A title is proof that you own your vehicle. Whether you buy a vehicle in Missouri or move here with one, you have 30 days to visit a license office and apply for your title.
Time to apply for a title after buying a vehicle; after that you pay a penalty fee
Handbook p. 77 ↗Title costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Title | $8.50 |
| Processing fee | $9.00 |
| Taxes | All state and local sales taxes due |
Know the rule
You get a receipt when you apply and receive your title in the mail. A title is a very important document: do NOT keep it in your vehicle.
Handbook p. 77 ↗What you need to title a vehicle
| Purchase | You need |
|---|---|
| New, bought in Missouri | Title application and assigned MSO from dealer |
| Used, bought in Missouri | Properly assigned title from the seller |
| New, bought out of state | Dealer invoice or bill of sale, plus assigned MSO |
| Used, bought out of state | Assigned title, or bill of sale + last registration |
Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO)
The document showing a vehicle is new and has never been registered. For a new vehicle, the buyer and dealer complete the odometer disclosure on its back.
Handbook p. 77 ↗Know the rule
A used vehicle bought from a dealer also comes with a completed title application. The bill of sale and last registration apply when the other state doesn't require a title.
Handbook p. 77 ↗Know the rule
If the title assigned to you is from another state, you must get an identification number and odometer (ID/OD) verification form completed by a licensed inspection station.
Handbook p. 77 ↗Know the rule
Odometer disclosure is required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles until the vehicle is twenty years old. Buyer and seller both print and sign their names to verify the mileage.
Handbook p. 78 ↗A properly assigned title shows:
- Buyer's name and address
- Odometer reading, if applicable
- Sale price of the vehicle
- Date of the sale
- Name of any lienholder, if applicable
- Signature and printed name of all sellers
- Buyer's printed name and signature, if applicable
Put it into practice
You buy a used 2019 car from a private seller in Missouri. Get a properly assigned title with the mileage, price, date and signatures filled in, then apply for your title at a license office within 30 days to avoid a penalty.