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La. Rev. Stat. § 47:511 (2026)

A.  A vehicle owned by a resident of another state, which is lawfully registered in that state, may be operated upon the public highways of this state without registration or license when, by statute, contract, or understanding, an agreement between the proper authorities of such state and the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections has effected reciprocal arrangements whereby license plates of each state affected thereby are recognized by such other states, respectively, and when the vehicle bears approved license plates of such state, if same are required by the laws of that state.  These operations shall be under the terms and provisions of such reciprocal arrangements.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§511.  Reciprocity arrangements; refund of remittances

A.  A vehicle owned by a resident of another state, which is lawfully registered in that state, may be operated upon the public highways of this state without registration or license when, by statute, contract, or understanding, an agreement between the proper authorities of such state and the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections has effected reciprocal arrangements whereby license plates of each state affected thereby are recognized by such other states, respectively, and when the vehicle bears approved license plates of such state, if same are required by the laws of that state.  These operations shall be under the terms and provisions of such reciprocal arrangements.

B.  Participation by the state of Louisiana through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections in the interstate compact known as the International Registration Plan is hereby recognized and authorized.  The secretary is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations in order to adopt the International Registration Plan pursuant to membership and participation therein.

C.(1)  In the event the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee determines that registrations or licenses issued pursuant to the interstate compact of the International Registration Plan have been revoked by the department or its designee and the Louisiana-apportioned account holder has not applied for a refund of any fees remitted for such registration or license within thirty days of such revocation, the department or its designee may remit such registration or license fee or a portion thereof to any owner of any vehicle registered or licensed in the Louisiana-apportioned account. The department shall calculate the Louisiana portion of the refund amount by dividing the total amount of registration or license fees paid by the owner by twelve, and then multiplying that amount by the number of months remaining after the owner's license or registration was revoked.

(2)  No refund shall be remitted to any owner by the department until the owner surrenders the International Registration Plan cab card and the license plate issued for each vehicle or the owner certifies that the cab card and license plate have been destroyed or reassigned to a replacement vehicle as provided by law and the department receives a verification from an owner which includes the following:

(a)  The registration number or vehicle identification number.

(b)  A full release and hold harmless agreement executed by the owner in favor of the department against any claims by the person establishing the Louisiana-apportioned account.

Acts 1984, No. 420, §1; Acts 1999, No. 464, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1159, §1, eff. July 2, 2003.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 2000–2010 · leading case: State v. Strange, 876 So. 2d 39 (La. 2004).
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State v. Strange, 876 So. 2d 39 (La. 2004). · cites it 2× “R.S. 47:511). [1] The court thus reasoned that while "it is a violation of Louisiana law for a Louisiana-registered vehicle to display both the temporary and permanent tags at the same time .”
State v. Lopez, 772 So. 2d 90 (La. 2000). “1(D) therefore did not preclude the trooper from conducting a routine driver's license and vehicle registration check with respondent, a non-resident motorist, or from engaging in conversation with him and his passenger, while he did so.”
State v. Lawrence, 32 So. 3d 329 (La. Ct. App. 2010). “” The statute also provides, however, that “nothing herein shall prohibit a peace officer from compelling or instructing the motorist to comply with the administrative or other legal requirements of Title 32 or Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.”
State v. Stowe, 25 So. 3d 945 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “” The statute also provides that “nothing herein shall prohibit a peace officer from compelling or instructing the motorist to comply with the administrative or other legal requirements of Title 32 or Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.”
— La. Rev. Stat. § 47:511(A) — 4 cases
State v. Strange, 876 So. 2d 39 (La. 2004). “R.S. 47:511). [1] The court thus reasoned that while "it is a violation of Louisiana law for a Louisiana-registered vehicle to display both the temporary and permanent tags at the same time .”
State v. Lopez, 772 So. 2d 90 (La. 2000). “1(D) therefore did not preclude the trooper from conducting a routine driver's license and vehicle registration check with respondent, a non-resident motorist, or from engaging in conversation with him and his passenger, while he did so.”
State v. Lawrence, 32 So. 3d 329 (La. Ct. App. 2010). “” The statute also provides, however, that “nothing herein shall prohibit a peace officer from compelling or instructing the motorist to comply with the administrative or other legal requirements of Title 32 or Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.”
State v. Stowe, 25 So. 3d 945 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “” The statute also provides that “nothing herein shall prohibit a peace officer from compelling or instructing the motorist to comply with the administrative or other legal requirements of Title 32 or Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.”
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