Getting a driver's license

[BRMan]

Port Allen is pretty good, too, especially if you work downtown.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by darylwi

Actually, why wouldn't any bill statement work? Typically when I needed proof of residence, I was able to just show a bill statement. Sure, you need a residence, but you don't have to have a LA DL to rent or whatever. Needing an in-state DL as the only proof of residency doesn't make much sense unless there's some other stipulation involved.

I just got my LA Drivers License in Lafourche Parish ( July 6th ) I was only asked for my Birth Certificate and SS card.

They verbally asked me what my address was and because my truck and my wifes car is still registered in Tennessee, Insurance wasn't required as we didn't have a vehicle registered in Louisiana.

[JHerren]

So I am moving to work in East Texas and Shreveport area. Im pretty sure I will be living in LA, but there is an outside chance I live in TX. I am keeping my residence in Michigan and am hoping that will allow me to keep my Michigan Drivers Licence and car registered in Michigan? Any insight?

[aab7855]

I don't think there is much they can do, except don't you think it will be more of a pain to deal with renewal and other issues living so far away. Also in some jurisdictions out of state plates warrant "special treatment" from cops.

[southseeker]

Originally Posted by JHerren

So I am moving to work in East Texas and Shreveport area. Im pretty sure I will be living in LA, but there is an outside chance I live in TX. I am keeping my residence in Michigan and am hoping that will allow me to keep my Michigan Drivers Licence and car registered in Michigan? Any insight?

You are required by Louisiana law to get a new license and plate in 30 days once you move here. I have no idea how they enforce this, but that's the law. The same applies to registration too probably.

[Dakota1776]

Your license should reflect your state of residence. That can remain Michigan if you live there more than 6 months out of each year.

Your vehicle registration should reflect that state where the car is for more than 6 months out of the year, if that goes back to MI with you for the months you remain in Michigan it's fine to keep the car registered there.

If you are really relocating to LA or TX and are going to be there for a year you need to change your license and vehicle registration to reflect that. If you don't you'll probably get away with it, but you might not. In VA people tried to do that all the time... keep their NC plates because at the time VA had an annual property tax on cars and NC didn't. Police would set up checkpoints during morning commutes and bust people.

[jwdant]

New Orleans has a system for a driver's licenses and brake tags, for ''the selected cases'', in which proof of insurance is not required and therefore not mentioned. In most of these cases the individual has no employment , is ''staying'' with somebody, has limited resources, and no orderly records. Questions that are not suitable that would only serve to hinder the individual and deny the opportunities granted to all , are therefore not suitable . The requirements are a further facture in limiting one's ability for self progression. For these reasons any obstacle shall be null and void. Auto registration follows a similar route. Individual already has vehicle, but lacks paper work . Individual does not have all requirements met for clear title to ownership and as such is not driving nor does he yet actually own the vehicle. ''Condictionary'' Temporary registration, you could say.

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by WestbankNOLA

I know in the NO area you need SSN, Birth Certificate, Proof of Residence, Current out of state DL. They say bring proof of insurance but they never/rarely ask for it. For registering your vehicle and getting a Brake Tag you will need proof of insurance.

I don't know how it works in Lafayette, but here you stand in a line just so they can ask you why you are there, then they put you in another line based on your reason for being there, then you get a number and go to another line, etc.

If you move to LA from TX, you don't need birth certificate or SSN, I'm pretty sure. You just have to present your VALID TX driver's license and proof of residence in Louisiana (utility bills or whatever).

If you register a car in either LA or TX, you have to pay sales tax on the car...but La has a reciprocal agreement with TX and some other states that if the owner already paid sales tax, he only owes La. sales tax if its rate is higher than the rate you paid when you bought the car. Warning: La has a high sales tax, compared to Texas.

Also....car ins. is more in Louisiana than Texas.

[christebo]

Personally, I would reside in Texas if you can. Reason? If you are bringing a vehicle to register, you may have to pay taxes that are tge difference if what you paid to the current blue book value in Louisiana. Also, Texas has NO income tax.

We moved to Louisiana for a little over a year. We still had property in Texas so I never changed residency. I did pay Louisiana income tax but never got a new license or registered our vehicles. It would have cost several hundred dollars to transfer registration, do I never did it. Had we bought a house there, I would have changed registration, etc.

We ended up moving back home to Texas.

As far as enforcement, only the police or property tax assessor can start that process. Police never did (got pulled over twice for speeding and only got one ticket) but I suspect buying real property like land, house or car might start the process?

Anyway, having a choice, it is cheaper to be in Texas. I do like Shreveport a lot though. Perfect blend of Texas and Louisiana.

Chris