The Louisiana state ID is designed for residents who do not drive. If you have not applied for driving privileges, you do not have a driver’s license, and this license is requested during many regular activities. Whether visiting a bank or going to vote, the Louisiana ID card allows you to present a form of identification that is backed by the state.

To successfully obtain a Louisiana identification card, it is essential to learn how much it costs, what documents are required of you from the state, as well as the program surrounding the REAL ID. Additionally, understanding how to renew and replace your identification is equally important.

Louisiana DMV ID Requirements

Louisiana DMV state ID requirements are less strict than driver’s license requirements. This means you can get a DMV ID card regardless of your age. Applicants who are 16 years of age or younger will need the consent of a parent or guardian, however.

When you apply, the Louisiana ID card requirements you should be aware of include:

  • Though you do not need to be a citizen in order to get a non-driver ID, you do need to be a resident of Louisiana. (In the next section, you will learn about the documents noncitizens can bring to the DMV in order to apply for their IDs.)
  • You can only have one form of Louisiana government issued ID: either a driver’s license or an ID card. If your license is expired, you will not need to surrender it, but if it is still valid, you will.

What do you need to get an ID in Louisiana?

What do you need to get a state ID in Louisiana? The answer will vary based on what is available to you, as well as whether or not you want to get a REAL ID. If you are not applying for a REAL ID, the documents needed for state ID in Louisiana are:

  • A primary document, such as a birth certificate, passport, Permanent Resident card, I-571 or I0327. You may also use a military ID, draft record, Selective Service document, Merchant Mariner Card or DD-214.
  • A secondary document, such as a Social Security card, diploma or W-2. You may also use an ID card issued by a school, government agency, parish or prison.

If you do not provide your Social Security card as a secondary document, you will need to submit your Social Security Number, or SSN, in writing. You can get a DMV identification card in Louisiana if you do not have this number, but you will need to get a letter from the Social Security Administration stating your ineligibility for an SSN.

To pay the DMV ID card fee, you can use a check, money order, debit card or credit card. Keep in mind that the state no longer accepts cash as a form of payment.

Louisiana DMV ID card applicants who are younger than 17 years of age will need to get a signature from a parent or guardian to complete the process, and this adult must have custody of the minor.

How to Get an ID in Louisiana

Many applicants wonder how to get ID online in Louisiana, but you cannot utilize this method, because a state employee needs to examine your documentation and verify your identity. This is the same reason why you cannot apply for an ID via phone or by mail.

When deciding where to get state ID in Louisiana, you should check the hours for the DMV offices near you. These hours are not set by the state, and some offices will close early, or take an hour off for lunch.

When you go to the DMV to get ID credentials, you should bring an Application for License or Identification Card. This application will ask for basic information, such as your name, address and Social Security Number. It will give you the option to become an organ donor, and, if you are at least 16 years of age, it will let you to register to vote.

Selective Service registration is automatic for applicants who are between 18 and 25 years of age. If you are getting a child ID card in Louisiana, you will not be registered with the Selective Service. However, any cardholder’s registration will be automatic once he or she turns 18 years of age.

REAL ID Cards in Louisiana

You can apply for REAL ID in Louisiana, but you are not required to do so. If you choose to only bring the documents mentioned above, though, your new DMV ID will not be accepted for the purpose of federal identification starting on October 1, 2020. There are several situations where you may be required to meet the standards of federal identification – such as when entering a nuclear facility or military base – but the most common is when boarding a domestic flight.

Without a REAL ID card, you will need to bring a passport in order to satisfy federal identification requirements. It should be noted that while a passport may be used in place of a REAL ID, a REAL ID card may not be used in place of a passport. If you are getting a photo ID for a child, it does not need to be REAL ID-compliant, unless the child will be unaccompanied when passing through federal security.

There are specific documents required for REAL ID application in LA. Make sure you are able to prove:

  • Your identity.
  • Your legal presence in the U.S.
  • Your birthdate.
  • Your Social Security Number.
  • Your address.

The first four items only need to be proven with one document. Your identity, legal presence and birthdate can all be proven with a birth certificate, for instance, while your Social Security Number can be proven with a Social Security card or W-2.

The biggest difference between Louisiana DMV identification requirements and federal REAL ID requirements is the address documents you need to present. A minimum of two are required. Commonly used address documents include utility bills, bank correspondence and voter registration cards. If you already have a driver’s license or ID, this may also be used as a proof of your address.

All of the other points mentioned above about how to get an ID card in Louisiana apply when getting a REAL ID. The only difference is the documents required.

How to Renew or Replace a State ID in Louisiana

Individuals who are 60 years of age or older can hold their ID cards for life, without renewal. If you are younger than 60 years of age, you will need to renew your ID card every four years. Individuals who are 15 years of age may have to renew their cards every two years, if they chose to get a two-year ID card. The ID renewal fee is the same as what you paid when you initially applied for your ID.

If you lost ID card credentials in LA, you can get a replacement ID card by going to the DMV. You will not need to bring any documentation to get your duplicate if the office has your photo on record. Following that, you will need to bring the documents listed in the section above titled, “What do you need to get an ID in Louisiana?” Note that REAL ID documents do not need to be presented when you renew or replace your ID.

If you lost your ID out of state, you will need to fill out the Temporarily Residing Out of State Application for Reconstructed Duplicate/Renewal License/ID Card. This application asks for basic personal information, and requires the signature of a parent or guardian, if you are a minor. You will need to send this form, along with a money order or cashier’s check, to the following address:

Office of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Reconstructed License
P.O. Box 64886
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Note that the Louisiana ID replacement cost is only half the price paid when you initially applied for your credentials.

DMV ID Costs in Louisiana

How much does an ID cost in Louisiana? The DMV ID cost varies based on your age. To illustrate:

  • If you are between the ages of 15 and 60, the DMV ID price is $18.
  • If you are 15 years of age or younger and choose to get a two-year ID card, the DMV ID price is $11.
  • If you are 15 years of age or younger and choose to get a four-year ID card, the DMV ID price is $13.
  • If you are 60 years of age or older, you do not need to pay for your ID.

The above prices do not include the service fee, which varies from one office to the next. This fee is never more than $6, however.

Last updated on Wednesday, March 4 2020.