What to Do If You Have Not Received Your Registration Sticker in Louisiana
If your Louisiana registration sticker was not received after you completed the registration renewal process, it is important that you learn the correct steps to take in order to get a replacement. In many cases, your validation stickers will need to be reissued, but it is also possible that your car tag sticker has not arrived in the mail yet. Looking into this issue as soon as possible will help you avoid driving with expired tabs, which oftentimes results in expensive traffic tickets.
The Office of Motor Vehicles, also known as the OMV or DMV, sometimes takes a while to process renewals and other applications for stickers. However, it helps to know how long to wait before you should start looking into the issue of your lost stickers. In the sections below, find out what steps you need to take if your DMV sticker was not received and find out how much time you have to obtain a replacement without facing penalties.
Common Reasons for a Registration Sticker Not Being Received in Louisiana
A license plate sticker not received can mean several different things. It is possible that the OMV or the Post Office made an error that resulted in your stickers being lost in transit. Furthermore, stickers can also be stolen before they arrive to you. However, lost stickers usually result from filling out your application incorrectly or failing to complete the correct steps when completing the registration replacement process or renewal requests. In order to avoid issues with your application, make sure you do all of the following:
- Check the address the OMV has on file for you.
- Update your address as needed if you have recently moved.
- Pay the appropriate fee for your renewal or sticker replacement.
- Fill out the correct information on your application and sign it.
Overall, the most common reason for a car sticker not received in Louisiana is that you used an old or incorrect address. Always contact the OMV to change your address if you have recently moved, especially if you move when you are still waiting for OMV-related items, such as validation stickers, to arrive in the mail. Note that you can provide a new address during the registration renewal process, which makes this an option if you have yet to renew your registration.
Can you legally drive if my Louisiana registration sticker was not received?
Unfortunately, a DMV registration sticker not received will not excuse you from getting a traffic ticket if you drive with expired registration. It typically does not matter if your stickers were lost in the mail or if you made an error in your application that caused them to arrive late. In most cases, a law enforcement officer will still choose to issue you a ticket for failing to display the proper registration, regardless of your reasoning. Fines for driving without the proper registration vary based on where you receive a ticket.
Additional Consequences of a License Sticker Not Received in Louisiana
If you are ordering a new DMV registration sticker in Louisiana because you believe your stickers were stolen, you may need to complete a few extra steps to avoid consequences in the future. Stolen license plates and tabs are a serious issue that you will need to deal with right away.
If you have any reason to believe that someone took your license plates or validation stickers, you will need to take the extra step of filling out an affidavit or an information of fact sheet to present to the OMV when getting a replacement. Although this extra step may seem like a hassle, it can prevent fraudulent use of your lost plates and stickers. It is also worth filling out a police report with your city or local law enforcement agency to protect yourself further.
Steps to Take If Your Louisiana DMV Sticker Was Not Received
Learning where to get registration sticker replacements is the first step to take if you believe your decals were lost in the mail. The OMV is responsible for issuing renewal and replacement stickers. You may be eligible to replace sticker online, but you can also submit an application by mail or in person to the OMV.
Before you place an order for a new decal for your car, it is important to check on the status of your order. You will usually want to wait at least 30 days for your original application to be processed, as it can take up to one month for your stickers to arrive in the mail. Calling or emailing the OMV before getting new replacement stickers is a good idea because it will help you figure out the status of your original order. If you find that your stickers were, in fact, lost in the mail or mishandled following a car plate sticker renewal, then you may follow the steps in the next section for getting replacement tabs.
Where to Get a Registration Sticker Replacement in Louisiana
When you need a DMV sticker replacement in Louisiana, you can order one for free if you contact the Office of Motor Vehicles within 60 days of placing your original order. If you fail to meet this deadline, you will be required to pay a fee of $10 plus an $8 handling fee to get new validation stickers for your car.
Drivers eligible to order a registration sticker online may use the OMV website to complete the transaction. Alternatively, car owners can fill out the appropriate form and submit it to the OMV. Either application method will require that drivers provide the following:
- The name and address of the vehicle owner(s).
- The vehicle identification number (VIN).
- The make, model, color and year of the vehicle in question.
- The driver’s license number and expiration date of the primary owner.
- Information on whether the plates or decals were lost or stolen.
- A payment to the OMV if more than 60 days have passed from the driver’s original application.
Sources
- Lost or Stolen License Place or Validation sticker from Louisiana.gov
- Duplicate Registration Fees from Louisiana.gov