Once you purchase a vehicle, it's important to ensure its registration, title, and tags are up to date. If you’re wondering how to handle Missouri car registration or what you need to renew your tags in Missouri, this guide will walk you through the requirements.
Our team at St. Charles Nissan knows precisely how to register a car in Missouri, and we're here to share our knowledge with all the drivers of St. Charles, St. Louis, O'Fallon, and Saint Peters!
Can You Drive a Car Without a License Plate If You Just Bought It in Missouri?
Under Missouri law, most motor vehicles must have two license plates displayed, one in the front and one in the rear.
If you just bought your car, you’ll need to display a temporary license plate. This plate expires in 30 days, giving you time to secure the permanent plates you need to drive your car in-state.
In Missouri, most reputable car dealers can help you secure a temporary license plate on the spot. All you'll need to do is:
Transferring the plates from your previous vehicle and skipping the temporary plate altogether may also be possible. You'll need some documentation to do this. Luckily, a dealership can help you with a Certificate of Title, a signed Application for Missouri Title and License, and a completed safety inspection. You'll just need to provide proof of insurance.
Once you purchase a car, you'll have 30 days to pay the sales tax and purchase a title. When specific conditions are met, 60—and 90-day temporary tags could be available, extending the time you have to register the vehicle.
If you are unable to register the motor vehicle within 30 days, you will be penalized up to $25, which could increase for every additional 30 days that pass without registration.
The cost of motor vehicle registration in Missouri depends on your vehicle's taxable horsepower. That number is recorded on your title or the Application for Missouri Title and Registration. The most common passenger vehicles fall between 15 and 48 taxable horsepower.
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Taxable Horsepower
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1-Year Fee
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2-Year Fee
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12 to 23 HP
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$21.25
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$42.50
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24 to 35 HP
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$24.25
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$48.50
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36 to 47 HP
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$33.25
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$66.50
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48 to 59 HP
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$39.25
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$78.50 |
Processing fee: $6 for 1-year or $12 for 2-year
This depends on the length of the registration you purchased:
If you renew your tags and title after the expiration date, a $5 penalty may be assessed.
When it’s time to renew your tags, make sure you have the following:
You can renew your Missouri registration online, in person at a local license office, or by mail.
Under Missouri state law, all drivers and owners must maintain some type of motor vehicle insurance to protect themselves and others in the event of a collision. The minimum level of coverage required by all motorists is:
You must show proof of insurance every time you renew your vehicle registration.
When vehicle ownership changes, a safety inspection must be performed before transferring ownership. The inspection is then good for 60 days, starting from the date of inspection.
If there has been no change in ownership, a motor vehicle registration renewal requires an inspection once every two years.
Now that you know the ins and outs of securing a motor vehicle registration in the state of Missouri, you'll be more confident that you're following the law of the land the next time you hit the roads around St. Charles, St. Louis, O'Fallon, and Saint Peters.
Contact our team at St. Charles Nissan when you're ready to learn more!
