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The bottom line: To sell a car in Missouri, you need the certificate of title in your name, a bill of sale (Form 1957), and a Notice of Sale (Form 5049 (Notice of Sale)) filed within 30 days. Title notarization is not required; the bill of sale is required.
Sign the title assignment section over to the buyer, complete Form 1957, and hand over copies. Plates stay with the seller, so remove them before the buyer drives away.
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Missouri at a glance
- Title: yes.
- Title notarization: The title assignment on the back of the Missouri title does not require notarization; sign in blue or black ink exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $8.50 title fee plus a $9 processing fee. Complete Form 108 and submit it in person at your local license office.
- License plates: Plates stay with the seller. After the sale, you can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy and recycle them.
- Notice of sale: Missouri requires you to file Form 5049 (Notice of Sale) within 30 days to remove your liability for the vehicle. Penalty for not filing: an infraction with a fine of up to $200; a class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $300 if the sale went unreported to help the buyer avoid titling, registration fees or other fraud.
- Bill of sale: required in Missouri (notarization: not required). Use the official Form 1957 from the Missouri Department of Revenue. Note: required for vehicles less than 10 model years old or weighing less than 16,000 lbs.
- Safety inspection: required (needed to title the vehicle). Missouri safety inspection certificate not more than 60 days old (or 90 days old if newly purchased from a Missouri dealer) required to apply for title; new motor vehicles, trailers, and ATVs are exempt.
- Emissions testing: Required to sell: yes, for cars registered in St. Louis City or St. Louis, St. Charles or Jefferson County; gas vehicles model year 1996 and newer and diesel vehicles 1997 and newer, 8,500 lbs GVWR or less; the seller gives the buyer a passing certificate or waiver, valid for registration for 60 days.
- Gifting a car: Missouri uses Form 768, General Affidavit, or a written gift statement, with GIFT entered in the sale price area of the title for the gift exemption from sales tax. Process: Write GIFT in the sale price area of the title. Writing $1 instead converts it to a taxable sale. Plates do not go with the vehicle.
- Inherited vehicle: Use Form 108 (Application for Missouri Title and License) plus probate documentation (Letters Testamentary, Small Estate Certificate, or Form 2305 for surviving spouse or minor children). Estate threshold: $40,000 limit for the small estate affidavit process; estates over $40,000 require formal probate.
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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 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. To apply: complete Form 108, have it notarized, and submit in person at any Missouri license office or by mail to the Motor Vehicle Bureau, P.O. Box 100, Jefferson City, MO 65105-0100. The fee is $8.50 title fee plus a $9 processing fee. Processing time: 3 to 5 business days when submitted in person at a license office; up to 6 weeks for mail-in applications.
If you don’t have a title:
Missouri usually requires a title to sell a car, but the law has two exceptions, both for older cars.
The first: if your car is at least ten years old and inoperable, a scrap metal operator can buy it without a title. That’s Revised Statute 301.227, subsection 9. Inoperable means the car is rusted, wrecked, or worn out and only good for scrap.
The buyer verifies the car has no lien. You sign a bill of sale and hand over a copy of your state ID. They file the rest.
The second exception, under subsection 2, covers cars twenty six years or older. It works even if the car runs. You apply with Form 108 marked as junk, plus a bill of sale and a Highway Patrol letter confirming the car isn’t stolen.
To see how much you can get for a junk car without a title, use the Sell Car Advisor comparison tool. In step four, mark that you don’t have a title. You’ll get offers from buyers who accept untitled junk cars.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. In Missouri, the lender provides a notarized Lien Release (Form DOR-4809) once the loan is satisfied; submit it with the title to issue a new title without the lien. 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.
Best for Newer Cars
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Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Automated assistant — general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
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)
Odometer disclosure: none; odometer disclosure is built into the title assignment on the back of the Missouri 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 date of sale to complete title transfer and registration at a Missouri license office. After that, $25 title penalty for each 30 days of delinquency, not to exceed $200 total.
Safety inspection: required (needed to title the vehicle). Missouri safety inspection certificate not more than 60 days old (or 90 days old if newly purchased from a Missouri dealer) required to apply for title; new motor vehicles, trailers, and ATVs are exempt. The inspection is the buyer’s responsibility at titling, so the seller doesn’t legally need one to sell. Some sellers get it done first as a courtesy; others leave it to the buyer. Either way, set expectations during the sale.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
A bill of sale is required in Missouri for most private vehicle sales. The state form is Form 1957, and it’s required for vehicles less than 10 model years old or weighing less than 16,000 lbs, which covers nearly all passenger cars and light trucks.
Notarization: not required. Both seller and buyer sign and keep a copy.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Missouri License Plates and Registration
In Missouri, plates stay with the seller, not with the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
After the sale, you can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy and recycle them. Plate transfer: $2 plate transfer fee (additional fees may apply for upgraded plates or different vehicle class). 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
Submit Form 5049 (Notice of Sale) to the Missouri Department of Revenue after you sell the car. Filing deadline: 30 days. To file: Complete Form 5049, or the tear-off Notice of Sale printed on newer Missouri titles, and mail it to the Motor Vehicle Bureau, P.O. Box 3050, Jefferson City, MO 65105-3050; a completed Bill of Sale (Form 1957) is accepted in its place. No notice is needed for a car that already has a salvage title or junking certificate.
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. Penalty for not filing: an infraction with a fine of up to $200; a class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $300 if the sale went unreported to help the buyer avoid titling, registration fees or other fraud.
Does plate surrender release liability? no; returning plates does not formally release liability, you must also file Form 5049.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance last, after the title, the plates, and any state filing are done. You don’t wait for the buyer to register the car, because every step that releases you is one you’ve already done.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Missouri Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
Missouri DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau
- Find a Missouri License Office Near You
- Selling a Vehicle in Missouri
Phone Support:
- Motor Vehicle Bureau: (573) 526-3669
Missouri Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $8.50 title fee plus a $9 processing fee | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Emissions test (St. Louis area only) | approximately $24 (set by individual stations) | Before sale |
| Safety inspection | $12 state inspection fee (additional station service fees may apply) | Before sale |
| Plate transfer (if keeping plates) | $2 plate transfer fee (additional fees may apply for upgraded plates or different vehicle class) | When registering next car |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Missouri Seller Tips
Get the safety inspection done before you list. Validity period: 60 days from the inspection date. 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. Missouri uses Form 768, General Affidavit, or a written gift statement, with GIFT entered in the sale price area of the title for the gift exemption from sales tax. Process: Write GIFT in the sale price area of the title. Writing $1 instead converts it to a taxable sale. Plates do not go with the vehicle. Without it, the recipient pays sales tax on the vehicle’s full value.
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 date of sale 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 that, $25 title penalty for each 30 days of delinquency, not to exceed $200 total. 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?
When is a bill of sale required in Missouri?
A bill of sale is required in Missouri. Note: required for vehicles less than 10 model years old or weighing less than 16,000 lbs. This covers virtually all standard passenger cars and light trucks.
Notarization: not required. Missouri requires the official state form, Form 1957, for the sales-tax-credit and notice-of-sale uses; a generic bill of sale doesn’t substitute.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Missouri?
Yes, but you need to coordinate the lien release with your lender first. In Missouri, the lender provides a notarized Lien Release (Form DOR-4809) once the loan is satisfied; submit it with the title to issue a new title without the lien.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference before the title can be signed over.
My car was inherited. What additional Missouri forms do I need?
Missouri uses Form 108 (Application for Missouri Title and License) plus probate documentation (Letters Testamentary, Small Estate Certificate, or Form 2305 for surviving spouse or minor children). Estate threshold: $40,000 limit for the small estate affidavit process; estates over $40,000 require formal probate.
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 title fee plus a $9 processing fee, 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 (Notice of Sale) 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 the seller. Remove them before the buyer leaves. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy and recycle them.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Does Missouri require emissions testing when selling a car?
Required to sell: yes, for cars registered in St. Louis City or St. Louis, St. Charles or Jefferson County; gas vehicles model year 1996 and newer and diesel vehicles 1997 and newer, 8,500 lbs GVWR or less; the seller gives the buyer a passing certificate or waiver, valid for registration for 60 days.
If you’re in one of those areas, find a testing and inspection station near you to get your certificate before completing the sale. Cost: approximately $24 (set by individual stations).
Do I need to file a notice of sale after selling my car in Missouri?
Missouri requires you to submit Form 5049 (Notice of Sale) within 30 days. To file: Complete Form 5049, or the tear-off Notice of Sale printed on newer Missouri titles, and mail it to the Motor Vehicle Bureau, P.O. Box 3050, Jefferson City, MO 65105-3050; a completed Bill of Sale (Form 1957) is accepted in its place. No notice is needed for a car that already has a salvage title or junking certificate.
This filing removes your name from the vehicle’s ownership record and protects you from any liability after the sale is complete. Penalty for not filing: an infraction with a fine of up to $200; a class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $300 if the sale went unreported to help the buyer avoid titling, registration fees or other fraud.
Article Update History
The fees, forms, and filing deadlines in this article reflect Missouri's current Department of Revenue requirements.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"Form 1957" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form 5049 (Notice of Sale)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"30 days" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"not required" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"with the seller" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"yes" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"$8.50 title fee plus a $9 processing fee" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form 108" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Safety Inspection Required to Sell?
"required (needed to title the vehicle)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Emissions Test Validity Period
"60 days from the inspection date" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Estate Value Threshold
"$40,000 limit for the small estate affidavit process; estates over $40,000 require formal probate" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"the lender provides a notarized Lien Release (Form DOR-4809) once the loan is satisfied; submit it with the title to issue a new title without the lien" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"required" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"$12 state inspection fee (additional station service fees may apply)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
"approximately $24 (set by individual stations)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Emissions Testing Required to Sell?
"yes, for cars registered in St. Louis City or St. Louis, St. Charles or Jefferson County" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
