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The bottom line: Missouri requires a bill of sale (Form 1957) for most private car sales, and you must file a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) within 30 days of the sale.
You sign over the title, hand over the bill of sale, and remove your plates before the buyer drives away. The buyer handles registration, taxes, and titling after that.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Missouri doesn’t require it. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $8.50. Download Form 108 from the Missouri DOR website and submit it in person at your local license office.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to complete title transfer and registration, after which late penalties start at $25.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Notice of sale: Missouri requires you to file Form 5049 within 30 days of the sale to remove your liability for the vehicle.
- Bill of sale: Required for most private sales in Missouri. Use the official Form 1957 from the Missouri Department of Revenue.
- Emissions testing: Only required in St. Louis City and St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties. The rest of Missouri is exempt.
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Step-by-Step Process for Missouri
Step 1: Prepare Your Missouri Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Missouri driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form 108 and submit it to your local Missouri license office with your ID and $8.50. Most offices process duplicate titles the same day.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. Contact them to request a lien release letter or arrange payoff at closing. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Missouri, especially in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states.
Missouri’s strong truck and SUV market means older and rural-spec vehicles sell well across the state, and no emissions requirement outside the St. Louis area makes older cars easier to move. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Missouri Title Transfer
The assignment section is on the back of your Missouri title. Fill it out completely and carefully. Any mistake, correction, or white-out voids the title, and you’ll need to apply for a duplicate.
What to fill in:
- Buyer’s full legal name and address
- Date of sale and purchase price
- Current odometer reading
- Your signature (in blue or black ink only)
Use blue or black ink only. Don’t use pencil, white-out, or correction tape anywhere on the title.
Joint ownership: If the title shows “AND” between two owners, both must sign. If it shows “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
Buyer’s deadline: The buyer has 30 days from the sale date to complete title transfer and registration at a Missouri license office. After 30 days, late fees start at $25 and increase by $25 every 30 days up to a $200 maximum.
Safety inspection note: Missouri buyers need a current safety inspection certificate to register the vehicle. The inspection must come from a licensed Missouri inspection station. This is the buyer’s responsibility, but knowing this can help you set expectations during the sale.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
Missouri requires a bill of sale for most private vehicle sales. The state form (Form 1957) is required for vehicles under 10 years old or under 16,000 lbs., which covers nearly all passenger cars and light trucks.
The bill of sale doesn’t need to be notarized. Use the official state form. Form 1957 (Missouri Bill of Sale)
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Missouri License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Missouri, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer them to another vehicle you own, or destroy and recycle them. There are no cash refunds for unexpired registration periods.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Notice of Sale
Download and submit Form 5049 (Notice of Sale) to the Missouri Department of Revenue after you sell the car. You must do this within 30 days of the sale date.
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. It protects you from tickets, tolls, or violations the new owner might incur after the sale.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Missouri DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau
- Find a Missouri License Office Near You
- License Plates and Registration Information
Phone Support:
- Motor Vehicle Bureau: (573) 526-3669
Missouri Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $8.50 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Emissions test (St. Louis area only) | ~$24 | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Missouri Seller Tips
Get the safety inspection done before you list. A Missouri safety inspection is valid for 60 days. If yours is current at the time of sale, the buyer can go straight to the license office without scheduling their own test first. That’s a real selling point, and it removes a common reason buyers walk away.
No conjunction on the title still means both owners must sign. The article covers “and” vs. “or,” but if the title has no conjunction at all between two names, Missouri defaults to “and.” Both owners need to be present to sign.
Gifting a car to a family member needs one extra form. You still need a bill of sale, but also include Form 768 (Affidavit of Relationship). Without it, the recipient pays sales tax on the vehicle’s full value. That’s a cost you can easily help them avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 30 days from the purchase date to complete title and registration at a Missouri license office. If the 30th day falls on a weekend or state holiday, they have until the next business day.
After 30 days, late fees start at $25 and increase by $25 every 30 days, up to a $200 maximum. Make sure your buyer knows this deadline before they drive away.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Missouri?
No, Missouri doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary.
When is a bill of sale required in Missouri?
Missouri requires a bill of sale for private vehicle sales involving cars under 10 years old or under 16,000 lbs. This covers virtually all standard passenger cars and light trucks.
The bill of sale doesn’t need to be notarized for a regular titled vehicle. Use Form 1957 from the Missouri DOR, or use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Missouri?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender. In Missouri, the lender can either send you a lien release letter to attach to the title, or they can release their interest electronically if they participate in Missouri’s Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system. Either way, the lien must be cleared before you can sign the title over.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional Missouri forms do I need?
If the estate went through probate, you’ll need a court order or letters testamentary showing you have authority to transfer the vehicle. If it’s a small estate that skipped formal probate, Missouri allows an Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate for qualifying estates. Either document goes to the license office along with the original title.
Both my spouse and I are on the Missouri title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title is worded. If it shows “AND” between your names, both of you must sign. If it shows “OR,” either one of you can sign the title alone to complete the sale.
What if I make a mistake on the Missouri title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any correction voids the title. You’ll need to apply for a duplicate using Form 108, which costs $8.50, and start fresh with the corrected information.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Missouri require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. Sign over the title, complete Form 1957, and file Form 5049 within 30 days just as you would for any in-state sale.
The buyer may need a VIN inspection in their home state before they can register the car. That’s their responsibility, not yours.
Do Missouri license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Missouri license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer leaves. You can transfer them to another vehicle you own or destroy them. The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Does Missouri require emissions testing when selling a car?
Only if the vehicle is located in one of four areas: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, or Jefferson County. If you live anywhere else in Missouri, no emissions test is required.
If you’re in one of those areas, find a testing and inspection station near you to get your certificate before completing the sale.
Do I need to file a notice of sale after selling my car in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri requires you to submit Form 5049 (Notice of Sale) within 30 days of the sale. You can download the form at the Missouri DOR website, mail it in, or drop it off at any license office.
This filing removes your name from the vehicle’s ownership record and protects you from any liability after the sale is complete.
Article Update History
The fees, forms, and filing deadlines in this article reflect Missouri's current Department of Revenue requirements.
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