How to register a car in Missouri

Registering a car in Missouri

If you’re new to the beautiful state of Missouri or if you just purchased a car in the state, don’t forget to have your vehicle registered with the Department of Revenue. It’s legally required and you can save yourself from penalty fees for late filing by doing it as soon as possible. 

Registering your car isn’t a difficult process, but it can ruin your day if you go in unprepared, so here are the basics on how to register a car in Missouri.

New and Current Missouri Residents

If you’re moving to Missouri or have already moved, you’ll want to get your car registered as soon as possible. You have 30 days from your move date to get your vehicle registered—if you attempt to register on the 31st day, you’ll incur a $25 late penalty. Beyond that, an additional $25 will be added for every 30 days after that, so make sure you get there with the original 30-day limit.

For current residents, safety inspections are not required if you vehicle is less than 10-years old or if it has less than 150,000 miles at the time of registration or renewal. For vehicles that aren’t exempt by that rule, inspections are required every other year—on odd or even years based on the vehicles model year.

Any vehicle that isn’t exempt by the above guidelines is required by law to pass a vehicle safety inspection to be legally registered in Missouri. In other words, if your car requires a safety inspection, make sure to have it done before attempting to complete your registration, or you’ll have to leave and come back when you have all the necessary paperwork. 

The Certificate of Inspection and Approval will be given to you by an authorized Missouri inspection station if/when your vehicle passes, and it’s good for 60 days from the inspection date. If a vehicle is purchased from a dealer in Missouri, the certificate is valid for 90 days from the inspection date.

Purchasing a new or used car, whether through a private sale or from a dealership, is an exciting experience, and regardless of whether you’ve just purchased a car in Missouri or if you’ve just moved to the state and need to register your vehicle(s), here’s a quick list of what you’ll need:

• Find the closest Department of Revenue office
• Have your title, lien paperwork, or other proof of ownership
• Proof of insurance
• Have your signed and completed Application for Missouri Title and License form
• VIN (vehicle identification number) and Odometer disclosure form
• Missouri safety inspection forms
• Emissions inspection form (if in Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis counties)
• Statement of non-assessment showing you don’t owe taxes in your county
• Be prepared to pay fees and taxes

All the official Missouri vehicle registration and titling forms as well as associated fees and taxes can be found on the Missouri Department of Revenue site.

Tire Condition for Missouri Safety Inspection

Whether it’s a vehicle you’ve just purchased or you’ve just relocated to you can review the Missouri Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Regulations Manual to be fully prepared.

As far as your tires are concerned, these are the key areas to double-check on your own:

Tire wear: Is the tire tread at or below the wear bars on any part of the tires?

Visible cords: Look for any flat spots, cuts/gashes or other odd wear that could result in exposed cords.

Mismatched tire types: Although it’s best to have the same tire brand and model on all wheels, to pass the safety inspection, they at least need to be the same type of tires.

Road-worthy tires: Tires labeled for farm use, race track use only, or any tire not labeled for highway use won’t pass.

Tire size: Staggered tires (wider on one axle than the other) are fine, but height differences of more than 1/2” are unacceptable.

If your current tires don’t meet the above guidelines or fail the Missouri safety inspection, contact Zohr online or call/text us at 816-800-9175. Our mobile tire technicians can deliver and install new tires quickly so you can meet all your vehicle registration deadlines.