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Buying
a
Vehicle
Form 5687 (Revised 09-2022)
A Guide to Missouri
Title and Registration
e Missouri Department of Revenue prepared this guide to assist residents with titling and registration requirements upon
the purchase of a motor vehicle. To operate a vehicle on Missouri roadways, residents must title, pay sales tax, and register
their vehicle. Registration is commonly referred to as license plates.
Requirements
e requirements are dierent for new and used vehicles purchased in Missouri and outside Missouri. e following
is a description of the requirements for these situations.
Vehicles Purchased in Missouri
New Vehicle Purchased in Missouri – e buyer receives a title
application and an assigned Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin from the
dealer where the vehicle was purchased. e Manufacturer’s Statement of
Origin indicates the vehicle is new and has never been registered. e
buyer and the dealer must complete the odometer disclosure portion
on the back of the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin.
Used Vehicle Purchased in Missouri – e buyer must receive
a properly assigned title from the seller that proves a transfer
in ownership occurred. If the buyer purchased the used
vehicle from a dealer, the buyer
may also receive a completed
title application. A proper
odometer disclosure on the back
of the title is required on vehicles
model year 2011 and newer until the
vehicle reaches the age of twenty years old.
If the title assigned to the buyer is an out-of-state
title, the buyer must obtain an identication number and
odometer inspection completed by an authorized Missouri
inspection station. Please refer to page 3 for further explanation about
assigning a title.
Note: Qualifying dealers that do not have an Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) or
title readily available for transfer may, if agreed upon by the purchaser, execute an Agreement for
Delayed Delivery of Certicate of Ownership (Form 5830) permitting the MSO or title to be
delivered within thirty days.
Vehicles Purchased Out-of-State
New Vehicle Purchased Out-of-State – e buyer must receive the dealer’s invoice or a bill of sale and
assigned Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin from the out-of-state dealer. e buyer and the dealer must
complete the odometer disclosure portion on the back of the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin.
Used Vehicle Purchased Out-of-State – A buyer must receive either a properly assigned title from the seller or a
reassigned title from the dealer. If the state does not require a title, you must obtain a bill of sale. e bill of sale must
include the buyer’s and seller’s names, addresses, signatures; and the purchase date, purchase price, year, make, and vehicle
identication number of the vehicle being sold. A proper odometer disclosure is required on vehicles model year 2011
and newer until the vehicle reaches the age of twenty years old. If the title assigned to the buyer is an out-of-state title, the
buyer must obtain an identication number and odometer inspection completed by an authorized Missouri inspection
station. Please refer to page 3 for further explanation about assigning a title.
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For All Vehicle Purchases, Whether Purchased in Missouri or Out-of-State:
Properly Assigned Titles
RR Purchaser’s name and address; RR Odometer reading, if applicable;
RR Sale price of vehicle; RR Date of the sale; and
RR Name of any lienholder, if applicable; RR Signature and printed name of all sellers.
RR Purchaser’s printed name and signature, if applicable;
Odometer Readings
When a person buys or sells a vehicle the seller must write the mileage
reading on the title assignment. Eective January 1, 2021, motor vehicles
with a model year 2011 or newer, will require mileage discloser at the time
of ownership transfer until the vehicle reaches the age of twenty years old.
If the vehicle is new, the odometer reading must be on the Manufacturer’s
Statement of Origin. Both the buyer and the seller must print and sign
their names verifying the mileage. When the certicate of title does not
contain space for the proper odometer information, a separate
Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 3019) may be required.
Title Penalty
Missouri law requires owners to apply for title within 30 days, or
60 days when purchased from qualifying dealers executing an
Agreement for Delayed Delivery of Certicate of Ownership
(Form 5830), based on the purchase date of the vehicle. If an application
for title is not made by the owner in this time frame, a delinquent penalty fee
of $25 for each 30 days of delinquency, not to exceed a total of $200, may be imposed.
Temporary Permit
Upon purchase of a newly acquired motor vehicle, trailer, motorcycle, mototricycle, or autocycle, the buyer may purchase
a temporary permit from the dealer to operate the vehicle when no plates are available for transfer. Missouri dealers can
sell temporary permits to out-of-state resident buyers only if they are purchasing motor vehicles, trailers, motorcycles,
motortricycles, or autocycles from their dealership.
• Temporary permits may be issued for a period of 30 days from the purchase date.
• Temporary permits may be issued for a period of 60 days from the purchase date by qualied dealers when
specic sale conditions apply.
• Temporary permits may not be purchased and are no longer valid once application for title has been made.
• Temporary permits may not be purchased for junk vehicles.
• Only one temporary permit may be purchased per vehicle.
To Obtain a
Temporary Permit from any Missouri License Oce
:
• Bring one of the following ownership documents:
- e Certicate of Title, properly signed by the seller and the buyer, or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin;
- Bill of Sale (Form 1957);
- Notice of Sale (Form 5049); or
- An Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108) signed by the dealer.
• Bring a safety inspection, not more than 60 days old or not more than
90 days old if the seller is a Missouri dealer and the safety inspection
provided by the Missouri dealer was completed within 60 days prior
to the purchase date, unless:
- e vehicle is less than eleven years old and the mileage is less
than 150,000 miles;
- e buyer is a resident of a state other than Missouri; or
- e buyer is obtaining a temporary permit for a trailer.
• Bring a current and legible insurance identication card,
which includes an original, copy, or electronic version.
Other proof of nancial responsibility may also be accepted.
is requirement does not apply to trailers.
• Payment of a permit fee of up to $5 plus a $6 processing fee.
e temporary permit must be securely placed on the rear of the vehicle, trailer, motorcycle, mototricycle, or autocycle,
consistent with the placement of regular license plates so that it is visible and not obscured in any way and must be
surrendered to the License Oce upon obtaining license plates.
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Transferring License Plates
Credit of registration is available for many types of vehicle-to-vehicle registration transfers. In limited situations, the actual
license plates may also be transferred to the new vehicle without having to obtain new license plates.
NOTE: When there is a complete change of ownership, the seller’s license plates cannot be transferred to, or used by, the
buyer.
When transferring license plates from an old vehicle to a newly purchased vehicle, buyers should bring the following items
to any Missouri license oce:
• e Certicate of Title that properly assigns ownership to buyer or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin;
• A signed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108);
• A safety inspection not more than 60 days old or not more than 90 days old if the seller is a Missouri dealer and the
safety inspection provided by the Missouri dealer was completed within 60 days prior to the purchase date, if applicable,
unless the vehicle is less than eleven years old and the mileage is less than 150,000 miles;
• A current and legible insurance identication card, which include an original, copy, or electronic version. Other proof
of nancial responsibility may also be accepted. is requirement does not apply to trailers.
• Unless providing a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, an emissions inspection not more than 60 days old if the owner
resides in St. Louis City or the following counties: Franklin, Jeerson, St. Charles, or St. Louis; and
• Additional documentation may be requested at the time of titling.
NOTE: e buyer may be required to submit a separate identication number and odometer inspection if ownership of the
motor vehicle was transferred to him or her on a title issued by another state or country.
Taxes and Fees:
• State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus the buyer’s local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance, if any;
• $8.50 title fee;
• $2 transfer fee;
• If the buyer renews registration when transferring plates, registration fees will be based on either taxable horsepower
or vehicle weight;
• Additional licensure fees for an increase in horsepower, if applicable;
• $6 title processing fee;
• $6 registration processing fee, for the transfer; and
• $6 registration processing fee, for a one-year registration or $12 registration processing fee for a two-year
registration, if applicable.
NOTE: If a vehicle is purchased from an out-of-state dealer and the buyer has a trade-in, the buyer must present proof of
the trade-in to receive a tax credit when he or she titles the vehicle in Missouri. is proof may be in the form of:
• A copy of the front and back of the title assigned from the owner to the dealer for the
trade-in vehicle; or
• If the title is held by the lienholder or a duplicate title is needed, a copy of
the Secure Power of Attorney for the trade-in vehicle.
e amount allowed for the trade-in should either
be recorded on the title assignment, if a space is
provided, or on the dealer invoice.
If the buyer is unsure what
transfer options he or she may
have, please ask the clerk
at any Missouri license
oce or contact the
Department by email at
mvbmail@dor.mo.gov.
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SAMPLE
Buying New License Plates
To purchase new license plates for a vehicle, bring the following items to any Missouri license oce:
RR e Certicate of Title that properly assigns ownership to buyer or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin;
RR A signed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108);
RR An original, or a copy, of the paid personal property tax receipt or a statement of non-assessment from the owner’s
county of residence, or the City of St. Louis, for the previous year;
RR A safety inspection not more than 60 days old or not more than 90 days old if the seller is a Missouri dealer and
the safety inspection provided by the Missouri dealer was completed within 60 days prior to the purchase date, if
applicable, unless the vehicle is less than eleven years old and the mileage is less than 150,000 miles;
RR A current and legible insurance identication card, which includes an original, copy, or electronic version.
Other proof of nancial responsibility may also be accepted. is requirement does not apply to trailers;
RR Unless providing a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, an emissions inspection not more than 60 days old if
the owner resides in St. Louis City or the following counties: Franklin, Jeerson, St. Charles, or St. Louis; and
RR Additional documentation may be requested at the time of titling.
NOTE: Owners may be required to submit a separate identication number and odometer inspection if ownership of the
motor vehicle was transferred to them on a title issued by another state or country.
Taxes and Fees:
• State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus the buyer’s local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance, if any;
• $8.50 title fee;
• Registration fees, based on either taxable horsepower or vehicle weight;
• $6 title processing fee; and
• $6 registration processing fee for a one-year registration or $12 registration processing fee for a two-year registration.
NOTE: If a buyer purchased a vehicle from an out-of-state dealer and the buyer had a trade-in, the buyer must present
proof of the trade-in to receive a tax credit when he or she titles the vehicle in Missouri. is proof may be in the form of:
• A copy of the front and back of the title assigned from the owner to the dealer for the trade-in vehicle; or
• If the vehicle is held by the lienholder or a duplicate title is needed, a copy of the Secure Power of Attorney
for the trade-in vehicle.
e amount allowed for the trade-in should either be recorded on the title assignment if a space is provided or on the
dealer invoice.
Payment Options
License oces and the Department of Revenue’s Central Oce in Jeerson City accepts cash, personal checks, cashier’s
checks, money orders, debit cards, and Discover, American Express, VISA, and Master Card credit cards. Personal checks
must be made payable to the Missouri Department of Revenue and be preprinted with the check writer’s name, address,
bank code, and account number. Personal checks must also include the following information regarding the check writer:
RR Driver license or nondriver license number;
RR Date of birth; and
RR Daytime phone number.
e Missouri Department of Revenue may electronically resubmit checks returned for insucient or uncollected funds.
Credit and Debit Card Transactions – e convenience fee charged by credit and debit card vendors is 2.0% + $0.25 per
credit or debit card transaction.
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Don’t Become a Victim of Curbstoning!
Curbstoning is the sale of used vehicles by unlicensed dealers who pretend to be private parties in order to evade regulation.
eir customers oen get saddled with damaged, dangerous, or uninsurable vehicles – by which time the curbstoner is long
gone with their cash. Curbstoning is illegal in many states, yet defrauds thousands of unwary consumers every year.
To report a suspected curbstoning operation to the Department of Revenue, please submit a Complaint (Form 4683), which
is available online at dor.mo.gov.
Replacing Lost or Stolen License Plates and Tabs
Lost or stolen license plates or tabs may be obtained from any License Oce. Additional information may be found by
visiting our website.
Renew License Plates Online
Current registered owners may be able to renew their registration online by visiting dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/plates/
renewal.html. If eligible for this convenient option, a Personal Identication Number (PIN), will be printed on their
renewal notice.
Motor Vehicle Bureau
301 West High Street, Room 370
Jeerson City, MO 65101
mvbmail@dor.mo.gov
(573) 526-3669
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