Lawmakers in Louisiana are talking about getting rid of car inspection stickers, often called brake tags. If this change becomes law, it would not just affect what is on your windshield. It could also change how fault is decided after a car wreck, especially when a crash involves car problems like bad brakes, worn tires, or steering issues.
Right now, inspection stickers help show that a vehicle met basic safety rules at a certain time. If stickers go away, drivers and insurance companies will have to rely on other proof to decide whether a car was safe to be on the road.
Read More: Louisiana’s Full Payment or No Payment Rule for Wrecks
Here is what drivers in South Louisiana should know.
1. It Becomes Your Job to Prove Your Car Was Safe
Today, a valid inspection sticker helps show that a car passed a safety check.
If the sticker law is removed, you can no longer point to a sticker to prove your car was safe.
After a crash, insurance companies and lawyers will look at your records instead. They may ask for repair receipts, oil change records, and proof that you replaced tires or brakes.
If you cannot show that you took care of your car, it becomes easier for others to say the crash was your fault.
Related: How Important Are Vehicle Stickers in Wreck Claims
2. Some Legal Shortcuts Would Be Gone
Right now, driving with an expired brake tag can make it easier to show that a driver broke a safety rule.
This is known as negligence per se. It means breaking a safety law can help prove fault in a wreck.
If inspection stickers are removed, this type of argument would no longer apply. Instead, lawyers would need to prove that a driver knew, or should have known, their vehicle had problems and drove anyway.
That usually means more investigation and more back-and-forth with insurance companies.
Related: Louisiana Car Safety Checklist
3. Louisiana’s 51 Percent Rule Raises the Risk
Starting January 1, 2026, Louisiana follows a rule called modified comparative fault.
Under this rule, if a driver is found more than 50 percent responsible for a crash, they cannot recover any money for their injuries.
If a wreck is blamed on poor vehicle maintenance, a driver could be assigned most of the fault.
Even if the other driver was speeding, texting, or distracted, being found 51 percent at fault means losing the entire claim.
Related: Understanding Pure Comparative Fault
4. More Cases Could Require Experts
In states without inspection stickers, car wreck cases often depend on expert opinions.
Mechanics or engineers may be hired to inspect the vehicle after a crash. Their job is to figure out whether the problem happened suddenly or developed over time because the car was not properly maintained.
These experts can be expensive. Their costs can reduce the amount of money available at the end of a case.
5. Uninsured Drivers Could Face Bigger Consequences
Louisiana has a law called No Pay, No Play. This law limits how much money uninsured drivers can recover after a wreck.
Inspection stations currently help check for insurance coverage.
If brake tags are removed, more uninsured drivers may go unnoticed. If they are involved in a wreck, they could lose the right to collect a large part of their damages.
There are also discussions about increasing these penalties in the future, which could lead to serious financial losses.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
If inspection stickers are removed, car wreck cases may become harder to sort out. A personal injury lawyer can help gather maintenance records, work with experts, and respond to insurance companies that try to shift too much blame onto a driver. This can be especially important under Louisiana’s 51 percent rule, where a small change in fault can decide whether a claim is paid or denied.
Drivers who take care of their vehicles and keep repair records may see little change. Good documentation can help protect their claim.
Drivers who delay repairs or ignore warning signs may face more problems. Without proof of maintenance, it becomes harder to argue that a crash could not have been prevented.
