Is Inspection Required for Registration in Missouri?

Yes, inspection is required for registration in Missouri. Most motor vehicles must undergo a biennial safety inspection before registration or renewal under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.350, unless the vehicle qualifies for specific exemptions. Vehicles registered in certain St. Louis area counties must also complete emissions testing through the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program.

Missouri Inspection Requirements

The inspection frequency follows a staggered schedule based on the vehicle's model year: even-numbered model year vehicles must be inspected during even-numbered calendar years, while odd-numbered model year vehicles must be inspected during odd-numbered calendar years.

The inspection certificate remains valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. Vehicle owners must present this certificate when applying for registration or renewal. No state registration license may be issued or transferred without a valid inspection certificate unless the vehicle qualifies for an exemption or meets specific criteria outlined in state law.

Inspection Requirements for New Registrations in Missouri

Vehicles purchased from licensed motor vehicle dealers must be inspected immediately prior to sale if the vehicle is more than six years old and subject to inspection requirements. Dealers bear the legal responsibility to provide a valid certificate of inspection and approval at the time of sale under RSMo Section 307.380. The pre-sale inspection must be performed regardless of any current inspection certificate validity.

Vehicles purchased from private sellers require inspection before registration if they do not have a valid certificate from the seller. However, if the seller provides a valid inspection performed within the previous 60 days, the buyer may use that certificate for registration purposes. Missouri law permits purchasers to operate vehicles without current registration for the sole purpose of obtaining an inspection, traveling between their residence and an inspection station of their choice.

Out-of-state vehicles being registered in Missouri for the first time must undergo inspection to verify the vehicle identification number and odometer reading. New Missouri residents have 30 days from becoming a resident to title their vehicle.

If the vehicle was not in Missouri during the 60 days prior to registration application, the Director of Revenue may issue registration without an inspection certificate, but the owner must submit the vehicle for inspection within 10 days after the vehicle returns to the state.

Vehicles purchased from dealers may utilize an inspection performed within 90 days prior to registration application if a valid inspection existed within 60 days of the purchase date. This extended timeframe recognizes that dealers often inspect vehicles before sale and accommodates the registration process timeline.

Types of Inspections Required in Missouri

Missouri requires two distinct types of vehicle inspections depending on the vehicle's location and characteristics: safety inspections administered statewide and emissions inspections required in specific metropolitan counties.

Safety Inspection

• Headlights must include a minimum of two white lights
• Taillights must include a minimum of two red lights and reflectors visible from 500 feet
• Turn signals must be present and functional
• Brake lights must be as originally installed by the manufacturer
• Steering mechanisms must operate without excessive play or binding
• Tires and wheels must not be bald or mismatched
• All windows must contain safety glass if the vehicle was manufactured after January 1, 1936
• The windshield viewing area cannot be badly damaged
• Vision-reducing material is prohibited except for legally required labels and manufacturer window tinting
• Windshield wipers must function properly
• Passenger cars manufactured after June 30, 1964, must have two sets of seat belts in the front seat
• All vehicles must have an operable horn audible to other drivers and pedestrians
• Exhaust system must include an attached exhaust pipe, muffler, and tailpipe
• Vehicles manufactured after 1967 must have both inside and outside rearview mirrors
• Non-diesel vehicles manufactured after 1967 must retain air pollution control devices as originally installed by the manufacturer
• Fuel system, including all lines, hoses, connections, and tanks, must be firmly attached and leak-free
• Trucks without rear fenders registered for over 24,000 pounds must have mud flaps

Emissions Inspection

Vehicles registered in St. Louis City, and the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson must undergo biennial emissions testing through the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program (GVIP). This program operates separately from but in conjunction with the safety inspection requirement. The emissions inspection follows the same even/odd year schedule based on model year.

Inspection Fees

Individual inspection stations may charge up to $12 for passenger vehicle and truck safety inspections, and up to $10 for motorcycle inspections. Emissions inspection fees vary by station and testing requirements, but are set by the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program for participating facilities.

Exemptions

The following vehicle categories are exempt from safety inspection requirements under Missouri law:

• Motor vehicles less than 10 years old (based on model year) with fewer than 150,000 miles on the odometer at the time of registration or renewal
• All trailers
• Historic motor vehicles registered pursuant to RSMo Section 301.131
• Motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce and proportionately registered with the Missouri highway reciprocity commission
• Vehicles registered in excess of 24,000 pounds for a period of less than 12 months
• Motor vehicles sold for junk, salvage, or rebuilding
• Motor vehicles sold from dealer to dealer
• Low-speed vehicles as defined in Section 304.029
• Vehicles with registration renewal dates on or after April 1st during the first year of the exemption period

Emissions inspection exemptions include:

• New motor vehicles not previously titled during the model year and the following year, provided there is no change in ownership
• 1995 and older gasoline-powered vehicles
• 1996 and older diesel-powered vehicles
• Motor vehicles with manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 8,500 pounds
• New motor vehicles not previously titled and registered for the four-year period following their model year with fewer than 40,000 miles at the first required biennial inspection
• Motor vehicles driven fewer than 12,000 miles between biennial safety inspections
• Vehicles powered by fuels other than gasoline, ethanol, or diesel
• Motor vehicles displaying historic plates, school bus plates, shuttle bus plates, motorcycle plates, motortricycle plates, or street rod plates
• Gasoline-powered low-speed vehicles in Franklin County only
• Motor vehicles registered in affected areas but based and operated outside the area for 24 consecutive months

Missouri Registration Renewal and Inspection Requirements

Missouri law directly connects vehicle inspection status to registration eligibility through a registration-based enforcement system. No state registration license may be issued or transferred] under RSMo 307.355 during a biennial registration year requiring inspection unless the application is accompanied by a certificate of inspection issued no more than 60 days prior to the application date.

Registration renewal applications submitted without the required inspection certificate will be rejected. The Department of Revenue verifies inspection status electronically through the statewide inspection database maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate operations may present valid inspection stickers from other states if the vehicle is proportionately registered in multiple states and bears evidence of a current, valid inspection from another state.

Penalties for Expired Inspections in Missouri

Operating a motor vehicle without a valid inspection certificate when required constitutes a violation of RSMo 307.350. The law classifies this violation as an infraction, though more serious violations of inspection statutes may constitute misdemeanors.

Any person who violates provisions of RSMo 307.350 through 307.390 is guilty of a misdemeanor under RSMo 307.390 and upon conviction shall be punished as provided by law. The Missouri State Highway Patrol may assign qualified motor vehicle inspectors with limited powers to issue uniform complaints and summons for violations of motor vehicle inspection laws and regulations.

Dealers who sell used vehicles without providing the required pre-sale inspection violate RSMo Section 307.380. Missouri courts have held that selling a vehicle "as is" does not alleviate the seller's obligation to comply with safety inspection statutes unless the vehicle is sold specifically for junk, salvage, or rebuilding purposes with proper affidavit documentation.

Where to Get an Inspection in Missouri

Missouri vehicle inspections must be performed at official inspection stations licensed and regulated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Highway Patrol issues permits to qualified inspection stations after businesses apply through the nearest Troop Headquarters.

Inspection stations have no authority to refuse inspection due to the absence of vehicle title or registration documents. Missouri regulations prohibit this practice to ensure vehicles can be inspected for safety regardless of documentation status.

Finding a Licensed Inspection Station

Vehicle owners can locate inspection stations using the official station search tool by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

For emissions testing in the St. Louis metropolitan area, vehicle owners must visit Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program stations. The GVIP station locator provides searchable listings of facilities serving St. Louis City and St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson counties. These stations perform both safety and emissions inspections for vehicles registered in the covered areas.

Government Agencies

Missouri Department of Revenue - Motor Vehicle Bureau
Harry S Truman State Office Building
301 West High Street, Room 470
Jefferson City, MO 65105
Phone: (573) 526-3669
Website: Missouri Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle

Missouri State Highway Patrol - Motor Vehicle Inspection Division
General Headquarters
1510 East Elm Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 526-6132
Website: Motor Vehicle Inspection Division

Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program
Phone: 1-866-623-8378
Website: Gateway VIP