Missouri Vehicle Bill of Sale

Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in Missouri?

Missouri requires every private seller to report the sale of a vehicle to the Department of Revenue (DOR) within 30 days. The seller must submit either a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form DOR-1957) to satisfy this requirement. Failure to file is an infraction, and if the failure was done to help the buyer avoid applying for title or paying fees, it becomes a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $300. The buyer also needs proof of the purchase price to complete the title transfer, so providing a bill of sale is standard practice.

Does a Missouri bill of sale need to be notarized?

No — not for a standard private-party sale. The bill of sale does not need to be notarized for routine title transfers. Notarization is required only in narrow situations: when the bill of sale is being used to prove ownership of major component parts of a rebuilt vehicle, or when specifically requested by the DOR. The title assignment also does not require notarization for standard in-state transfers.

What must the seller provide to the buyer?

Missouri law requires the seller to provide three things at the time of sale: a properly assigned certificate of title, a safety inspection certificate less than 60 days old, and — if the buyer lives in St. Louis City, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, or St. Louis County — an emissions inspection certificate less than 60 days old. The safety inspection requirement is a seller obligation, not the buyer's — the seller must have the vehicle inspected before the sale. If there was a lien on the vehicle, a notarized Lien Release (Form 4809) must also be provided.

What taxes and fees does the buyer owe?

Missouri charges a 4.225% state sales tax on the purchase price, plus local county and city taxes that vary by location. The combined rate typically ranges from 5.5% to 10% depending on the buyer's jurisdiction. Sales tax is paid at the local DOR license office at the time of title transfer. The buyer must apply for a new title within 30 days of the purchase — on the 31st day, a $25 penalty is assessed, increasing by $25 every additional 30 days. Missouri also offers a 180-day sales tax credit: if the buyer sells one vehicle and buys another within 180 days, the tax paid on the sold vehicle is credited toward the tax on the new purchase.

Are emissions and safety inspections required?

A valid safety inspection is required statewide for all private-party vehicle sales. The seller must provide the buyer with a safety inspection certificate less than 60 days old. Emissions testing is required only for vehicles registered in the St. Louis metropolitan area — specifically St. Louis City, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, and St. Louis County. The emissions certificate must also be less than 60 days old at the time of sale. Vehicles outside the St. Louis area are exempt from emissions testing.

What should the seller do after the sale?

The seller must file a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form DOR-1957) with the Department of Revenue within 30 days. This protects the seller from liability for violations committed by the buyer after the sale. The seller must also remove their license plates — Missouri plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. The seller can transfer the plates to another vehicle or return them to a local license office.

What if the vehicle has multiple owners?

If the vehicle is titled to more than one person, all owners on the title must sign the bill of sale. Use the "Add a co-seller" option on the form to add the second seller's name and address. Both sellers' names and signature lines will appear on the document. For electronic signing, each co-owner can sign on the same device in sequence, or the document can be passed from one device to another via QR code or shared link. Both buyers can likewise be named on the bill of sale using the "Add a co-buyer" option.