Car Registration Requirements for New Missouri Residents

New Missouri residents must title and register vehicles brought from out of state within statutory deadlines. The Missouri Department of Revenue administers the titling and registration process, which requires specific documentation, vehicle inspections, fee payments, and compliance with personal property tax requirements.

Timeline for New Missouri Residents

Missouri residents must title their vehicle within 30 days of establishing residency.

Failure to title within 30 days results in a delinquency penalty of $25 on the 31st day, with an additional $25 penalty for each subsequent 30-day period, up to a maximum total penalty of $200. The Motor Vehicle Titling page specifies these penalty amounts.

Establishing Missouri Residency

Missouri residency is determined by intent and physical presence rather than a fixed duration. Factors indicating residency include employment in Missouri, school enrollment, property ownership, voter registration, obtaining a Missouri driver's license, and filing Missouri state income taxes. The Department of Revenue does not define residency by specific statutory language but evaluates these factors when determining new resident status for vehicle registration purposes.

Required Documentation for Car Registration in Missouri

New Missouri residents must provide documentation according to the New Resident Titling & Registration Requirements. The required documents include:

• Original out-of-state title showing current ownership in the applicant's name, or proof of ownership in accordance with the laws of the previous state
• Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108), signed by the vehicle owner
• Identification number and odometer (ID/OD) inspection completed by an authorized Missouri inspection station; a safety inspection not more than 60 days old satisfies this requirement
• Statement of non-assessment from the Missouri county of residence (or City of St. Louis) assessor's office showing no personal property taxes owed; find assessor contact information through the State Tax Commission
• Current insurance identification card (original, copy, or legible electronic version) or other proof of financial responsibility
• Missouri safety inspection not more than 60 days old, if applicable
• Missouri emissions inspection not more than 60 days old, if residing in St. Louis City or Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis counties

Vehicles with Lienholders

If the lienholder holds the out-of-state title, complete the Owner Out-of-State Title Request (Form 5834) and submit it to the lienholder. If the lienholder cannot release the title, the following documentation is required:

• Written statement from lienholder on letterhead refusing to release the out-of-state title, plus one of the following:
  • Copy of front and back of out-of-state title showing owner and lienholder names
  • Out-of-state title receipt indicating owner and lienholder names (for electronic titling states)
  • Statement from lienholder declaring the title is held by an electronic titling state

If the original title is not surrendered, only a one-year registration will be issued. A Missouri Certificate of Title will not be issued, and the registration cannot be renewed until the out-of-state title is received by the Department of Revenue.

Missouri Insurance Requirements

Missouri law requires all motor vehicle owners to maintain minimum liability insurance coverage under Section 303.160, RSMo. The following minimum coverage amounts apply:

Sales Tax Requirements

New residents must pay state and local sales taxes based on ownership duration:

• Vehicles owned 90 days or more prior to Missouri titling and registration: no additional sales tax due
• Vehicles owned less than 90 days: if sales tax paid to another state is less than the Missouri state and local tax, proof of prior payment is required, plus payment of the difference

Missouri sales tax is calculated at the state rate of 4.225 percent plus local sales tax on the purchase price, less any trade-in allowance. The online sales tax calculator provides cost estimates.

Application Submission Methods

In-Person Submission: Applications may be submitted at any Missouri license office. Use the license office locator to find locations and contact information.

Mail Submission: Applications may be mailed to:

Motor Vehicle Bureau
P.O. Box 100
Jefferson City, MO 65105-0100

Acceptable payment methods for mail applications include personal check (preprinted with name, address, bank code, account number, driver's license or nondriver ID number, date of birth, and daytime phone number), cashier's check, or money order. Do not mail cash.

Missouri Vehicle Inspection Requirements

Safety Inspection

Missouri requires biennial safety inspections under Section 307.350, RSMo for most motor vehicles. Safety inspections must be completed not more than 60 days prior to registration application. Official inspection stations may charge up to $12.00 for passenger vehicles and trucks, and $10.00 for motorcycles.

Exemption from Safety Inspection: Motor vehicles are exempt for the first 10 years following their model year of manufacture with less than 150,000 miles on the odometer.

Additional exemptions include:

• Historic motor vehicles registered under Section 301.131
• Vehicles engaged in interstate commerce and proportionately registered with the Missouri Highway Reciprocity Commission
• Vehicles registered in excess of 24,000 pounds for less than 12 months

Locating inspection stations: Find official safety inspection stations through the Missouri State Highway Patrol database.

Emissions Inspection

The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program requires emissions inspections for vehicles registered in St. Louis City, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, and St. Louis County. Emissions inspections must be completed not more than 60 days prior to registration application. The program is jointly administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Registration Fees and Costs in Missouri

Missouri vehicle registration fees vary by vehicle type, horsepower, and weight. New residents must pay titling fees, registration fees, and processing fees as follows:

Titling Fees

• Title fee: $8.50
• Processing fee: $9.00
• Electronic transmission fee: $2.00 (if applicable)
• Total base titling/processing fee: $17.50

Passenger Vehicle Registration Fees

Registration fees for passenger vehicles are determined by the vehicle's taxable horsepower as recorded on the title or Application for Missouri Title and Registration:

Two-year registration options are available at approximately double the one-year fee with an $18 processing fee.

Truck Registration Fees

Registration fees for trucks (including pickup trucks and utility vehicles registered as trucks) are based on gross weight plus load and local versus beyond-local use:

Motorcycle and Autocycle Registration Fees

Recreational Vehicle Registration Fees

Additional Fees and Penalties

• Temporary permit (30-day tag): $5 permit fee plus $9 processing fee
• Title delinquency penalty: $25 for first 30-day period, $25 for each additional 30-day period (maximum $200)
• Late renewal penalty: $5 if plates renewed after expiration date

Use the online sales tax calculator to estimate total registration costs, including applicable sales taxes.

Contact Information

Missouri Department of Revenue
301 West High Street, Room 680, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 526-3669
Missouri Department of Revenue

Missouri State Highway Patrol
Motor Vehicle Inspection Division
1510 East Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 526-6132
Motor Vehicle Inspection Division

Missouri Department of Natural Resources
1101 Riverside Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-3443
Air Pollution Control Program

State Tax Commission
3705 Missouri Boulevard, Suite 100, Jefferson City, MO 65109
Phone: (573) 751-2414
Official Website: Assessor Directory