What Do I Need for a Missouri Title Transfer?
You need specific documentation to successfully transfer a vehicle’s title in Missouri. In Missouri, all residents are required to obtain a title for their vehicle. The Missouri Department of Revenue issues residents in this state their vehicle title. If there are multiple vehicle owners or a lien holder, all owners are listed on the vehicle title.
A vehicle title transfer is required in Missouri when a change on the vehicle’s title occurs for any reason. If you intend on driving your vehicle immediately, you can register your vehicle the same time you title it.
Smog Certification/Vehicle Inspection
In the state of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) requires all residents of this state to complete regular vehicle inspections. There are two parts to the vehicle inspection required in Missouri. These two parts are a vehicle safety inspection and smog and emissions testing.
Vehicle safety inspections are required throughout the state of Missouri. However, emissions testing is only required in certain counties in Missouri. New residents of Missouri have 30 days to register their vehicles. In order to register a vehicle in MO, you must have proof of a current vehicle inspection.
Missouri Emissions and Smog Check Requirements
All registered vehicles in MO are subject to mandatory safety inspections. Your vehicle must also pass an emissions inspection if you live in one of the following counties:
- St. Louis
- St. Charles
- Franklin
- Jefferson
The model year of your registered vehicle determines the year in which it is required to be inspected. Even model year vehicles are required to be inspected in even calendar years, and odd model year vehicles must be inspected in odd calendar years.
You are also required to complete a Missouri vehicle inspection if:
- You are new to Missouri and you need to register your vehicle with the Missouri Department of Revenue
- You need to renew your MO registration, and your renewal notice indicates that you are required to complete a vehicle safety and/or emissions inspection (safety and emissions inspections can’t be complete earlier than 60 days before you renew your vehicle registration)
- If you recently sold a vehicle or intend to sell a vehicle, the vehicle’s seller must provide the vehicle’s buyer with:
- A vehicle safety inspection certificate that does not exceed 60 days old
- An emissions inspection certificate that is less than 60 days old (if you reside in a county that requires smog testing)
- Your vehicle was involved in an accident
- A law enforcement officer requests for you to submit your vehicle to an inspection
Failure to register your vehicle or renew your vehicle registration within 60 days of completing a safety or emissions inspection causes the inspections to be invalid. You will have to complete and pay for an additional MO vehicle inspection.
Smog Check and Vehicle Inspection Exemptions in Missouri
In the state of Missouri, certain vehicles are exempt from safety inspections. Smog check and vehicle inspection exemptions in Missouri include vehicles that:
- Are 10 model years old or newer
- Exceeds a weight of 26,000 pounds and is registered for under 12 months (this is possible if your vehicle is registered quarterly and is probated, and this includes changes in ownership)
- Is a trailer
- Is an even model year with a registration expiring in an odd calendar year
- Is an odd model year with a registration expiring in an even calendar year
- Has been registered with the Missouri DOR and participates in interstate commerce
- Displays a historic plate
- Is being sold for rebuilding, junk, or salvage
- Is a low-speed vehicle
- Is out of state when your renewal and inspection date arrives
Keep in mind, this exemption doesn’t apply to vehicle emissions inspections for the counties in which they are required. If you own any of the type of vehicles listed above, you will be required to get a safety inspection if a law enforcement officer orders you to do so.
You will receive a notice in the mail when your vehicle needs to complete its safety inspection for the MO registration renewal purposes.
Safety and Emissions Inspection Fees in Missouri
When it comes to motor vehicle inspection fees in Missouri, these fees vary by station, but there are state law caps that limit the maximum fee amount that can be charged.
All Missouri emissions inspection fees include one free retest if your vehicle fails its inspection, as long as:
- You complete the retest within 20 business days of your initial emissions inspection test
- You take your vehicle to the same station where you completed your initial emissions inspection test
Missouri Vehicle Safety Inspection Fees
There are different fees associated with vehicle safety inspections in Missouri. The following fees are those set by the state of Missouri for residents of the state:
Safety Inspection Fees
- Passenger vehicles and trucks: up to $12
- Motorcycles: up to $10
Smog and Emissions Testing Fees
- All vehicles: up to $24
It’s important to make sure you have the correct payment for the necessary fees to avoid delays with your vehicle registration.
How to Transfer Your Vehicle Title in Missouri?
When you need to transfer your vehicle’s title in Missouri, there are different steps you need to follow, especially as a new resident of the state.
Transferring a Vehicle Title As a New Resident of Missouri
As a new resident of Missouri, you are required to register and title your vehicle(s) within 30 days of establishing residency in the state. You need to visit your local MO license office and provide:
- The vehicle’s out-of-state title (if a lien holder currently holds your vehicle title, you are required to submit your out-of-state vehicle registration)
- A completed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form DOR-108) You need to check the “new plates” box if you are registering your vehicle at the time you title your vehicle. If you choose not to register your vehicle immediately, check the “title only” box.
- Proof of a valid MO vehicle insurance policy
- Statement of Non-Assessment from the assessor’s office where you live or are moving to. (This form certifies that you don’t owe personal property taxes for the previous year)
- Proof of a vehicle identification number (VIN) and odometer inspection from an authorized inspection station
- Proof of a safety and/or emissions inspection from an authorized inspection station, if required
- Payment for all applicable vehicle titling fees and taxes
If needed, you can obtain a temporary permit to operate your vehicle without its plates in order to get it titled in the state of Missouri.
Transferring a Title When Buying or Selling a Vehicle in MO
As a resident of Missouri, you have 30 days to title your vehicle and pay the applicable taxes once you purchase the vehicle. To complete the vehicle titling process in Missouri, visit your local MO DOR office and submit:
- A completed vehicle title that is signed by the vehicle’s seller, or a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin for new vehicles purchased from a car dealer
- A completed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form DOR-108)
- Check to make sure the “new plates” box is checked if you are registering your vehicle at the same time you are titling the vehicle. If you are deciding not to register your vehicle right away, make sure you check the “title only” box.
- A notarized Notice of Lien, Lien Release, or Authorization to Add/Remove Name from Title (Form DOR-4809), if required.
- Proof of a valid MO vehicle insurance policy
- Proof of a vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection and odometer inspection, if the previous vehicle title is not from the state of Missouri
- Proof of a safety and/or emissions inspection from an authorized inspection station, if required
- Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 3019), if the vehicle is 20 years old or newer
- Payment for your titling fees and taxes
MO Temporary Vehicle Permit
If you’ve purchased a new vehicle, but you don’t have plates to transfer to it, you may obtain a 30-day temporary permit in order to operate your vehicle without license plates in order to have your vehicle successfully titled and registered.
You can visit your local MO driver license office with:
- You need to provide any of the following proofs of ownership:
- Bill of Sale (Form 1957)
- Notice of Sale (Form 5049)
- Signed over certificate of title or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO)
- Missouri Application for Title and License (Form DOR-108)
- Proof of a safety inspection (not required if you have an MSO, or you’re obtaining a permit for a trailer.
- Proof of a valid Missouri vehicle insurance policy
- Payment for the $5 permit fee in addition to the $6 processing fee
Keep in mind, you are only allowed 1 permit per vehicle. Once you’ve applied for your vehicle’s title, your temporary permit will no longer be valid. Your permit needs to be placed on the back of your vehicle, just as you do with your standard license plate.
Transfer On Death (TOD) Beneficiary
When you are completing your Application for Missouri Title and License (Form DOR-108), you are allowed to assign a beneficiary by name for the transfer of death. The transfer of death allows the vehicle to be transferred to the person without going through probate.
Make sure you check the “transfer on death” box on the application and fill out the name of the beneficiary. If there is more than one individual named on this certificate, the “tenants in common” box must also be checked.
Transferring a Vehicle Title When Selling a Vehicle in Missouri
If you’re transferring a vehicle title when welling a vehicle in Missouri, there are different steps you need to take.
To successfully transfer the title of a vehicle you are selling, you need to:
- Sign the vehicle title over to its new owner
- Perform a safety and/or emissions inspection on the vehicle (if required) You must then provide the buyer with proof of inspection
- Provide the notarized Notice of Lien, Lien Release, or Authorization to Add/Remove Name from Title (Form DOR-4809), if your vehicle has a lien
- Remove your old license plates before you allow the buyer to take the vehicle
Make sure you have the necessary paperwork to give to the buyer to avoid unnecessary delays with the vehicle title transfer process.
How to Transfer a Car Title When the Owner is Deceased?
If you are the beneficiary of a vehicle, and you want to keep the vehicle, sell it to someone else or gift it to a family member, you need to transfer the vehicle’s title. You need to determine whether the vehicle is part of a probate.
When the owner of a vehicle passes away, if you are the surviving spouse, beneficiary, or joint-owner, you have the legal authority to transfer the vehicle’s title to someone else.
Transferring a Vehicle Title In a Probated Estate
You need to know if the vehicle’s title is in the individual’s name as a descendant or joint ownership. When the vehicle’s title is only in the descendant’s name, probate becomes the primary factor to consider.
The probate process proves the last will and testament are legitimate. This legal process administers the estate of the deceased individual and occurs when there is no beneficiary or living spouse listed on the will. The Probate Court determines how to proceed with the deceased individual’s belongings.
If the vehicle is part of a probated estate, you need to follow these steps to transfer the vehicle title of a deceased individual:
Contact an Attorney or Probate Court
The administrator or executor of the deceased needs to contact an attorney or Probate Court immediately to receive further instructions on how to proceed with the probate process. Keep in mind, a vehicle’s title can’t be transferred until the probate process is finished. When the probate process is complete, the heir will receive the vehicle. If the executor was given the vehicle, they can choose to sell it.
Gather the Required Documents
In the state of Missouri, you are required to have all the following documentation to transfer a vehicle title in a probated estate:
- Certificate of title
- Transfer fee
- Order from Probate Court to transfer the vehicle
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Death certificate
You need to make sure you have ALL of these documents if you want to successfully transfer the title of a vehicle in a probated estate in Missouri.
Visit the Title Office
If you are the administrator of the deceased individual’s estate or the beneficiary of the vehicle, you can visit your local MO title office with the above-listed documents and initiate the Missouri vehicle title transfer process.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title Without Probate in Missouri
In Missouri, a certain amount of time needs to have passed since the person passed away and their property can’t exceed a certain amount. If you are the joint-owner, administrator, spouse, or beneficiary, you may only be required to provide the death certificate and the vehicle’s title at your local MO title office for them to retitle the vehicle. In this scenario, court orders and attorneys are not required.
Transferring the Title of an Inherited Vehicle in MO
If you inherit a vehicle, and a beneficiary is not designated, you need to submit the following documentation and payment at your local MO licensing office:
- Completed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form DOR-108)
- The vehicle title in the deceased individual’s name signed over to you by the administrator or executor of the estate (if the vehicle’s title is destroyed or missing, the administrator or executor is required to apply for a duplicate vehicle title in the name of the estate
- Original or certified copies of the following:
- Letters of Administration Letters Testamentary or Small Estate Certificate/Affidavit
- Payment for all applicable vehicle title, registration, taxes, and processing fees. (if the deceased individual paid all the taxes on the vehicle, the executor of the will is allowed to gift the vehicle to someone, so the beneficiary will not owe any taxes)
If you choose to mail in the application, you can send the vehicle title paperwork by mail to the following address:
Missouri Department of Revenue
Motor Vehicle Bureau
301 West High Street P.O. Box 100
Jefferson City, MO 65105
Transferring a Vehicle Title After a Lease Buyout
You’ve paid off your vehicle loan! Now you need to get the vehicle title transferred in your name from the lien holder. In the state of Missouri, you can transfer the title of the vehicle by submitting the Notice of Lien, Lien Release, or Authorization to Add/Remove Name From Title (Form DOR-4809) at your local MO DOR office. You also need to pay all applicable fees.
If your lien holder neglects to use the lien release form provided above, you must get a notarized statement using the lien holder’s letterhead showing you are released from the lien on the vehicle.
How to Transfer Ownership of a Vehicle Without a Title in Missouri?
If the vehicle’s seller loses the vehicle’s title, they are required to apply for a duplicate vehicle title. You can’t transfer the title of a vehicle without having the title, whether it’s a duplicate vehicle title or the original vehicle title.
You can download the Application for Duplicate Title/Registration Receipt (Form 2519), fill out the form, then sign it. If you are submitting this form in person, make sure you have $12 to pay the fee and receive your replacement title.
If you choose to mail the completed duplicate vehicle title form, include a check for $12 to cover the replacement fee and mail it to the address that is listed on the reverse side of the application.
Can I Gift a Car to a Family Member?
Yes, you can gift a vehicle to a family member if you decide. If you are gifting your vehicle, you need to obtain the following paperwork:
- A completed vehicle title signed over to the new vehicle owner (in the sale price” section of the vehicle title, write “GIFT”
- A current safety and/or emissions inspection certificate (if applicable)
- A completed General Affidavit (Form 768) OR a written statement showing the vehicle is a gift
- A notarized Notice of Lien, Lien Release, or Authorization to Add/Remove Name From Title (Form DOR-4809) if the vehicle has a lien
You need to remove the license plates before you gift the vehicle to its new owner. Once you give the vehicle away, you are required to report the vehicle title transfer to the Department of Revenue within 30 days by completing a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957), and submitting it at your local DOR licensing office.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle That Was Given As a Gift
If you have been gifted a vehicle, you need to visit your local MO licensing office with the above-stated paperwork you received for the seller, in addition to the following:
- A signed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form DOR-108)
- Proof of a valid MO vehicle insurance policy
- Proof of a passed VIN inspection and odometer inspection (if the vehicle was transferred from out of state)
Although you will not be charged any local or state taxes, you should, however, be prepared to pay all applicable titling and license plate fees.
Transferring a Vehicle Title When You Have an Out-of-State Title
If your vehicle has an out-of-state vehicle title, you need to initiate a cross-state vehicle title transfer whether you brought a vehicle in the state as a new resident or as an in-state buyer who purchased a non-resident vehicle.
Be advised that a vehicle title transfer can only occur if the vehicle has already been titled in a different state. As a resident of Missouri, you have 30 days to complete an out-of-state Missouri vehicle title transfer once you establish residency in the state or purchasing an out-of-state vehicle.
When you need to transfer the title of an out-of-state vehicle, there are specific documents you need to submit to your local MO DOR office, such as:
- The out-of-state vehicle title certificate or a registration certificate if the vehicle title is unavailable
- A completed and signed Missouri vehicle title application
- Proof of a valid MO vehicle insurance policy
- A valid safety inspection certificate or an emissions inspection certificate, if required
- A vehicle identification number and odometer reading inspection document
In addition to the above-mentioned out-of-state MO vehicle title transfer paperwork, you may also be required to submit additional documents, but this depends on your unique circumstances.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title in Missouri
If you have lost, damaged, or destroyed your vehicle title, or the title has been stolen, you need to apply for a duplicate Missouri vehicle title. If you have a lien on your vehicle, and you’ve paid it off, you will need to request a duplicate vehicle title.
To receive a duplicate Missouri vehicle title, you need to:
- Submit a completed and notarized Application for Missouri Title and License (Form DOR-108) Check the box on the title application labeled “duplicate”
- Provide a reason(s) you are requesting a duplicate vehicle title (if you are requesting the vehicle title be mailed to an address other than the address listed on the duplicate Missouri vehicle title application, make sure you check the “mail to” box and provide the new address.
- If you can, provide the damaged vehicle title (if applicable) If you have a vehicle title that was destroyed, provide whatever is left of the vehicle title
- Provide a notarized Notice of Lien, Lien Release, or Authorization to Add/Remove Name from Title (Form DOR-4809) if you paid off the lien on your vehicle
- Provide payment for all required vehicle titling fees
You can take the above-listed documents and payments to your local MO DOR licensing office, or mail them to the following address:
Missouri Department of Revenue
Motor Vehicle Bureau
301 West High Street
P.O. Box 100
Jefferson City, MO 65105
How Much Does a Title Transfer Cost in Missouri?
Like many states, there is a standard vehicle titling fee in Missouri. The vehicle registration fees in this state are determined by the horsepower of the vehicle. You are not required to pay the vehicle registration fees at the same time you title your vehicle. However, you are still required to pay the title fee, taxes, and all applicable processing fees.
The fees that are associated with a vehicle title transfer in Missouri are as follows:
- Initial titling fee: $14.50 (this price includes a vehicle title processing fee of $6)
- State tax: 4.2225% of the vehicle’s cost, plus local sales tax (if the vehicle was purchased in a state other than Missouri and you’ve had it less than 90 days, you will pay the difference between the sales tax in the state where you purchased the vehicle and the Missouri state and local taxes.
- Late titling fee: $25 on the 31st day, plus $25 every 30 days thereafter (maximum penalty $200)
Where Can I Go to Transfer a Vehicle Title in Missouri?
There are different DOR locations in Missouri where you can transfer your vehicle’s title.
How to Fill Out the Missouri Title and Title Transfer Forms
You need to ensure all required Missouri vehicle title and Missouri vehicle title transfer forms are filled out completely. Make sure you create a bill of sale that provides information regarding the vehicle, such as, its make, color, model, and year. In addition to the bill of sale, you need to provide the vehicle’s VIN.
If you chose to sale your vehicle instead of gift it, you need to make sure you add the correct sales tax to the vehicle’s total price. In the section of the vehicle title named “transfer of title by seller”, provide an accurate odometer reading. The recipient of the vehicle is required to sign the vehicle title in the provided spaces.
Additional documentation may be required, such as a valid MO vehicle insurance policy that meets or exceeds the coverage limits set by the state of Missouri. Be advised, you may also be required to provide a valid government-issued photo ID. If you don’t have a valid government-issued photo ID, you can use a foreign passport.
My Car Title Was Signed But Never Transferred. What Do I Do?
If you have a car title that was signed but not transferred, this means the vehicle’s owner didn’t register the vehicle in their name and didn’t transfer ownership. An open title is a vehicle title that is not transferred. When a vehicle has an open title, the seller of the vehicle doesn’t possess any legal responsibility.
If the vehicle’s seller loses the vehicle’s title, the title will be temporarily open. If the vehicle title is lost, the seller can apply for a duplicate Missouri vehicle title (Form DOR-108). Make sure you check the “duplicate” option on the vehicle title. The person who is listed on the vehicle’s title is responsible for applying for the duplicate vehicle title, then signing it over to you to put in your name.