When someone sells or gives away a car or trailer, the license plates do not go with it — the seller takes the plates off. The buyer can use plates from a car they traded in on the new car for up to 30 days. A buyer who has no plates to transfer can get a temporary paper permit for up to 30 days (or longer in some dealer situations) for no more than five dollars, which goes on the back of the vehicle. Plates can also be moved from one car to another that the same person owns, sometimes with a small two-dollar transfer fee.
301.140. s on or sale of vehicles — use by purchaser — — use of plates — s, fees — , when — additional temporary may be purchased, when — vehicles, temporary permits — . — 1. Upon the of any motor vehicle or trailer, the and the right to use the shall expire and the number plates shall be removed by the owner at the time of the transfer of , and it shall be for any person other than the person to whom such number plates were originally d to have the same in his or her possession whether in use or not, unless such possession is solely for charitable purposes; except that the buyer of a motor vehicle or trailer who trades in a motor vehicle or trailer may attach the license plates from the traded-in motor vehicle or trailer to the newly purchased motor vehicle or trailer. The operation of a motor vehicle with such transferred plates shall be lawful for no more than thirty days, or no more than ninety days if the dealer is selling the motor vehicle under the of section 301.213, or no more than sixty days if the dealer is selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of 5 of section 301.210. As used in this subsection, the term "trade-in motor vehicle or trailer" shall include any single motor vehicle or trailer sold by the buyer of the newly purchased vehicle or trailer, as long as the license plates for the trade-in motor vehicle or trailer are valid.
2. In the case of a transfer of ownership the original owner may another motor vehicle under the same number, upon the payment of a fee of two dollars, if the motor vehicle is of horsepower, or (in the case of a passenger-carrying ) , not in excess of that originally . When such motor vehicle is of greater horsepower, gross weight or (in the case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, for which a greater fee is prescribed, the shall pay a transfer fee of two dollars and a portion for the difference in fees. When such vehicle is of less horsepower, gross weight or (in case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, for which a lesser fee is prescribed, the applicant shall not be end to a re.
3. License plates may be transferred from a motor vehicle which no longer be operated to a newly purchased motor vehicle by the owner of such vehicles. The owner shall pay a transfer fee of two dollars if the newly purchased vehicle is of horsepower, gross weight or (in the case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, not in excess of that of the vehicle which will no longer be operated. When the newly purchased motor vehicle is of greater horsepower, gross weight or (in the case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, for which a greater fee is prescribed, the applicant shall pay a transfer fee of two dollars and a pro rata portion of the difference in fees. When the newly purchased vehicle is of less horsepower, gross weight or (in the case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, for which a lesser fee is prescribed, the applicant shall not be entitled to a refund.
4. (1) The shall have to produce or allow others to produce a weather resistant, nontearing temporary permit authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle or trailer by a buyer for not more than thirty days, or no more than sixty days if issued by a dealer selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of subsection 5 of section 301.210, from the date of purchase. The temporary permit under this section may be purchased by the purchaser of a motor vehicle or trailer from the central office of the or from an of the department of revenue upon of all applicable taxes under chapter 144, upon of purchase of a motor vehicle or trailer for which the buyer has no plate available for transfer and upon , or from a upon purchase of a motor vehicle or trailer for which the buyer has no registration plate available for transfer, or from a motor vehicle dealer upon purchase of a motor vehicle or trailer for which the buyer has registered and is awaiting receipt of . The director of the department of revenue or a producer authorized by the director of the department of revenue may make temporary permits available to registered dealers in this state, authorized agents of the department of revenue or the department of revenue. The price paid by a motor vehicle dealer, an authorized agent of the department of revenue or the department of revenue for a temporary permit shall not exceed five dollars for each . The director of the department of revenue shall direct motor vehicle dealers and authorized agents to obtain temporary permits from an authorized producer. Amounts received by the director of the department of revenue for temporary permits shall constitute state revenue; however, amounts received by an authorized producer other than the director of the department of revenue shall not constitute state revenue and any amounts received by motor vehicle dealers or authorized agents for temporary permits purchased from a producer other than the director of the department of revenue shall not constitute state revenue. In no event shall revenues from the or any other state fund be utilized to compensate motor vehicle dealers or other producers for their role in producing temporary permits as authorized under this section. Amounts that do not constitute state revenue under this section shall also not constitute fees for registration or to be collected by the director of the department of revenue under section 301.190. No motor vehicle dealer, authorized agent or the department of revenue shall charge more than five dollars for each permit issued. The permit shall be valid for a period of thirty days, or no more than ninety days if issued by a dealer selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of section 301.213, or no more than sixty days if issued by a dealer selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of subsection 5 of section 301.210, from the date of purchase of a motor vehicle or trailer, or from the date of sale of the motor vehicle or trailer by a motor vehicle dealer for which the purchaser obtains a permit as set out above. No permit shall be issued for a vehicle under this section unless the buyer shows proof of financial responsibility. Each temporary permit issued shall be securely fastened to the back or rear of the motor vehicle in a manner and place on the motor vehicle consistent with registration plates so that all parts and qualities of the temporary permit thereof shall be plainly and clearly visible, reasonably clean and are not impaired in any way.
(2) The provisions of (1) of this subsection requiring satisfaction of all applicable taxes under chapter 144 shall become effective only upon notification by the director of the department of revenue that implementation of such requirements are technologically feasible following the development and of a modernized, integrated system for the of vehicles, the and renewal of vehicle registrations, the issuance and renewal of drivers' s and identification cards, and the on vehicles.
5. The permit shall be issued on a form prescribed by the director of the department of revenue and issued only for the applicant's temporary operation of the motor vehicle or trailer purchased to enable the applicant to temporarily operate the motor vehicle while proper title and registration plates are being obtained, or while awaiting receipt of registration plates, and shall be displayed on no other motor vehicle. Temporary permits issued this section shall not be or renewable, shall not be valid upon issuance of proper registration plates for the motor vehicle or trailer, and shall be ed to the or to the department's upon the issuance of such proper registration plates. Any temporary permit returned to the department or to the department's agent shall be immediately destroyed. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to temporary permits issued for commercial motor vehicles licensed in excess of twenty-four thousand gross weight. The director of the department of revenue shall determine the size, , design, numbering , , and color of the permit. The director of the department of revenue, at his or her , shall have the authority to reissue, and thereby extend the use of, a temporary permit previously and legally issued for a motor vehicle or trailer while proper title and registration are being obtained.
6. Every motor vehicle dealer that issues temporary permits shall keep, for inspection by proper officers, an accurate of each permit issued by the permit number, the motor vehicle dealer's number, buyer's name and address, the motor vehicle's year, make, and , and the permit's date of issuance and expiration date. Upon the issuance of a temporary permit by either the central office of the department of revenue, a motor vehicle dealer or an authorized agent of the department of revenue, the director of the department of revenue shall make the associated with the issued temporary permit immediately available to the law community of the state of Missouri.
7. Upon the transfer of ownership of any currently registered motor vehicle wherein the owner cannot transfer the license plates due to a change of motor vehicle category, the owner may surrender the license plates issued to the motor vehicle and receive credit for any unused portion of the original against the registration fee of another motor vehicle. Such credit shall be ed based upon the date the license plates are surrendered. No refunds shall be made on the unused portion of any license plates surrendered for such credit.
8. An additional temporary license plate produced in a manner and of materials determined by the to be the most cost-effective means of production with a configuration that matches an existing or newly issued plate may be purchased by a motor vehicle owner to be placed in the interior of the vehicle's rear window such that the driver's view out of the rear window is not obstructed and the is clearly visible from the outside of the vehicle to serve as the visible plate when a bicycle rack or other item obstructs the view of the actual plate. Such temporary plate is only authorized for use when the matching actual plate is to the vehicle in the manner prescribed in subsection 5 of section 301.130. The fee charged for the temporary plate shall be equal to the fee charged for a temporary permit issued under subsection 4 of this section. Replacement temporary plates authorized in this subsection may be issued as needed upon the payment of a fee equal to the fee charged for a temporary permit under subsection 4 of this section. The newly produced third plate may only be used on the vehicle with the matching plate, and the additional plate shall be clearly recognizable as a third plate and only used for the purpose specified in this subsection.
9. the provisions of section 301.217, the director may issue a temporary permit to an individual who possesses a which requires an inspection under subsection 9 of section 301.190. The operation of a salvage motor vehicle for which the permit has been issued shall be limited to the most direct route from the residence, maintenance, or storage facility of the individual in possession of such motor vehicle to the nearest authorized inspection facility and return to the originating location. Notwithstanding any other requirements for the issuance of a temporary permit under this section, an individual obtaining a temporary permit for the purpose of operating a motor vehicle to and from an examination facility as prescribed in this subsection shall also purchase the required motor vehicle examination form which is required to be completed for an examination under subsection 9 of section 301.190 and provide that such vehicle has passed a motor vehicle safety inspection for such vehicle as required in section 307.350.
10. The director of the department of revenue may all necessary for the of this section. Any or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are and if any of the powers with the pursuant to chapter 536 to , to delay the , or to disapprove and a rule are subsequently held , then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2012, shall be and .
*11. The of this section shall become effective on the date the department of revenue or a producer authorized by the director of the department of revenue begins producing temporary permits described in subsection 4 of such section, or on July 1, 2013, whichever occurs first. If the or a producer authorized by the director of the department of revenue begins producing temporary permits prior to July 1, 2013, the director of the department of revenue shall notify the of such fact.
(RSMo 1939 § 8382, A.L. 1947 V. I p. 380, A.L. 1951 p. 695, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1275, A.L. 1979 H.B. 90, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1153, A.L. 1987 H.B. 605, A.L. 1996 H.B. 991 with S.B. 560, A.L. 1997 H.B. 207, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1300, A.L. 1999 S.B. 19, A.L. 2007 S.B. 82, A.L. 2009 H.B. 683, A.L. 2012 H.B. 1402 merged with S.B. 470 § 301.140 and § C merged with S.B. 568 § 301.140 and § D merged with S.B. 611 § 301.140 and § B, A.L. 2013 S.B. 148, A.L. 2015 S.B. 456, A.L. 2018 S.B. 881, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1963, A.L. 2025 S.B. 28)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 7774; 1919 § 7561
*The effective date was 7-01-13, the Revisor did not receive notification prior to this date.
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