50 for two years, and the schedule tops out at $82 for vehicles valued around $40,500 or more.4Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Registration, Title and Plate Fees
Trucks, motorcycles, and trailers use a separate structure based on type and weight:
- Motorcycle: $12 for a four-year plate
- Motor home: $50 for a two-year plate
- Truck up to 6,000 lbs: $40 for a four-year plate
- Truck 6,001–10,000 lbs: $112 for a four-year plate
- Boat trailer up to 1,500 lbs: $25 for a four-year plate
Title Transfers and Replacement Plates
Transferring ownership of a vehicle involves a $68.50 title fee plus an $8 handling fee. Moving plates from one vehicle to another costs $3. Replacing a lost or damaged standard plate costs $10.4Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Registration, Title and Plate Fees Personalized and specialty plates typically add $25 at purchase and $25 per year to renew.
Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Nonresidents pay far more than residents for the same privileges. A basic hunting license is $20 for residents and $200 for nonresidents. Basic fishing is $17 and $68 respectively.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. License and Permit Fee List
Game-specific tags come on top of the basic license:
- Deer: $15 resident, $100 nonresident
- Turkey: $12 resident, $50 nonresident
- Waterfowl: $12 resident, $50 nonresident
- Saltwater fishing: $15 resident, $60 nonresident (requires the basic fishing license)
Combination and Lifetime Options
The Sportsman’s Paradise license bundles hunting and fishing for $100 for residents and $400 for nonresidents. A Resident Lifetime Hunting/Fishing Combo is $500 and includes deer and turkey tags. Residents 65 and older can buy that same lifetime combo for $100. The nonresident lifetime license is $4,000.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. License and Permit Fee List
Short-trip nonresidents have cheaper options: a five-day basic hunting license is $65, and a five-day basic fishing license is $30.
Waterfowl hunters also need a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (the duck stamp) at $25. The 2025–2026 stamp is valid through June 30, 2026.6United States Postal Service. Spectacled Eiders 2025-2026 Federal Duck Stamps
Boat Registration
Motorized boats used on Louisiana waters must be registered with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Fees go by length:
- 15 feet 11 inches or less: $36
- 16 feet to 25 feet 11 inches: $57
- 26 feet to 39 feet 11 inches: $78
- 40 feet or longer: $99
A $26 title fee applies at first registration. Duplicate registration cards are $5, duplicate decals are $10, and credit card payments made in person add a 3% surcharge.7Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Title and Registration FAQs
Concealed Handgun Permits
Louisiana adopted permitless carry effective August 1, 2024, so anyone 18 or older who isn’t otherwise prohibited can carry concealed without a permit.8Louisiana State Legislature. SLS 242ES-7 – 2024 Second Extraordinary Session Many residents still get a permit for reciprocity in states that don’t honor permitless carry.
Louisiana State Police issue permits at these rates:
- Five-year permit, ages 21–64: $125
- Five-year permit, 65 and older: $62.50
- Lifetime permit, ages 21–64: $500
- Lifetime permit, 65 and older: $250
Active military members pay $62.50 for a five-year permit or $250 for a lifetime permit. Honorably discharged veterans are fee-exempt. First-time applicants who haven’t lived in Louisiana for the preceding 15 years pay an added $50 nonrefundable fee. All permit fees are nonrefundable whether or not the application is approved.9Louisiana State Police. CHP Fees
Marriage Licenses
Parish Clerks of Court set marriage license fees, and most charge between $27.50 and $35. Ouachita Parish charges $27.50 for the license alone and $33.50 for the license bundled with a certified copy.10Ouachita Clerk of Court. Marriage Fees Franklin Parish charges $34.50 for the license with one certified copy, and extra certified copies cost $6 each.11Franklin Parish Clerk of Court. Requirements for Obtaining a Marriage License
Plan on at least one certified copy, since banks, employers, and government agencies routinely require one for name changes. Call your parish Clerk of Court for exact pricing, because fees differ by a few dollars across parishes.
Business Formation Fees
Forming a limited liability company in Louisiana costs $75 to file articles of organization with the Secretary of State, and $25 per year after that for the annual report.12Louisiana Secretary of State. Fee Schedule
Every new business also needs a federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS, which is free. The IRS warns against third-party sites that charge for the service; apply directly at irs.gov.13Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number Businesses selling alcohol or tobacco need a federal permit through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which charges no application or maintenance fees at the federal level.14Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Applying for a Permit and/or Registration State-level alcohol permits through the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control carry separate fees that vary by permit type.