In Missouri, temporary license plates can be obtained from the dealer you purchased your vehicle from or by presenting the appropriate paperwork at any Missouri license office.
Missouri
has had an ongoing problem with drivers zipping around with expired temporary license plates. Due to a unique Missouri tax law, many Missourians have been blindsided by large fees when they try to permanently register their newly-acquired vehicle. Rather than paying those fees, drivers have often chosen to keep driving with expired tags.While the law has changed, the issue persists. Here to unpack Missouri’s strange registration law is licensed broker
and #1-rated car insurance comparison app, Jerry
. In this article, we’ll look at how to get temporary tags in Missouri, how much they cost, and what kind of paperwork you need to get them. Does Missouri issue temporary plates?
Yes, Missouri does issue temporary license plates. These temporary tags are issued to allow car buyers time to complete their vehicle’s permanent registration or to allow unregistered vehicles to be driven to things like safety inspections. Temporary license plates in Missouri are valid for 30 days.
You can get temporary tags from the dealer you bought your car from or you can get one yourself at any Missouri license office.
What’s the problem with temporary Missouri license plates?
Missouri has had major problems with motorists driving with expired license plates. The reason is that, until recently, car buyers who purchased a vehicle were also required to pay the sales tax on their purchase when they registered their vehicle. Blindsided by the unexpected fee, many drivers chose to simply continue driving with their expired temporary plates rather than pay potentially thousands of dollars to have the vehicle properly registered.
A new law now allows car buyers to pay tax at the point of purchase, but there are still many drivers out there avoiding the tax bill they amassed under the old system.
In order to register a vehicle in Missouri under the old system, motorists were required to pay:
$6 registration processing fee
State and local taxes on the vehicle purchase
So, if you had purchased a vehicle for $20,000 in St. Louis, you would pay 4.225% state tax and 7.773% local tax for a total of $2,397.60 on top of the above-mentioned $20.50 for title and processing fees. That’s a pretty hefty chunk of change, and many Missouri drivers choose to risk the $200 fine for driving with an expired temporary plate instead of paying thousands for proper registration.
How to get a temporary license plate in Missouri
Temporary license plates can be issued by your dealer, but you can also get them yourself at any Missouri license office. If you plan on getting temporary tags on your own, you’ll need to bring along the following paperwork:
Proof of ownership. This can be a properly signed-over Certificate of Title, a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, a Bill of Sale, a Notice of Sale, or a Missouri Application for Title and License signed by the dealer.
A safety inspection. This inspection should be no more than 60 days old. Vehicles that are less than 11 years old with less than 150,000 miles are exempt. Out-of-state buyers are also exempt from this step.
Proof of insurance. You’ll need to provide a valid insurance identification card or other proof of financial responsibility.
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Start earning nowTemporary registration permits in Missouri
Temporary registration typically lasts for 30 days in Missouri, but under certain circumstances, qualified dealers can issue 60 or 90-day temporary registrations.
Temporary permits cost only $5, with an additional $6 processing fee if you obtain it from a license office instead of a dealer.
Can I drive a car without plates if I just bought it in Missouri?
No. In order to legally drive your vehicle in Missouri, you must display a license plate, whether permanent or temporary. There is no set penalty for failure to display your license, and anyone found guilty may pay a fine between $5 and $500.
If you’ve just purchased a vehicle, you can drive it immediately with a temporary license plate. That plate is only valid for 30 days, and in that time you are required to register your vehicle and display proper Missouri license plates. If you do not register your vehicle in that timeframe, you will be fined $25 on day 31.
How to find affordable car insurance in Missouri
Buying a new car comes with a lot of hidden costs, from registration fees, taxes, and safety inspections, all the way down to buying car insurance
. If you want the best rates on car insurance in Missouri, just download the Jerry
app. Jerry is a licensed broker and car insurance comparison app. All you have to do is enter your information and Jerry gets right to work comparing your current insurance policy with quotes from over 55 top insurance providers. Jerry shows you the best quotes available to you, and you can even switch policies right in the app.
Jerry has helped over 2 million customers, and the average Jerry user saves over $800 per year on car insurance.
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saved me over $2000 on car insurance. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.” —Osvaldo B.
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