301.140. Plates removed on transfer or sale of vehicles--use by purchaser--reregistration--use of dealer plates--temporary permits, fees--credit, when. - Missouri Statutes

Plates removed on transfer or sale of vehicles--use bypurchaser--reregistration--use of dealer plates--temporarypermits, fees--credit, when.

301.140. 1. Upon the transfer of ownership of any motor vehicle ortrailer, the certificate of registration and the right to use the numberplates shall expire and the number plates shall be removed by the owner atthe time of the transfer of possession, and it shall be unlawful for anyperson other than the person to whom such number plates were originallyissued to have the same in his or her possession whether in use or not,unless such possession is solely for charitable purposes; except that thebuyer of a motor vehicle or trailer who trades in a motor vehicle ortrailer may attach the license plates from the traded-in motor vehicle ortrailer to the newly purchased motor vehicle or trailer. The operation ofa motor vehicle with such transferred plates shall be lawful for no morethan thirty days. As used in this subsection, the term "trade-in motorvehicle or trailer" shall include any single motor vehicle or trailer soldby the buyer of the newly purchased vehicle or trailer, as long as thelicense plates for the trade-in motor vehicle or trailer are still valid.

2. In the case of a transfer of ownership the original owner mayregister another motor vehicle under the same number, upon the payment of afee of two dollars, if the motor vehicle is of horsepower, gross weight or(in the case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seatingcapacity, not in excess of that originally registered. When such motorvehicle is of greater horsepower, gross weight or (in the case of apassenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, for which agreater fee is prescribed, applicant shall pay a transfer fee of twodollars and a pro rata portion for the difference in fees. When suchvehicle is of less horsepower, gross weight or (in case of apassenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, for which alesser fee is prescribed, applicant shall not be entitled to a refund.

3. License plates may be transferred from a motor vehicle which willno longer be operated to a newly purchased motor vehicle by the owner ofsuch vehicles. The owner shall pay a transfer fee of two dollars if thenewly purchased vehicle is of horsepower, gross weight or (in the case of apassenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity, not inexcess of that of the vehicle which will no longer be operated. When thenewly purchased motor vehicle is of greater horsepower, gross weight or (inthe case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seatingcapacity, for which a greater fee is prescribed, the applicant shall pay atransfer fee of two dollars and a pro rata portion of the difference infees. When the newly purchased vehicle is of less horsepower, gross weightor (in the case of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle) seatingcapacity, for which a lesser fee is prescribed, the applicant shall not beentitled to a refund.

4. Upon the sale of a motor vehicle or trailer by a dealer, a buyerwho has made application for registration, by mail or otherwise, mayoperate the same for a period of thirty days after taking possessionthereof, if during such period the motor vehicle or trailer shall haveattached thereto, in the manner required by section 301.130, number platesissued to the dealer. Upon application and presentation of proof offinancial responsibility as required under subsection 5 of this section andsatisfactory evidence that the buyer has applied for registration, a dealermay furnish such number plates to the buyer for such temporary use. Insuch event, the dealer shall require the buyer to deposit the sum of tendollars and fifty cents to be returned to the buyer upon return of thenumber plates as a guarantee that said buyer will return to the dealer suchnumber plates within thirty days. The director shall issue a temporarypermit authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle or trailer by a buyerfor not more than thirty days of the date of purchase.

5. The temporary permit shall be made available by the director ofrevenue and may be purchased from the department of revenue upon proof ofpurchase of a motor vehicle or trailer for which the buyer has noregistration plate available for transfer and upon proof of financialresponsibility, or from a dealer upon purchase of a motor vehicle ortrailer for which the buyer has no registration plate available fortransfer. The director shall make temporary permits available toregistered dealers in this state or authorized agents of the department ofrevenue in sets of ten permits. The fee for the temporary permit shall beseven dollars and fifty cents for each permit or plate issued. No dealeror authorized agent shall charge more than seven dollars and fifty centsfor each permit issued. The permit shall be valid for a period of thirtydays from the date of purchase of a motor vehicle or trailer, or from thedate of sale of the motor vehicle or trailer by a dealer for which thepurchaser obtains a permit as set out above. No permit shall be issued fora vehicle under this section unless the buyer shows proof of financialresponsibility.

6. The permit shall be issued on a form prescribed by the directorand issued only for the applicant's use in the operation of the motorvehicle or trailer purchased to enable the applicant to legally operate thevehicle while proper title and registration plate are being obtained, andshall be displayed on no other vehicle. Temporary permits issued pursuantto this section shall not be transferable or renewable and shall not bevalid upon issuance of proper registration plates for the motor vehicle ortrailer. The director shall determine the size and numberingconfiguration, construction, and color of the permit.

7. The dealer or authorized agent shall insert the date of issuanceand expiration date, year, make, and manufacturer's number of vehicle onthe permit when issued to the buyer. The dealer shall also insert suchdealer's number on the permit. Every dealer that issues a temporary permitshall keep, for inspection of proper officers, a correct record of eachpermit issued by recording the permit or plate number, buyer's name andaddress, year, make, manufacturer's vehicle identification number on whichthe permit is to be used, and the date of issuance.

8. Upon the transfer of ownership of any currently registered motorvehicle wherein the owner cannot transfer the license plates due to achange of vehicle category, the owner may surrender the license platesissued to the motor vehicle and receive credit for any unused portion ofthe original registration fee against the registration fee of another motorvehicle. Such credit shall be granted based upon the date the licenseplates are surrendered. No refunds shall be made on the unused portion ofany license plates surrendered for such credit.

(RSMo 1939 § 8382, A.L. 1947 V. I p. 380, A.L. 1951 p. 695, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1275, A.L. 1979 H.B. 90, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1153, A.L. 1987 H.B. 605, A.L. 1996 H.B. 991 merged with S.B. 560, A.L. 1997 H.B. 207, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1300, A.L. 1999 S.B. 19, A.L. 2007 S.B. 82, A.L. 2009 H.B. 683)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 7774; 1919 § 7561