Moving to Missouri: Your Checklist for Title, Plates, License, Inspections and Voting

Moving to Missouri starts a 30-day clock on your car. Your driver license has no grace period at all: the state says to apply as soon as you’re a resident [1][2]. Plan for an inspection and a stop at your county assessor too, because Missouri asks for a personal property tax record before it issues plates.

1. Insure the car

Missouri requires owners to carry liability coverage of at least [3]:

• $25,000 for injury or death of one person,
• $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people in one crash,
• $25,000 for property damage.

You’ll need a current insurance card, paper or electronic, to title and register [1].

2. Get your inspection

Every vehicle coming from another state needs a VIN and odometer check, called an ID/OD inspection [1]. A Missouri safety inspection satisfies it [1].

• Safety inspection: required, no more than 60 days old, unless your vehicle is within its first 10 model years and has under 150,000 miles [1].
• Emissions inspection: required, no more than 60 days old, if you live in St. Louis City or Jefferson, St. Charles or St. Louis counties [1].

3. Get your personal property tax paperwork

Missouri won’t issue plates without proof you’re square with the local personal property tax [1]. If you don’t owe personal property tax in your county yet, bring a statement of non-assessment from your county, or the City of St. Louis [1]. If you were already assessed, bring last year’s paid receipt [1].

4. Title and register within 30 days

You have 30 days from the date you become a resident to title the vehicle [1]. Apply at any Missouri license office or by mail [1]. Bring [1]:

• your out-of-state title, or lienholder paperwork if the lender holds it (Form 5834 requests it),
• the ID/OD or safety inspection, and emissions if your area requires it,
• the personal property tax receipt or statement of non-assessment,
• proof of insurance,
• Form 108 if you apply by mail.

You’ll pay a $17.50 title and processing fee, plus registration fees [1].

5. Get your Missouri driver license

The Department of Revenue says to apply for a Missouri license as soon as you establish residency [2]. Commercial license holders must transfer within 30 days [2].

If you surrender a valid license from another state, Missouri waives the written and driving tests. Every applicant still takes the road sign recognition and vision tests [2].

6. Register to vote

You can register in Missouri if you’re a U.S. citizen and a Missouri resident. You can register at 17½ and vote at 18 [4]. Ways to register [4]:

• online through the Secretary of State,
• by mail, using a printed application,
• in person with your local election authority.

The deadline is 5 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday before the election [5]. Mailed forms must be postmarked by that date [4]. When you register, you’ll need to show identification, such as a birth certificate, other proof of citizenship, a Missouri driver license or another form of ID [5].

Quick checklist

• Insure the car at Missouri’s minimums or higher.
• Get the ID/OD or safety inspection, plus emissions in the St. Louis area.
• Get a statement of non-assessment from your county assessor.
• Title and register within 30 days of becoming a resident.
• Get your Missouri driver license as soon as you’re a resident (30 days for a CDL).
• Register to vote by the fourth Wednesday before the next election.