Selling or junking a car in Missouri

How do I sign over a car title in Missouri?

Every owner named on the front of the title signs and prints their name in the seller fields on the back, and at least one buyer signs. The seller fills in the buyer's name and address, the sale date, the net price and the odometer reading. If the title shows a lien, the seller gives the buyer a notarized lien release (Form 4809). DOR says the assignment signatures do not need to be notarized. Do not use white-out or erase anything on the title. Odometer: mileage must be disclosed for model year 2011 and newer until the vehicle is 20 years old; if the title has no room, Form 3019 may be needed. Where required, the seller also gives the buyer a safety inspection under 60 days old, plus an emissions inspection under 60 days old if the buyer lives in St. Louis City or Jefferson, St. Charles or St. Louis County. The buyer must title the vehicle within 30 days.

Can I sell or junk a car without a title in Missouri?

A private owner normally needs the title; if it is lost, get a duplicate first. The exception: under RSMo 301.227, a scrap metal operator may buy an inoperable vehicle at least 10 model years old without a title, using Form 5423 (Bill of Sale for Scrap Metal Operators). 'Inoperable' means rusted, wrecked, worn out, dismantled or mechanically inoperative, with its best use as scrap. The seller signs a statement that they have authority to sell, and a copy of their driver license or state ID is attached. For vehicles under 20 model years old, the operator must also check DOR's records for liens. This does not work for vehicles under 10 model years old.

How do I get a duplicate title in Missouri?

Use Form 108, Application for Missouri Title and License, marked 'Duplicate'. The signature must be notarized. Fees are $8.50 for the title plus a $9.00 processing fee. A notarized lien release (Form 4809) is needed if a lien was paid off on or after July 1, 2003. Apply at a license office or by mail to Motor Vehicle Bureau, P.O. Box 100, Jefferson City, MO 65105-0100.

Do I need to file a release of liability in Missouri?

Yes. Private sellers must report the sale to DOR within 30 days using Form 5049 (Notice of Sale), Form 5049A (the tear-off notice on the title) or Form 1957 (Bill of Sale) (RSMo 301.196, 12 CSR 10-23.470). Form 5049 is signed by seller and buyer and mailed to Motor Vehicle Bureau, P.O. Box 3050, Jefferson City, MO 65105-3050. Sales to licensed dealers, out-of-state buyers or insurers, and vehicles with a salvage title or junking certificate, are exempt. Failing to file is an infraction. Gifts must be reported the same way.

What do I do with the plates after selling a car in Missouri?

Plates stay with the seller, who must remove them before the buyer takes the vehicle, whether they are valid or expired. The buyer cannot use or take over the seller's plates. In some cases the seller can transfer the plates, or get registration credit, toward another vehicle at a license office.

What happens to the title when a car is junked or salvaged in Missouri?

A vehicle classed as junk gets a Missouri Junking Certificate instead of a title. Apply on Form 108 marked 'Junk'; no title fee or sales tax is due, only a processing fee. A junking certificate lets the holder possess, transport and transfer the vehicle as parts, scrap or junk. The vehicle can never be titled again unless the first buyer rescinds within 90 days and applies for a salvage title. A seller who has applied for or holds a junking certificate must tell buyers in writing, or the buyer can void the sale. A scrap metal operator who buys from someone without a salvage business license must mark the title 'sold for destruction' or 'destroyed', with the buyer's name and sale date, and send it to DOR within 10 days. Scrap metal operators keep seller records for 3 years.

What can I do about an abandoned vehicle on my property in Missouri?

Per DOR's Abandoned Property Manual (Aug 2025), a property owner can ask police to have an abandoned vehicle towed. Police may authorize the tow after 48 hours, after 4 hours if it is a serious hazard, or right away if it is a safety hazard or blocks use of the property. The property owner can also have it towed once police have been notified and 96 hours have passed. To title an abandoned vehicle left on their land, the landowner looks up the last owner, sends a 30-day certified-mail notice (Form 5227) to the owners and lienholders, then applies on Form 108 with a signed statement (Form 768). An original title also needs a Vehicle Examination Certificate (Form 551) from the Highway Patrol or a St. Louis auto theft unit (RSMo 304.155-304.158).

Official sources

1. Selling a Vehicle - Missouri DOR
2. Missouri Certificate of Title - assignment instructions
3. Form 5687 - Buying a Vehicle guide (rev. 04-2026)
4. Form 5049 - Notice of Sale or Transfer
5. 12 CSR 10-23.470 Notice of Sale
6. Form 108 - Application for Missouri Title and License
7. Form 5423 - Bill of Sale for Scrap Metal Operators
8. Section 11 - Salvage Business Registration and Titling
9. Abandoned Property Manual (Aug 2025)
10. RSMo 301.227

This guide summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau before you sell.