Buying a Vehicle
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.
Obtaining a Temporary Permit
Upon purchase of a newly acquired motor vehicle, trailer, or motorcycle/motortricycle, a Missouri resident may purchase a temporary permit to operate the vehicle when no plates are available for transfer. (Missouri dealers can sell temporary permits to out-of-state residents purchasing motor vehicles, trailers, or motorcycles/motortricycles from their dealership).
- Temporary permits will be issued for a period of up to 30 days from the purchase date.
- Only ONE temporary permit may be purchased per vehicle.
- Temporary permits may not be purchased and are no longer valid once application for title has been made.
- Temporary permits may NOT be purchased for junk or salvage vehicles.
To obtain a temporary permit, please bring the following items with you to your local contract office:
- One of the following ownership documents:
- The Certificate of Title, properly signed over to you (see instructions), or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO);
- Bill of Sale (DOR-1957)
; - Notice of Sale (DOR-5049); or
- A Missouri Application for Title and License (DOR-108) signed by the dealer.
- A safety inspection not more than 60 days old, unless you have an MSO.
You will pay:
- A permit fee of $7.50 plus a $3.50 processing fee.
The temporary permit must be placed on the inside, lower left, rear glass of the motor vehicle. For trailers and motorcycles/motortricycles, the applicant must carry the permit while the vehicle is in operation.
Transferring License Plates
You may only transfer license plates from a passenger vehicle to a passenger vehicle or a truck to a truck.
If you are TRANSFERRING license plates from your old vehicle to your new vehicle, please bring the following items with you to your local contract office:
- The Certificate of Title, properly signed over to you (see instructions), or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO);
- A signed Application for Missouri Title and License (DOR-108);
- A safety inspection not more than 60 days old, if applicable unless you have an MSO;
- Proof of insurance, such as an insurance card; and
- An emissions inspection not more than 60 days old, if you reside in St. Louis City or the following counties: Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis unless you have an MSO.
You will pay:
- State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus your local sales tax on the purchase
price, less trade-in allowance, if any. Local
sales tax is the rate where you live, not where you bought the vehicle;
- $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;
- $2.50 title processing fee; and
- $3.50 registration processing fee.
Estimate your taxes & fees:
Buying New License Plates
If you are purchasing NEW license plates for your vehicle, you will need to bring the following items to your local contract office:
- The Certificate of Title, properly signed over to you, or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO);
- A signed Application for Missouri Title and License (DOR-108);
- An original 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.
- A safety inspection not more than 60 days old, if applicable unless you have an MSO;
- Proof of insurance, such as an insurance card; and
- An emissions inspection not more than 60 days old, if you reside in St. Louis City or the following counties: Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis unless you have an MSO.
You Will Pay:
- State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus your local sales tax on the purchase
price, less trade-in allowance, if any. Local
sales tax is the rate where you live, not where you bought the vehicle;
- $8.50 title fee;
- Registration (license plate) fees, based on either taxable horsepower or vehicle weight;
- $2.50 title processing fee; and
- $3.50 registration processing fee for a one year registration or $7.00 registration processing fee for a two year registration.
Estimate your taxes & fees:
How Do I Pay?
Payment may be made by cash or money order at Department of Revenue contract offices. Personal checks, debit cards and Discover cards are accepted at some contract offices. Please contact your local office for payment options.
The department's Central Office accepts cash, money order, personal check, debit card, and Discover card. 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.