PART III.  REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

§501.  Owner to secure registration

A.  Every owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, or other vehicle intended to be operated upon the public highways in this state shall, before operating the same, apply to the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for and obtain the registration thereof and pay the state registration or license tax imposed by this Chapter, except where the secretary of the Department of Revenue has found that the registration and license taxes have been previously paid to a motor vehicle dealer pursuant to R.S. 47:303(B)(5).  This Section does not apply to the owner of any vehicle which is exempted by this Chapter, nor to the owner who is permitted to operate a vehicle under the special provisions relating to lienholders, manufacturers, dealers, and nonresidents, as provided in this Chapter.

B.  Every vehicle required to be registered under the provisions of this Chapter shall be registered in the parish of domicile of the owner, or if the owner is not domiciled in Louisiana, in a parish in which the owner has a residence.

C.(1)  An individual applying for initial registration of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or other vehicle intended to be operated upon the public highways of this state shall provide a current and valid photo identification which includes the owner's full legal name and license number or identification card number issued in this state, another state, or by the United States military.  An individual applying for initial registration through the mail shall include a copy of a current and valid photo identification which includes the owner's full legal name and license number or identification card number issued in this state, another state, or by the United States military with his application.  The individual's full legal name and the number on the identification provided shall be placed on the application.

(2)  An individual applying for the first renewal of registration of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or other vehicle intended to be operated upon the public highways of this state shall provide a current and valid photo identification which includes the owner's full legal name and license number or identification card number issued in this state, another state, or by the United States military.  An individual applying for a first renewal through the mail shall include a copy of a current and valid photo identification which includes the owner's full legal name and license number or identification card number issued in this state, another state, or by the United States military with his application.  The individual's full legal name and the number on the identification provided shall be placed on the application.

(3)  Failure to provide information required in this Subsection shall be cause for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to reject the application and return the application for registration to the owner.

(4)  For the purposes of this Subsection, an applicant's full legal name shall be defined in compliance with the Real ID Act, if implemented.  If and until such time as the Real ID Act is implemented, the applicant's full legal name shall be defined as the given name or names that appear on an official birth certificate together with the surname as it appears on the official birth certificate unless the surname is changed in accordance with R.S. 9:292.  No other name shall be permitted to be used unless the applicant provides proof of name change granted by a district court in accordance with the law.  Should the Real ID Act be implemented, the full legal name shall be defined as stated by the Real ID Act.  The department shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Item.

Amended by Acts 1982, No. 699, §2, eff. Aug. 2, 1982; Acts 1995, No. 393, §2, eff. June 16, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 658, §2; Acts 2008, No. 594, §2, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 224, §3, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 518, §1.