NOTE: §707.2.2 eff. Jan. 1, 2031, or when the DPS&C certifies a certain digital title system; whichever is earlier. See Acts 2026, No. 454.

§707.2.2. Secure digital motor vehicle titles

            A. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, shall implement, or authorize the use of, a secure, interoperable system that offers vehicle title holders a fully paperless, secure digital vehicle title that may be issued in lieu of a paper certificate of title, including the ability for such title to be made available to the title holder through a department-approved or state-authorized digital credential platform.

            B. Once implemented, the secure digital title system shall:

            (1) Include all functions related to title reassignments.

            (2) Meet or exceed applicable security requirements as set forth in regulations promulgated by the department.

            (3) Provide title holders with online, real-time access to motor vehicle titles and status of titles in process.

            (4) Support secure interoperability with department-approved systems, including approved digital credential platforms, dealer service providers, financial institution service providers, and verification services, through standards-based interfaces, application programming interfaces, or other methods approved by the department.

            C. A secure digital vehicle title produced under this Section shall be regarded as an official title from the state of Louisiana and fully recognized legally for any motor vehicle related transactions within the state and all other United States jurisdictions.

            D. The secure digital title system shall permit the electronic transfer, reassignment, and recording of ownership of a motor vehicle. Ownership transfers executed through an approved electronic title system shall have the same legal effect as transfers executed through a paper certificate of title. Licensed motor vehicle dealers may complete title assignments, reassignments of ownership, and related documents through the electronic system without requiring issuance of a paper certificate of title.

            E. A duly certified copy of the office of motor vehicle's secure digital title shall be admissible in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding in this state as evidence of the existence of the title.

            F. The commissioner of the office of motor vehicles shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Section. Any rules promulgated under this Section shall be designed to promote competition, transparency, interoperability, and consumer choice, subject to security, privacy, and technical standards established by the department. The department shall not require a title holder, dealer, lender, insurer, or other authorized user to use a specific proprietary application to access, present, or verify a secure digital title where a department-approved interoperable alternative meeting the department's security, privacy, and technical standards is available.

            G. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to grant any vendor, contractor, system integrator, or operator of the department's system of record the exclusive right to display, present, verify, or otherwise make available to residents a digital wallet, identity verification, electronic signature, verifier services, or other resident-facing services related to secure digital vehicle titles. The department shall remain the sole issuer of secure digital vehicle titles. The department may authorize one or more qualified providers, including approved digital credential platforms and verification services, to perform resident-facing display, presentation, or verification functions, subject to security, privacy, audit, and interoperability requirements established by the department.

            H. The department shall remain the authoritative source of all title records. Any display, presentation, verification, or use of a secure digital title through an approved digital credential platform shall not alter the department's ownership or control of the authoritative title record and shall be subject to technical standards and business requirements established by the department.

            I. A secure digital title issued pursuant to this Section may be verified through a department-approved digital verification service, provided such service meets security, privacy, audit, and interoperability requirements established by the department.

            Acts 2026, No. 454, §§ 1, 3(C), eff. See Act.