What Should You Know About License Plates in For Sale By Owner Car Sales in Missouri?

by Armando Martinez

Transferring License Plates in Missouri

When you sell a vehicle, other than a trade-in or sale to a Missouri dealer, the seller has certain legal responsibilities.

As the seller, you must provide the following to the vehicle buyer:

1. Properly assigned Certificate of Title (see instructions);
2. *Safety inspection certificate, less than 60 days old;
3. *An emissions inspection not more than 60 days old, if you reside in St. Louis City or the following counties: Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis; and
4. Lien Release (Form 4809), notarized, if applicable.

Before the purchaser takes possession of the vehicle, remove your license plates (whether they are valid or expired).

Remember: All sellers and purchasers must print their names and sign the back of the title in the assignment area. These signatures do not need to be notarized. The seller must write in the odometer reading and date of sale. You may not use correction fluid (white-out) or erase marks from the title.

Finally, When you sell a vehicle in Missouri as a private party transaction, you must report the sale within 30 days to the Department of Revenue. Sellers must submit a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957) form to report the sale. Click here for more information about reporting the sale of your vehicle. Prompt notification will help protect you from possible liability!  A seller who fails to report the sale of a required vehicle is guilty of an infraction and subject to a fine of up to $200. 

As the buyer You have 30 days from the date of purchase to title and pay sales tax on your newly purchased vehicle. If you do not title the vehicle within 30 days, there is a title penalty of $25 on the 31st day after purchase. The penalty increases another $25 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $200.

When you purchase your vehicle, you may obtain a temporary permit, transfer license plates from a vehicle you already own, or you may purchase new license plates. Our online sales tax calculator may help you estimate the taxes and fees you will pay.

Transferring our Buying License Plates in Missouri

When you sell a car in Missouri there is a complete change of ownership for that vehicle so the seller's license plates cannot be transferred to (or used by) the purchaser. If you wish, the seller can transfer the sold vehicle plates to the new-to-them vehicle they buy to replace the one sold.  

As a buyer of a vehicle, you must purchase new license plates for your vehicle.  You will need to bring the following items to any Missouri license office:

1. The Certificate of Title, properly signed over to you (see instructions);
2. A signed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108);
3. Additional documentation may be requested at the time of titling;
4. An original (or copy) paid personal property tax receipt or a statement of non-assessment from your county of residence (or city of St. Louis) for the previous year.
5. 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;
6. A current insurance identification card (original, copy, or electronic if legible) or other proof of financial responsibility. This requirement does not apply to trailers; and
7. An emissions inspection not more than 60 days old, if you reside in St. Louis City or the following counties: Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis (unless you have an MSO).

NOTE: You may be required to submit separate proof of an Identification Number/Odometer Reading Inspection (ID/OD) if ownership of the motor vehicle was transferred to you on a title issued by another state or country. A current safety inspection will satisfy this requirement.

License Plate Fees in Missouri

The fees for transferring license plates in Missouri vary depending on the type of vehicle you purchase and the license plates you have. Here are the fees you can expect to pay (subject to change by the state):

• State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus your local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance, if any;
• $8.50 title fee;
• $2 transfer fee;
• Registration (license plate) fees, based on either taxable horsepower or vehicle weight (if you renew your registration when you transfer the plates);
• Additional licensure fees for an increase in horsepower, if applicable;
• $6 title processing fee; and
• $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.

As the Buyer you will pay fees as follows (subject to change by the state):

• State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus your local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance, if any;
• $8.50 title fee;
• Registration (license plate) 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.

The State of Missouri offers several convenient ways to pay your fees: 

• Payment may be made by cash, personal check, cashier's check, money order, and credit or debit cards (Discover, American Express, VISA, and Mastercard only).
• Personal checks must be made payable to the Missouri Department of Revenue. Personal checks must be preprinted with the check writer's name, address, bank code, and account number. The personal check must also include the following information regarding the check writer:
• Driver's license or non-driver's license number;
• Date of birth; and
• Daytime phone number.
• The Missouri Department of Revenue may electronically resubmit checks returned for insufficient or uncollected funds.
• Credit / Debit Card Transactions - The "convenience fee" charged by the credit/debit card vendor is 2.0% + $0.25 per card transaction.

Conclusion

Properly transferring license plates is an important step when buying or selling a car in Missouri. Whether you choose to transfer your license plates to your new vehicle or to the buyer, make sure to follow the steps outlined in this guide and pay the appropriate fees to avoid any issues down the road. For additional information about private party sales of a vehicle in Missouri visit https://dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/selling-a-vehicle.html. 

This article was written by Armando Martinez. Armando Martinez is among the nation’s experts on automotive titling, registration, DMV services and document operations. With nearly two decades of experience across a broad range of financial services functions and some of the largest names in auto, from Wells Fargo to Uber, Armando combines vision and ingenuity with a wealth of information so auto shoppers and sellers can learn from his experience.

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