Federal & State Regulations | Vehicle license or registration - Missouri

All motor vehicles and trailers used upon the highways of this state are required to be registered, except farm tractors and certain self-propelled construction equipment, and those owned by political subdivisions of this state.

For all commercial vehicles and trailers less than 12,000 pounds gross weight, registration starts on the first day of each calendar month and ends on the last day of the 12th month from the beginning date. All commercial vehicles and trailers over 12,000 pounds gross weight must be registered on a prorated basis or a calendar year basis.

Applications under reciprocal registration agreements with other states must be made between September 1 and October 1. Fees for all commercial vehicles and trailers to be registered on a calendar year basis, under reciprocal registration agreements or on a prorated basis are payable not later than December 1.

License plate display

When two license plates are issued, one plate is displayed on the front and one on the rear of the vehicle (applicants for registration for property-carrying vehicles exceeding 12,000 pounds may request two license plates).

Trailers and semitrailers are issued one license plate to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle, either horizontally or vertically, with numbers and letters plainly visible.

Trucks, tractors, truck-tractors, and truck-tractors licensed in excess of 12,000 pounds are issued one plate to be displayed on the front of the vehicle, no more than 48 inches above the ground.

International Registration Plan

Missouri is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP), a base state system for vehicle registration allowing carriers to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single base jurisdiction. Carriers who operate qualified fleet vehicles may apportion registration fees among these jurisdictions according to the IRP formula.

A fleet is defined as one or more vehicles having a gross weight or registered gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds; or having three or more axles; or used in combination having a total gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds.

Missouri allows the display of electronically issued cab cards (photocopies, faxed, emailed).

Temporary Permit: Issuance of this authority is for established carriers when adding any new or additional vehicles. The temporary is valid for 45 days for Missouri based vehicles at no fee.

Hunter's Permit: A Hunters Permit authorizes an owner-operator to operate a truck and trailer upon cancellation of a lease agreement. The permit is valid for 30 days. The permit authorizes the operation of the truck and trailer at the empty weight.

Agency: Missouri Motor Carrier Services Division; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).

Fees

Cab Card – No fee.

Registration fees are subject to reciprocity or are prorated.

Missouri calculates fees on the Combined Gross Weight of the combination, plus the load carried.

Compute fees from both Schedule I and II for all vehicles except for the 26,000-pound bracket. Rates are reduced if vehicles purchased or first used after the first of the month in each quarter of the current registration year.

Fees do not include property-carrying, local commercial vehicles.

Registration fees are reduced 25 percent after April 1; 50 percent after July 1; 75 percent after October 1.

Missouri issues a permanent, non-transferable and non-refundable trailer plate.

['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']

['Vehicle Registration Permits', 'Registration']

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Vehicle license or registration - Missouri

License plate display

International Registration Plan

Fees