Vehicle Registration Exemptions - Missouri

All-terrain vehicles

A registration is not required for ATVs:

• Owned and operated by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision thereof;
• Owned and operated by Missouri or by any municipality or political subdivision thereof;
• Covered by a valid registration of another state or country that have not been within Missouri for more than 30 days.

Vehicle owned by nonresident which has been duly registered elsewhere

Unless otherwise provided by duly executed agreements entered into pursuant to sections 301.271 to 301.279, a nonresident owner, owning any motor vehicle which has been duly registered for the current year in the state, District of Columbia, territory or possession of the United States, foreign country or other place of which the owner is a resident, and which at all times when operated in Missouri has displayed upon it the number plate issued for the vehicle in the place of residence of such owner, may operate or permit the operation of such vehicle within Missouri without registering such vehicle or paying any such registration fee to Missouri; but only to the extent that under the laws of the place of registration are substantially equivalent exemptions and are granted to residents of Missouri for the operation of vehicles duly registered in Missouri.

Unless otherwise provided by duly executed agreements entered pursuant to sections 301.271 to 301.279, trailers registered in any jurisdiction may be operated in combination with any motor vehicle properly registered in accordance with sections 301.271 to 301.279.

Special mobile equipment

• May be moved on the highways of Missouri from one job location to another or to or from places of storage, delivery or repair without complying with the provisions relating to titling and registration and display of license plates but must comply with all the other requirements of the law relating to motor vehicles, except that such equipment, other than farm equipment, must not be operated on state maintained roads or highways on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays, except in emergencies.
• However, special mobile equipment that travels at a speed above any minimum posted speed limit and is capable of traveling at the uniform maximum speed limits as established in section 304.010, does not exceed the maximum weight limits as established in subsection 3 of section 304.180, and does not exceed the limitations on height, width, or length of section 304.170, so as to require the issuance of a special permit pursuant to section 304.200, may be operated on state maintained roads or highways at any time and on any day.

State and municipally owned vehicles

• Cars
  • The director of revenue shall issue certificates for all cars owned by the state of Missouri and will assign to each of such cars two plates bearing the words: “State of Missouri, official car number ....................” (with the number inserted thereon), which plates shall be displayed on such cars when they are being used on the highways. No officer or employee or other person shall use such a motor vehicle for other than official use.
• Ambulances, patrol wagons and fire apparatus
  • Owned by any municipality of Missouri, are exempt from all the provisions of sections 301.010 to 301.440 requiring registration, proof of ownership and display of number plates while being operated within the limits of such municipality, but the municipality may regulate the speed and use of such motor vehicles owned by them.
• All other motor vehicles owned by municipalities, counties and other political subdivisions of Missouri
  • Are exempt from the provisions requiring registration, proof of ownership and display of number plates; provided, however, that there shall be a plate, or, on each side of such motor vehicle, letters not less than three inches in height with a stroke of not less than three-eighths of an inch wide, to display the name of such municipality, county or political subdivision, the department thereof, and a distinguishing number.
• Courtesy or driver training vehicle
  • For registration purposes only, a public school or college shall be considered the temporary owner of a vehicle acquired from a motor vehicle dealer which is to be used as a courtesy vehicle or a driver training vehicle. The school or college shall present to the director of revenue a copy of a lease agreement with an option to purchase clause between the authorized motor vehicle dealer and the school or college and a photocopy of the front and back of the dealer’s vehicle manufacturer’s statement of origin or certificate of title, and shall make application for and be granted a nonnegotiable certificate of ownership and be issued the appropriate license plates. Registration plates are not necessary on a driver training vehicle when the motor vehicle is plainly marked as a driver training vehicle while being used for such purpose and such vehicle can also be used in conjunction with the activities of the educational institution.

Implements of husbandry

• Any self-propelled sprayer, floater, or other form of implement of husbandry that is used for spraying chemicals or spreading fertilizer for agricultural purposes may be moved or operated on the highways of Missouri without complying with the provisions relating to titling, registration, and the display of license plates. The exemption will apply whether the described vehicles are laden or unladen.
• All other requirements of the law relating to motor vehicles, unless the context clearly provides otherwise, will apply to these vehicles when operated on the highways of Missouri.

The term “implement of husbandry” means all self-propelled machinery manufactured for operation at low speeds, specifically designed for, or especially adapted to be capable of, incidental over-the-road and primary off-road usage and used exclusively for the application of commercial plant food materials or agricultural chemicals.

Vehicles covered by reciprocal agreements

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission may negotiate and enter into reciprocal agreements or arrangements with other states, the District of Columbia, territories and possessions of the United States, and foreign countries as follows:

• To exempt, either wholly or partially, under such terms, conditions and restrictions as it deems proper, motor vehicles and trailers licensed in other states, the District of Columbia, territories and possessions of the United States, and foreign countries or political subdivisions thereof wherein the owner is a resident, from any or all registration fees, as provided by law, but only to the extent that substantially equivalent exemptions are extended by that state to vehicles which are duly licensed in Missouri.
• Such agreements may authorize the granting of reciprocal privileges to an owner for vehicles which are not licensed in the state, District of Columbia, territory or possession of the United States, foreign country, or other place of such owner’s residence when such owner maintains a bona fide place of business in a state, District of Columbia, territory or possession of the United States, foreign country or other place other than his residence and such vehicle is in fact based at such a place of business and is principally operated into and out of such a place of business as a terminal of its operation and such vehicle is duly licensed where the place of business is located.
• The operator of any vehicle for which reciprocal privileges are claimed must have in his possession a valid and legal registration certificate or other evidence of proper registration issued for such vehicle by the state or other jurisdiction in which it is registered.
• No reciprocity may be granted under any statute or agreement for the operation of any commercial motor vehicle within the state of Missouri solely in intrastate commerce, but all vehicles so engaged must be duly registered and licensed in the state of Missouri.

Citations

• 301.707 R.S.Mo. Registration required; exceptions
• 301.271 R.S.Mo. Reciprocity in registration with other states -- registration of trailers
• 301.133 R.S.Mo. Special mobile equipment exempt—when permitted on highways, exception
• 301.260 R.S.Mo. State and municipally owned vehicles – public schools and colleges courtesy or driver training vehicles -- regulations
• 301.029 R.S.Mo. Implements of husbandry, movement on highway permitted, when -- definition
• 301.277 R.S.Mo. Reciprocity agreements, negotiations, provisions, limits – highway reciprocity fund established – deposit of fees