How To Sell a Car in Missouri

The Missouri Department of Revenue administers motor vehicle titling and registration requirements in the state. Under Missouri Revised Statutes Title XIX, Chapter 301, private-party sellers must execute a properly assigned title, provide required inspection documentation, report the sale to the state, and meet several pre-transfer obligations.

What You Need To Know Before Selling a Car in Missouri

Title Law and Ownership Requirements

Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 301.210, when ownership of a motor vehicle or trailer is transferred other than to a dealer or through a security interest, the holder of the certificate of title must endorse an assignment thereof on the back of the certificate. This assignment establishes a warranty of title transferring ownership to the purchaser. Missouri requires that the certificate of title be properly executed and delivered to the buyer at the time of transfer for the sale to be legally valid.

The named owner on the title document is the individual authorized to transfer the vehicle. If multiple parties hold title jointly, signature requirements depend on the designation used. When co-owners are joined by the word "or," only one owner's signature is required to execute the assignment. When joined by the word "and," both owners must sign. When joined by "and/or," both owners must sign the title assignment.

Vehicles Exempt From Title Requirements

In Missouri, most motor vehicles operated on public highways require both a certificate of title and registration. However, certain categories of vehicles have modified requirements or may not require standard titling procedures. Farm tractors used exclusively for agricultural purposes do not require registration or titling. Special mobile equipment, including farm equipment, road construction machinery, and similar implements, may be moved on public highways without standard registration or title display under Missouri Code Section 301.133, provided they do not exceed posted speed limits or highway weight restrictions.

Government-owned vehicles operated by the United States, the State of Missouri, or any political subdivision thereof are exempt from standard registration and titling requirements under Missouri Code Section 301.260. Vehicles owned by municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions do not require standard registration, proof of ownership documents, or display of standard license plates. Implements of husbandry, including self-propelled sprayers and floaters used exclusively for agricultural purposes, are exempt from titling and registration requirements when used for spreading fertilizer or applying agricultural chemicals.

Private-party motor vehicle sales, however, are not subject to titling exemptions. A certificate of title must be obtained and transferred in private transactions unless the exemptions listed above specifically apply to the vehicle being sold.

Satisfying an Existing Lien

If an active lien is recorded on the motor vehicle's certificate of title, the lien must be satisfied before a clear title can be transferred. Upon payment of a loan, the lienholder must release the lien. The seller should obtain a notarized Lien Release (Form 4809) from the lienholder, showing that the loan has been paid and the lien has been released. If the lienholder is an individual, the lien release section of Form 4809 must be notarized. The certificate of title must be submitted to the Department of Revenue, along with proof of lien satisfaction, before the title can be transferred to a buyer. The seller should not attempt to transfer a title listing a lienholder without providing the buyer with evidence of the lien's release.

Safety and Emissions Inspection Requirements

Missouri law requires that a safety inspection certificate less than 60 days old be provided to the buyer before the sale. Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.380, every used motor vehicle shall be fully inspected immediately prior to sale at the seller's expense, regardless of model year.

An emissions inspection no more than 60 days old must also be provided if the seller resides in St. Louis City or in the counties of Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis. A safety inspection completed at a facility authorized to perform both inspections may satisfy both requirements.

Inspection certificates are valid for sixty days from the date of inspection and must be provided to the buyer at the time of transfer. Vehicles sold for salvage, junk, or rebuilding are exempt from inspection if the buyer executes an affidavit prescribed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Pre-Sale Notice and Reporting Requirement

Missouri requires the seller of a motor vehicle to report the sale to the Department of Revenue within 30 days of the transfer. This notification requirement applies to all private-party sales, except those to Missouri-licensed dealers. The seller must submit either a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957) to satisfy this reporting obligation. Failure to report a sale may result in liability for taxes and vehicle registration and may prevent the buyer from legally registering the vehicle.

Documents Required To Sell a Car in Missouri

Certificate of Title

The existing certificate of title is the principal document establishing ownership of the motor vehicle. The seller must complete the assignment section on the reverse side of the title by providing all required information, except the buyer's printed name and signature. The seller must enter the buyer's full legal name and address, the date of sale (month, day, and year), the odometer reading (excluding tenths), and the sale price. All sellers listed on the face of the title must sign and print their names on the assignment section exactly as their names appear on the front of the title.

If the title has been lost, damaged, mutilated, or destroyed, a replacement title must be obtained before the sale can proceed. The seller should contact a Missouri license office to apply for a duplicate certificate of title if the original is unavailable. An $8.50 fee applies for a duplicate title.

If the odometer reading exceeds the odometer's mechanical limits (for five-digit odometers that have exceeded 99,999 miles), the seller should check the appropriate box and record the visible mileage. If the seller is aware that the odometer mileage does not reflect the vehicle's actual mileage, the seller must check the "Mileage Reading is Not Actual (Warning Odometer Discrepancy)" box and provide a written statement explaining the discrepancy. The Odometer Statement of Explanation (Form 1545) may be used for this purpose.

Bill of Sale

The Bill of Sale (Form 1957) is a document that both the seller and buyer should complete to memorialize the transaction. The form must include the full legal names and addresses of both seller and buyer, the date of sale, the complete vehicle description (VIN, make, year, model, and body type), the purchase price, and the odometer reading at the time of sale. Both the seller and buyer must sign the bill of sale. Notarization is required only when presenting proof of ownership of major components of a rebuilt vehicle or when specifically requested by the Department of Revenue.

Alternatively, the seller may use the Notice of Sale (Form 5049) in place of a bill of sale to satisfy the sale reporting requirement. The Notice of Sale form documents the date of sale, the sale price, and the vehicle description. Unlike the Bill of Sale, the Notice of Sale does not require notarization.

Odometer Disclosure Statement

For most motor vehicle transfers, an Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 3019) must be completed and submitted. This form certifies the odometer reading at the time of ownership transfer, as required by federal law. The seller must record the actual mileage of the vehicle (excluding tenths), and the form must be signed by both seller and buyer. The seller must certify that the stated odometer reading is the actual mileage, that the mileage exceeds the odometer's mechanical limits, or that the odometer reading is not the actual mileage (in which case an explanation is required).

The odometer disclosure requirement does not apply to vehicles that are model year 2010 or older and at least ten years old at the time of transfer. Effective January 1, 2021, motor vehicles with a model year 2011 or newer require odometer disclosure at the time of transfer until the vehicle reaches twenty years of age, unless otherwise exempt.

Safety Inspection Certificate

A current safety inspection certificate issued by an authorized Missouri inspection station must be provided to the buyer. The certificate must be completed no more than sixty days before the sale. The inspection verifies that the vehicle meets Missouri safety standards and includes verification of the vehicle identification number and the odometer reading at the time of inspection. The seller must present a copy of the completed inspection form to the buyer at the time of transfer.

Emissions Inspection Certificate

If the seller resides in St. Louis City or in Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis County, an emissions inspection certificate completed within sixty days must be provided to the buyer. The certificate demonstrates that the vehicle meets emissions standards required in the seller's county. A safety inspection completed at a facility authorized to perform both safety and emissions inspections will satisfy both requirements.

Lien Release

If a lienholder is named on the title, a notarized Lien Release (Form 4809) must be provided at the time of sale. The lien release must be signed and notarized by the lienholder, indicating that the debt has been satisfied and the lien has been released. The seller should obtain this document from the lienholder prior to the sale.

How To Transfer a Car Title in Missouri

Step 1: Review the Title Before the Sale

The seller should examine the certificate of title to confirm that all information is accurate, legible, and unaltered. The title should not contain any marks made with correction fluid, erasers, or other means that obscure the printed text. If the title has been lost, stolen, or mutilated, a replacement title must be obtained before the sale. The seller should contact a local Missouri license office and complete an Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108) to request a duplicate title.

The seller should verify that no lien is recorded on the front of the title. If a lienholder is listed, the seller must contact the lienholder to obtain a notarized lien release before proceeding with the sale. The title is not ready for transfer until all liens have been cleared and proper documentation has been received.

Step 2: Obtain Current Inspection Documentation

Before the buyer takes possession of the vehicle, the seller must obtain a current safety inspection certificate from an authorized Missouri inspection station. The inspection must be completed no more than sixty days before the planned sale date. If the seller resides in St. Louis City or in Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis County, an emissions inspection must also be completed within sixty days. The seller should obtain copies of these inspection certificates to provide to the buyer.

Step 3: Complete the Title Assignment and Prepare Supporting Documents

The seller must complete the assignment section on the reverse of the certificate of title by filling in the buyer's full legal name and address, the date of sale, the odometer reading, the sale price, and any required notations regarding odometer discrepancies. The seller must sign the assignment exactly as the name appears on the face of the title and print the name legibly. All sellers named on the title must sign and print their names in the assignment area.

The seller and buyer should prepare and execute a Bill of Sale (Form 1957) or complete a Notice of Sale (Form 5049). If a bill of sale is used, notarization is required only when presenting proof of ownership of major components of a rebuilt vehicle or when specifically requested by the Department of Revenue. The Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 3019) must be completed and signed by both seller and buyer (if the vehicle does not qualify for the odometer disclosure exemption).

Step 4: Remove License Plates and Deliver Documents to Buyer

Before the buyer takes possession of the vehicle, the seller must remove the license plates. Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 301.140, the seller is responsible for removing all license plates at the time of transfer. The license plates may be destroyed and recycled or returned to any Missouri license office for destruction. The seller may not transfer the license plates to the buyer.

At the time of transfer, the seller delivers to the buyer the properly assigned certificate of title, the bill of sale (or completed Notice of Sale form), the completed Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 3019), the safety inspection certificate, and the emissions inspection certificate (if applicable). If a lien was on the title, the seller must also provide a copy of the notarized Lien Release (Form 4809).

Step 5: Report the Sale and Buyer Applies for New Title

Within 30 days of the sale, the seller must submit a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957) to the Missouri Department of Revenue to report the sale. This notice establishes that the seller has transferred ownership of the vehicle and relieved the seller of liability for the vehicle after the reported date.

The buyer must apply for a new certificate of title within thirty days of the purchase date. The buyer submits the assigned certificate of title, the completed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108), the safety inspection certificate, the emissions inspection certificate (if applicable), the Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 3019), proof of insurance, and payment of applicable fees. The application is submitted at any Missouri license office operated by the Department of Revenue.

Title Transfer Fee Schedule in Missouri

The following fees apply to motor vehicle title transactions in Missouri:

These fees are collected by the Missouri Department of Revenue or authorized inspection stations. Certain license offices may charge additional local administrative fees. The expedited processing fee of $5.00 applies only when the applicant requests special handling requiring accelerated processing of the title application. The processing fee shown ($9.00) applies to one-year registrations; two-year registrations have a $18.00 processing fee.

Sales Tax on Private Vehicle Sales

Motor vehicle purchases in Missouri are subject to a state sales tax of 4.225% on the purchase price. In addition to the state tax, local city and county sales taxes may apply, bringing the total tax rate as high as 10%, depending on the vehicle's registration location.

The tax is calculated on the net purchase price, which is the sale price minus any trade-in allowance or dealer rebate.

What To Do After Selling Your Car in Missouri

Following the completion of the title transfer, the seller has several post-sale responsibilities and optional actions.

Remove and Dispose of License Plates

The seller must remove the license plates from the vehicle before transfer of possession to the buyer. The license plates remain the seller's property and may not be used by the buyer. The seller may destroy and recycle the plates or return them to any Missouri license office for destruction. License plates are not transferable between vehicles in Missouri.

Report the Sale to the Department of Revenue

The seller must submit a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957) to the Missouri Department of Revenue within thirty days of the sale. This filing relieves the seller of further liability and financial obligations for the vehicle after the date of reported sale. The notice may be submitted by mail to the Missouri Department of Revenue at its central office or at a local license office.

If the seller fails to report the sale within thirty days, the seller may remain liable for certain obligations associated with the vehicle, including registration renewal notices and any unpaid taxes or fees. Submission of a timely notice of sale protects the seller's interests.

Cancel Insurance and Notify Lender if Applicable

Once the sale is complete, the seller should contact their auto insurance company to cancel coverage on the sold vehicle or transfer the policy to a replacement vehicle. Keeping insurance on a vehicle no longer owned wastes money on unnecessary premiums. If the vehicle was financed, the seller should also notify the lender that the vehicle has been sold and the title transferred.

Retain Copies of All Sale Documents

The seller should keep copies of all sale-related documents for their records, including both sides of the signed title, the bill of sale or completed Notice of Sale form, the odometer disclosure statement, any inspection certificates, and documentation showing that liens were released. Maintaining these documents serves as proof that the sale took place and provides important protection. If liability issues emerge later or if state authorities question whether the seller followed proper procedures, having these records readily available allows the seller to demonstrate that the transaction was completed correctly and in compliance with state law.

Contact Information

Missouri Department of Revenue — Motor Vehicle Services
301 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 526-3669
Official Website: Missouri Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Titling & Registration