Modifies provisions relating to motor vehicle registration

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2655
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE POLLITT .
6088H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal sections 301.020, 301.140, 301.190, 307.350, and 307.380, RSMo, and to enact in
lieu thereof five new sections relating to motor vehicle registration, with penalty
provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 301.020, 301.140, 301.190, 307.350, and 307.380, RSMo, are
2 repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 301.020,
3 301.140, 301.190, 307.350, and 307.380, to read as follows:
301.020. 1. Every owner of a motor vehicle or trailer , which shall be operated or
2 driven upon the highways of this state, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, shall
3 annually file, by mail or otherwise, in the of fice of the director of revenue, an application for
4 registration on a blank to be furnished by the director of revenue for that purpose containing:
5 (1) A brief description of the motor vehicle or trailer to be registered, including the
6 name of the manufacturer , the vehicle identification number , the amount of motive power of
7 the motor vehicle, stated in figures of horsepower and whether the motor vehicle is to be
8 registered as a motor vehicle primarily for business use as defined in section 301.010;
9 (2) The name, the applicant's identification number and address of the owner of such
10 motor vehicle or trailer;
11 (3) The gross weight of the vehicle and the desired load in pounds if the vehicle is a
12 commercial motor vehicle or trailer .
13 2. If the vehicle is a motor vehicle primarily for business use as defined in section
14 301.010 and if such vehicle is [ ten years of age or less ] model year 2012 or newer and has
15 less than one hundred fifty thousand miles on the odometer , the director of revenue shall
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
16 retain the odometer information provided in the vehicle inspection report, and provide for
17 prompt access to such information, together with the vehicle identification number for the
18 motor vehicle to which such information pertains, for a period of ten years after the receipt of
19 such information. This section shall not apply unless:
20 (1) The application for the vehicle's certificate of ownership was submitted after July
21 1, 1989; and
22 (2) The certificate was issued pursuant to a manufacturer's statement of origin.
23 3. If the vehicle is any motor vehicle other than a motor vehicle primarily for business
24 use, a recreational motor vehicle, motorcycle, motortricycle, autocycle, bus, or any
25 commercial motor vehicle licensed for over twelve thousand pounds and if such motor
26 vehicle is [ ten years of age or less ] model year 2012 or newer and has less than one hundred
27 fifty thousand miles on the odometer , the director of revenue shall retain the odometer
28 information provided in the vehicle inspection report, and provide for prompt access to such
29 information, together with the vehicle identification number for the motor vehicle to which
30 such information pertains, for a period of ten years after the receipt of such information. This
31 subsection shall not apply unless:
32 (1) The application for the vehicle's certificate of ownership was submitted after July
33 1, 1990; and
34 (2) The certificate was issued pursuant to a manufacturer's statement of origin.
35 4. If the vehicle qualifies as a reconstructed motor vehicle, motor change vehicle,
36 specially constructed motor vehicle, non-USA-std motor vehicle, as defined in section
37 301.010, or prior salvage as referenced in section 301.573, the owner or lienholder shall
38 surrender the certificate of ownership. The owner shall make an application for a new
39 certificate of ownership, pay the required title fee, and obtain the vehicle examination
40 certificate required pursuant to subsection 9 of section 301.190. If an insurance company
41 pays a claim on a salvage vehicle as defined in section 301.010 and the owner retains the
42 vehicle, as prior salvage, the vehicle shall only be required to meet the examination
43 requirements under subsection 10 of section 301.190. Notarized bills of sale along with a
44 copy of the front and back of the certificate of ownership for all major component parts
45 installed on the vehicle and invoices for all essential parts which are not defined as major
46 component parts shall accompany the application for a new certificate of ownership. If the
47 vehicle is a specially constructed motor vehicle, as defined in section 301.010, two pictures of
48 the vehicle shall be submitted with the application. If the vehicle is a kit vehicle, the
49 applicant shall submit the invoice and the manufacturer's statement of origin on the kit. If the
50 vehicle requires the issuance of a special number by the director of revenue or a replacement
51 vehicle identification number , the applicant shall submit the required application and
52 application fee. All applications required under this subsection shall be submitted with any
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53 applicable taxes which may be due on the purchase of the vehicle or parts. The director of
54 revenue shall appropriately designate "Reconstructed Motor V ehicle", "Motor Change
55 V ehicle", "Non-USA-Std Motor V ehicle", or "Specially Constructed Motor V ehicle" on the
56 current and all subsequent issues of the certificate of ownership of such vehicle.
57 5. Every insurance company that pays a claim for repair of a motor vehicle which as
58 the result of such repairs becomes a reconstructed motor vehicle as defined in section 301.010
59 or that pays a claim on a salvage vehicle as defined in section 301.010 and the owner is
60 retaining the vehicle shall in writing notify the owner of the vehicle, and in a first party claim,
61 the lienholder if a lien is in ef fect, that he is required to surrender the certificate of ownership,
62 and the documents and fees required pursuant to subsection 4 of this section to obtain a prior
63 salvage motor vehicle certificate of ownership or documents and fees as otherwise required
64 by law to obtain a salvage certificate of ownership, from the director of revenue. The
65 insurance company shall within thirty days of the payment of such claims report to the
66 director of revenue the name and address of such owner , the year , make, model, vehicle
67 identification number , and license plate number of the vehicle, and the date of loss and
68 payment.
69 6. Anyone who fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be guilty of
70 a class B misdemeanor .
71 7. An applicant for registration may make a donation of one dollar to promote a
72 blindness education, screening and treatment program. The director of revenue shall collect
73 the donations and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the blindness
74 education, screening and treatment program fund established in section 209.015. Moneys in
75 the blindness education, screening and treatment program fund shall be used solely for the
76 purposes established in section 209.015; except that the department of revenue shall retain no
77 more than one percent for its administrative costs. The donation prescribed in this subsection
78 is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for registration at the time of issuance or
79 renewal. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the applicant presents the
80 completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one
81 dollar donation prescribed in this subsection.
82 8. An applicant for registration may make a donation of an amount not less than one
83 dollar to promote an org an donor program. The director of revenue shall collect the donations
84 and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the or gan donor program
85 fund as established in sections 194.297 to 194.304. Moneys in the or gan donor fund shall be
86 used solely for the purposes established in sections 194.297 to 194.304, except that the
87 department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The
88 donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for
89 registration at the time of issuance or renewal. The director shall inquire of each applicant at
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90 the time the applicant presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant
91 is interested in making a contribution not less than one dollar as prescribed in this subsection.
92 9. An applicant for registration may make a donation of one dollar to the Missouri
93 medal of honor recipients fund. The director of revenue shall collect the donations and
94 deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the Missouri medal of honor
95 recipients fund as established in section 226.925. Moneys in the medal of honor recipients
96 fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in section 226.925, except that the
97 department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The
98 donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for
99 registration at the time of issuance or renewal. The director shall inquire of each applicant at
100 the time the applicant presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant
101 is interested in making the one dollar donation prescribed in this subsection.
301.140. 1. Upon the transfer of ownership of any motor vehicle or trailer , the
2 certificate of registration and the right to use the number plates shall expire and the number
3 plates shall be removed by the owner at the time of the transfer of possession, and it shall be
4 unlawful for any person other than the person to whom such number plates were originally
5 issued to have the same in his or her possession whether in use or not, unless such possession
6 is solely for charitable purposes; except that the buyer of a motor vehicle or trailer who trades
7 in a motor vehicle or trailer may attach the license plates from the traded-in motor vehicle or
8 trailer to the newly purchased motor vehicle or trailer . The operation of a motor vehicle with
9 such transferred plates shall be lawful for no more than thirty days, or no more than ninety
10 days if the dealer is selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of section 301.213, or no
11 more than sixty days if the dealer is selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of
12 subsection 5 of section 301.210. As used in this subsection, the term "trade-in motor vehicle
13 or trailer" shall include any single motor vehicle or trailer sold by the buyer of the newly
14 purchased vehicle or trailer , as long as the license plates for the trade-in motor vehicle or
15 trailer are still valid.
16 2. In the case of a transfer of ownership the original owner may register another
17 motor vehicle under the same number , upon the payment of a fee of two dollars, if the motor
18 vehicle is of horsepower , gross weight or (in the case of a passenger -carrying commercial
19 motor vehicle) seating capacity , not in excess of that originally registered. When such motor
20 vehicle is of greater horsepower , gross weight or (in the case of a passenger -carrying
21 commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity , for which a greater fee is prescribed, the
22 applicant shall pay a transfer fee of two dollars and a pro rata portion for the dif ference in
23 fees. When such vehicle is of less horsepower , gross weight or (in case of a passenger-
24 carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity , for which a lesser fee is prescribed, the
25 applicant shall not be entitled to a refund.
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26 3. License plates may be transferred from a motor vehicle which will no longer be
27 operated to a newly purchased motor vehicle by the owner of such vehicles. The owner shall
28 pay a transfer fee of two dollars if the newly purchased vehicle is of horsepower , gross weight
29 or (in the case of a passenger -carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity , not in
30 excess of that of the vehicle which will no longer be operated. When the newly purchased
31 motor vehicle is of greater horsepower , gross weight or (in the case of a passenger -carrying
32 commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity , for which a greater fee is prescribed, the
33 applicant shall pay a transfer fee of two dollars and a pro rata portion of the dif ference in fees.
34 When the newly purchased vehicle is of less horsepower , gross weight or (in the case of a
35 passenger -carrying commercial motor vehicle) seating capacity , for which a lesser fee is
36 prescribed, the applicant shall not be entitled to a refund.
37 4. (1) The director of the department of revenue shall have authority to produce or
38 allow others to produce a weather resistant, nontearing temporary permit authorizing the
39 operation of a motor vehicle or trailer by a buyer for not more than thirty days, or no more
40 than sixty days if issued by a dealer selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of
41 subsection 5 of section 301.210, from the date of purchase. The temporary permit authorized
42 under this section may be purchased by the purchaser of a motor vehicle or trailer from the
43 central of fice of the department of revenue or from an authorized agent of the department of
44 revenue upon satisfaction of all applicable taxes under chapter 144, upon proof of purchase of
45 a motor vehicle or trailer for which the buyer has no registration plate available for transfer
46 and upon proof of financial responsibility , or from a motor vehicle dealer upon purchase of a
47 motor vehicle or trailer for which the buyer has no registration plate available for transfer , or
48 from a motor vehicle dealer upon purchase of a motor vehicle or trailer for which the buyer
49 has registered and is awaiting receipt of registration plates. The director of the department of
50 revenue or a producer authorized by the director of the department of revenue may make
51 temporary permits available to registered dealers in this state, authorized agents of the
52 department of revenue or the department of revenue. The price paid by a motor vehicle
53 dealer , an authorized agent of the department of revenue or the department of revenue for a
54 temporary permit shall not exceed five dollars for each permit. The director of the
55 department of revenue shall direct motor vehicle dealers and authorized agents to obtain
56 temporary permits from an authorized producer . Amounts received by the director of the
57 department of revenue for temporary permits shall constitute state revenue; however , amounts
58 received by an authorized producer other than the director of the department of revenue shall
59 not constitute state revenue and any amounts received by motor vehicle dealers or authorized
60 agents for temporary permits purchased from a producer other than the director of the
61 department of revenue shall not constitute state revenue. In no event shall revenues from the
62 general revenue fund or any other state fund be utilized to compensate motor vehicle dealers
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63 or other producers for their role in producing temporary permits as authorized under this
64 section. Amounts that do not constitute state revenue under this section shall also not
65 constitute fees for registration or certificates of title to be collected by the director of the
66 department of revenue under section 301.190. No motor vehicle dealer , authorized agent or
67 the department of revenue shall char ge more than five dollars for each permit issued. The
68 permit shall be valid for a period of thirty days, or no more than ninety days if issued by a
69 dealer selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of section 301.213, or no more than sixty
70 days if issued by a dealer selling the motor vehicle under the provisions of subsection 5 of
71 section 301.210, from the date of purchase of a motor vehicle or trailer , or from the date of
72 sale of the motor vehicle or trailer by a motor vehicle dealer for which the purchaser obtains a
73 permit as set out above. No permit shall be issued for a vehicle under this section unless the
74 buyer shows proof of financial responsibility . Each temporary permit issued shall be securely
75 fastened to the back or rear of the motor vehicle in a manner and place on the motor vehicle
76 consistent with registration plates so that all parts and qualities of the temporary permit
77 thereof shall be plainly and clearly visible, reasonably clean and are not impaired in any way .
78 (2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection requiring satisfaction of all
79 applicable taxes under chapter 144 shall become ef fective only upon notification by the
80 director of the department of revenue that implementation of such requirements are
81 technologically feasible following the development and maintenance of a modernized,
82 integrated system for the titling of vehicles, the issuance and renewal of vehicle registrations,
83 the issuance and renewal of drivers' licenses and identification cards, and the perfection and
84 release of liens and encumbrances on vehicles.
85 5. The permit shall be issued on a form prescribed by the director of the department of
86 revenue and issued only for the applicant's temporary operation of the motor vehicle or trailer
87 purchased to enable the applicant to temporarily operate the motor vehicle while proper title
88 and registration plates are being obtained, or while awaiting receipt of registration plates, and
89 shall be displayed on no other motor vehicle. T emporary permits issued pursuant to this
90 section shall not be transferable or renewable, shall not be valid upon issuance of proper
91 registration plates for the motor vehicle or trailer , and shall be returned to the department or to
92 the department's agent upon the issuance of such proper registration plates. Any temporary
93 permit returned to the department or to the department's agent shall be immediately
94 destroyed. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to temporary permits issued for
95 commercial motor vehicles licensed in excess of twenty-four thousand pounds gross weight.
96 The director of the department of revenue shall determine the size, material, design,
97 numbering configuration, construction, and color of the permit. The director of the
98 department of revenue, at his or her discretion, shall have the authority to reissue, and thereby
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99 extend the use of, a temporary permit previously and legally issued for a motor vehicle or
100 trailer while proper title and registration are being obtained.
101 6. Every motor vehicle dealer that issues temporary permits shall keep, for inspection
102 by proper of ficers, an accurate record of each permit issued by recording the permit number ,
103 the motor vehicle dealer's number , buyer's name and address, the motor vehicle's year , make,
104 and manufacturer's vehicle identification number , and the permit's date of issuance and
105 expiration date. Upon the issuance of a temporary permit by either the central of fice of the
106 department of revenue, a motor vehicle dealer or an authorized agent of the department of
107 revenue, the director of the department of revenue shall make the information associated with
108 the issued temporary permit immediately available to the law enforcement community of the
109 state of Missouri.
110 7. Upon the transfer of ownership of any currently registered motor vehicle wherein
111 the owner cannot transfer the license plates due to a change of motor vehicle category , the
112 owner may surrender the license plates issued to the motor vehicle and receive credit for any
113 unused portion of the original registration fee against the registration fee of another motor
114 vehicle. Such credit shall be granted based upon the date the license plates are surrendered.
115 No refunds shall be made on the unused portion of any license plates surrendered for such
116 credit.
117 8. An additional temporary license plate produced in a manner and of materials
118 determined by the director to be the most cost-eff ective means of production with a
119 configuration that matches an existing or newly issued plate may be purchased by a motor
120 vehicle owner to be placed in the interior of the vehicle's rear window such that the driver's
121 view out of the rear window is not obstructed and the plate configuration is clearly visible
122 from the outside of the vehicle to serve as the visible plate when a bicycle rack or other item
123 obstructs the view of the actual plate. Such temporary plate is only authorized for use when
124 the matching actual plate is af fixed to the vehicle in the manner prescribed in subsection 5 of
125 section 301.130. The fee char ged for the temporary plate shall be equal to the fee char ged for
126 a temporary permit issued under subsection 4 of this section. Replacement temporary plates
127 authorized in this subsection may be issued as needed upon the payment of a fee equal to the
128 fee char ged for a temporary permit under subsection 4 of this section. The newly produced
129 third plate may only be used on the vehicle with the matching plate, and the additional plate
130 shall be clearly recognizable as a third plate and only used for the purpose specified in this
131 subsection.
132 9. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.217, the director may issue a
133 temporary permit to an individual who possesses a salvage motor vehicle which requires an
134 inspection under subsection 9 of section 301.190. The operation of a salvage motor vehicle
135 for which the permit has been issued shall be limited to the most direct route from the
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136 residence, maintenance, or storage facility of the individual in possession of such motor
137 vehicle to the nearest authorized inspection facility and return to the originating location.
138 Notwithstanding any other requirements for the issuance of a temporary permit under this
139 section, an individual obtaining a temporary permit for the purpose of operating a motor
140 vehicle to and from an examination facility as prescribed in this subsection shall also
141 purchase the required motor vehicle examination form which is required to be completed for
142 an examination under subsection 9 of section 301.190 and provide satisfactory evidence that
143 such vehicle has passed a motor vehicle safety inspection for such vehicle as required in
144 section 307.350.
145 10. Notwithstanding any pr ovision of law to the contrary , a person may be
146 stopped or inspected by law enforcem ent, based on r easonable suspicion that a
147 temporary permit violation has occurr ed, in order to determine whether a temporary
148 permit is curren t or valid. Upon a determination by law enforcem ent that a temporary
149 permit is expir ed by at least seventy days, or that a temporary permit has been alter ed,
150 the law enforcem ent officer conducting the stop shall issue a citation and such person
151 shall be fined in the amount of two hundr ed fifty dollars. If the person prop erly
152 r egisters the vehicle within thirty days of the issuance of a citation, the prosecutor shall
153 nolle prosequi the citation, court costs shall be waived, and the offense shall not be
154 r egister ed as a violation on the person's driving r ecord. If the vehicle is stopped a
155 second time for a temporary permit violation after such thirty-day time period has
156 lapsed, the vehicle shall be impounded until such time as the vehicle is prop erly
157 r egister ed. It shall be the res ponsibility of the owner of the vehicle to work with the
158 impound lot owner if ther e is an issue with the vehicle's safety inspection.
159 1 1. The director of the department of revenue may promulgate all necessary rules and
160 regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is
161 defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall
162 become ef fective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536
163 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any
164 of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review , to delay the
165 ef fective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then
166 the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2012,
167 shall be invalid and void.
168 [ 1 1. ] 12. The repeal and reenactment of this section shall become ef fective on the date
169 the department of revenue or a producer authorized by the director of the department of
170 revenue begins producing temporary permits described in subsection 4 of such section, or on
171 July 1, 2013, whichever occurs first. If the director of revenue or a producer authorized by
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172 the director of the department of revenue begins producing temporary permits prior to July 1,
173 2013, the director of the department of revenue shall notify the revisor of statutes of such fact.
301.190. 1. No certificate of registration of any motor vehicle or trailer , or number
2 plate therefor , shall be issued by the director of revenue unless the applicant therefor shall
3 make application for and be granted a certificate of ownership of such motor vehicle or trailer ,
4 or shall present satisfactory evidence that such certificate has been previously issued to the
5 applicant for such motor vehicle or trailer . Application shall be made within thirty days after
6 the applicant acquires the motor vehicle or trailer , unless the motor vehicle was acquired
7 under section 301.213 or subsection 5 of section 301.210 in which case the applicant shall
8 make application within thirty days after receiving title from the dealer , upon a blank form
9 furnished by the director of revenue and shall contain the applicant's identification number , a
10 full description of the motor vehicle or trailer , the vehicle identification number , and the
11 mileage registered on the odometer at the time of transfer of ownership, as required by section
12 407.536, together with a statement of the applicant's source of title and of any liens or
13 encumbrances on the motor vehicle or trailer , provided that for good cause shown the director
14 of revenue may extend the period of time for making such application. When an owner wants
15 to add or delete a name or names on an application for certificate of ownership of a motor
16 vehicle or trailer that would cause it to be inconsistent with the name or names listed on the
17 notice of lien, the owner shall provide the director with documentation evidencing the
18 lienholder's authorization to add or delete a name or names on an application for certificate of
19 ownership.
20 2. The director of revenue shall use reasonable diligence in ascertaining whether the
21 facts stated in such application are true and shall, to the extent possible without substantially
22 delaying processing of the application, review any odometer information pertaining to such
23 motor vehicle that is accessible to the director of revenue. If satisfied that the applicant is the
24 lawful owner of such motor vehicle or trailer , or otherwise entitled to have the same
25 registered in his name, the director shall thereupon issue an appropriate certificate over his
26 signature and sealed with the seal of his of fice, procured and used for such purpose. The
27 certificate shall contain on its face a complete description, vehicle identification number , and
28 other evidence of identification of the motor vehicle or trailer , as the director of revenue may
29 deem necessary , together with the odometer information required to be put on the face of the
30 certificate pursuant to section 407.536, a statement of any liens or encumbrances which the
31 application may show to be thereon, and, if ownership of the vehicle has been transferred, the
32 name of the state issuing the transferor's title and whether the transferor's odometer mileage
33 statement executed pursuant to section 407.536 indicated that the true mileage is materially
34 dif ferent from the number of miles shown on the odometer , or is unknown.
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35 3. The director of revenue shall appropriately designate on the current and all
36 subsequent issues of the certificate the words "Reconstructed Motor V ehicle", "Motor Change
37 V ehicle", "Specially Constructed Motor V ehicle", or "Non-USA-Std Motor V ehicle", as
38 defined in section 301.010. Eff ective July 1, 1990, on all original and all subsequent issues of
39 the certificate for motor vehicles as referenced in subsections 2 and 3 of section 301.020, the
40 director shall print on the face thereof the following designation: "Annual odometer updates
41 may be available from the department of revenue.". On any duplicate certificate, the director
42 of revenue shall reprint on the face thereof the most recent of either:
43 (1) The mileage information included on the face of the immediately prior certificate
44 and the date of purchase or issuance of the immediately prior certificate; or
45 (2) Any other mileage information provided to the director of revenue, and the date
46 the director obtained or recorded that information.
47 4. The certificate of ownership issued by the director of revenue shall be
48 manufactured in a manner to prohibit as nearly as possible the ability to alter , counterfeit,
49 duplicate, or forg e such certificate without ready detection. In order to carry out the
50 requirements of this subsection, the director of revenue may contract with a nonprofit
51 scientific or educational institution specializing in the analysis of secure documents to
52 determine the most ef fective methods of rendering Missouri certificates of ownership
53 nonalterable or noncounterfeitable.
54 5. The fee for each original certificate so issued shall be eight dollars and fifty cents,
55 in addition to the fee for registration of such motor vehicle or trailer . If application for the
56 certificate is not made within thirty days after the vehicle is acquired by the applicant, or
57 where the motor vehicle was acquired under section 301.213 or subsection 5 of section
58 301.210 and the applicant fails to make application within thirty days after receiving title
59 from the dealer , a delinquency penalty fee of twenty-five dollars for the first thirty days of
60 delinquency and twenty-five dollars for each thirty days of delinquency thereafter , not to
61 exceed a total of two hundred dollars, but such penalty may be waived by the director for a
62 good cause shown. If the director of revenue learns that any person has failed to obtain a
63 certificate within thirty days after acquiring a motor vehicle or trailer , or where the motor
64 vehicle was acquired under section 301.213 or subsection 5 of section 301.210 and the
65 applicant fails to make application within thirty days after receiving title from the dealer , or
66 has sold a vehicle without obtaining a certificate, he shall cancel the registration of all
67 vehicles registered in the name of the person, either as sole owner or as a co-owner , and shall
68 notify the person that the cancellation will remain in force until the person pays the
69 delinquency penalty fee provided in this section, together with all fees, char ges and payments
70 which the person should have paid in connection with the certificate of ownership and
71 registration of the vehicle. The certificate shall be good for the life of the motor vehicle or
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72 trailer so long as the same is owned or held by the original holder of the certificate and shall
73 not have to be renewed annually .
74 6. Any applicant for a certificate of ownership requesting the department of revenue
75 to process an application for a certificate of ownership in an expeditious manner requiring
76 special handling shall pay a fee of five dollars in addition to the regular certificate of
77 ownership fee.
78 7. It is unlawful for any person to operate in this state a motor vehicle or trailer
79 required to be registered under the provisions of the law unless a certificate of ownership has
80 been applied for as provided in this section.
81 8. Before an original Missouri certificate of ownership is issued, an inspection of the
82 vehicle and a verification of vehicle identification numbers shall be made by the Missouri
83 state highway patrol on vehicles for which there is a current title issued by another state if a
84 Missouri salvage certificate of title has been issued for the same vehicle but no prior
85 inspection and verification has been made in this state, except that if such vehicle has been
86 inspected in another state by a law enforcement of ficer in a manner comparable to the
87 inspection process in this state and the vehicle identification numbers have been so verified,
88 the applicant shall not be liable for the twenty-five dollar inspection fee if such applicant
89 submits proof of inspection and vehicle identification number verification to the director of
90 revenue at the time of the application. The applicant, who has such a title for a vehicle on
91 which no prior inspection and verification have been made, shall pay a fee of twenty-five
92 dollars for such verification and inspection, payable to the director of revenue at the time of
93 the request for the application, which shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of
94 the state highways and transportation department fund.
95 9. Each application for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for a vehicle
96 which is classified as a reconstructed motor vehicle, specially constructed motor vehicle, kit
97 vehicle, motor change vehicle, non-USA-std motor vehicle, or other vehicle as required by
98 the director of revenue shall be accompanied by a vehicle examination certificate issued by
99 the Missouri state highway patrol, or other law enforcement agency as authorized by the
100 director of revenue. The vehicle examination shall include a verification of vehicle
101 identification numbers and a determination of the classification of the vehicle. The owner of
102 a vehicle which requires a vehicle examination certificate shall present the vehicle for
103 examination and obtain a completed vehicle examination certificate prior to submitting an
104 application for a certificate of ownership to the director of revenue. Notwithstanding any
105 provision of the law to the contrary , an owner presenting a motor vehicle which has been
106 issued a salvage title and which is ten years of age or older to a vehicle examination described
107 in this subsection in order to obtain a certificate of ownership with the designation prior
108 salvage motor vehicle shall not be required to repair or restore the vehicle to its original
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109 appearance in order to pass or complete the vehicle examination. The fee for the vehicle
110 examination application shall be twenty-five dollars and shall be collected by the director of
111 revenue at the time of the request for the application and shall be deposited in the state
112 treasury to the credit of the state highways and transportation department fund. If the vehicle
113 is also to be registered in Missouri, the safety inspection required in chapter 307 and the
114 emissions inspection required under chapter 643 shall be completed and the fees required by
115 section 307.365 and section 643.315 shall be char ged to the owner .
116 10. When an application is made for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for
117 a motor vehicle previously registered or titled in a state other than Missouri or as required by
118 section 301.020, it shall be accompanied by a current inspection form certified by a duly
119 authorized official inspection station as described in chapter 307 , except that such
120 inspection may be completed by an employee of a licensed new or used motor vehicle
121 dealer for a motor vehicle sold to a person who lives outside of this state and intends to
122 r egister the vehicle outside of this state or for a motor vehicle having less than thirty
123 thousand miles for the thr ee-year period following the model year of manufactur e . The
124 completed form shall certify that the manufacturer's identification number for the vehicle has
125 been inspected, that it is correctly displayed on the vehicle and shall certify the reading shown
126 on the odometer at the time of inspection. The inspection station or , in the case of a motor
127 vehicle sold to a person who lives outside of this state and intends to register the vehicle
128 outside of this state or a motor vehicle having less than thirty thousand miles for the
129 thr ee-year period following the model year of manufactur e, the licensed new or used
130 motor vehicle dealer shall collect the same fee as authorized in section 307.365 for making
131 the inspection, and the fee shall be deposited in the same manner as provided in section
132 307.365. If the vehicle is also to be registered in Missouri, the safety inspection required in
133 chapter 307 and the emissions inspection required under chapter 643 shall be completed and
134 only the fees required by section 307.365 and section 643.315 shall be char ged to the owner .
135 This section shall not apply to vehicles being transferred on a manufacturer's statement of
136 origin. A licensed new or used motor vehicle dealer completing the inspection under this
137 section shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or
138 r evocation of their dealer's license for knowingly completing such inspection with
139 incorr ect information. Such disciplinary action shall take place in accordance with
140 department of reve nue regul ar pr ocedur es for disciplinary action.
141 1 1. Motor vehicles brought into this state in a wrecked or damaged condition or after
142 being towed as an abandoned vehicle pursuant to another state's abandoned motor vehicle
143 procedures shall, in lieu of the inspection required by subsection 10 of this section, be
144 inspected by the Missouri state highway patrol in accordance with subsection 9 of this
145 section. If the inspection reveals the vehicle to be in a salvage or junk condition, the director
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146 shall so indicate on any Missouri certificate of ownership issued for such vehicle. Any
147 salvage designation shall be carried forward on all subsequently issued certificates of title for
148 the motor vehicle.
149 12. When an application is made for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for
150 a motor vehicle previously registered or titled in a state other than Missouri, and the
151 certificate of ownership has been appropriately designated by the issuing state as a
152 reconstructed motor vehicle, motor change vehicle, specially constructed motor vehicle, or
153 prior salvage vehicle, the director of revenue shall appropriately designate on the current
154 Missouri and all subsequent issues of the certificate of ownership the name of the issuing state
155 and such prior designation. The absence of any prior designation shall not relieve a transferor
156 of the duty to exercise due diligence with regard to such certificate of ownership prior to the
157 transfer of a certificate. If a transferor exercises any due diligence with regard to a certificate
158 of ownership, the legal transfer of a certificate of ownership without any designation that is
159 subsequently discovered to have or should have had a designation shall be a transfer free and
160 clear of any liabilities of the transferor associated with the missing designation.
161 13. When an application is made for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for
162 a motor vehicle previously registered or titled in a state other than Missouri, and the
163 certificate of ownership has been appropriately designated by the issuing state as non-USA-
164 std motor vehicle, the director of revenue shall appropriately designate on the current
165 Missouri and all subsequent issues of the certificate of ownership the words "Non-USA-Std
166 Motor V ehicle".
167 14. The director of revenue and the superintendent of the Missouri state highway
168 patrol shall make and enforce rules for the administration of the inspections required by this
169 section.
170 15. Each application for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for a vehicle
171 which is classified as a reconstructed motor vehicle, manufactured forty or more years prior
172 to the current model year , and which has a value of three thousand dollars or less shall be
173 accompanied by:
174 (1) A proper af fidavit submitted by the owner explaining how the motor vehicle or
175 trailer was acquired and, if applicable, the reasons a valid certificate of ownership cannot be
176 furnished;
177 (2) Photocopies of receipts, bills of sale establishing ownership, or titles, and the
178 source of all major component parts used to rebuild the vehicle;
179 (3) A fee of one hundred fifty dollars in addition to the fees described in subsection 5
180 of this section. Such fee shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the state
181 highways and transportation department fund; and
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182 (4) An inspection certificate, other than a motor vehicle examination certificate
183 required under subsection 9 of this section, completed and issued by the Missouri state
184 highway patrol, or other law enforcement agency as authorized by the director of revenue.
185 The inspection performed by the highway patrol or other authorized local law enforcement
186 agency shall include a check for stolen vehicles.
187
188 The department of revenue shall issue the owner a certificate of ownership designated with
189 the words "Reconstructed Motor V ehicle" and deliver such certificate of ownership in
190 accordance with the provisions of this chapter . Notwithstanding subsection 9 of this section,
191 no owner of a reconstructed motor vehicle described in this subsection shall be required to
192 obtain a vehicle examination certificate issued by the Missouri state highway patrol.
307.350. 1. The owner of every motor vehicle as defined in section 301.010 which is
2 required to be registered in this state, except:
3 (1) Motor vehicles having less than one hundred fifty thousand miles[ , for the ten-
4 year period following their model year of manufacture ] and of model year 2012 or newer ,
5 excluding prior salvage vehicles immediately following a rebuilding process and vehicles
6 subject to the provisions of section 307.380;
7 (2) Those motor vehicles which are engaged in interstate commerce and are
8 proportionately registered in this state with the Missouri highway reciprocity commission,
9 although the owner may request that such vehicle be inspected by an of ficial inspection
10 station, and a peace of ficer may stop and inspect such vehicles to determine whether the
11 mechanical condition is in compliance with the safety regulations established by the United
12 States Department of T ransportation; and
13 (3) Historic motor vehicles registered pursuant to section 301.131;
14 (4) V ehicles registered in excess of twenty-four thousand pounds for a period of less
15 than twelve months;
16
17 shall submit such vehicles to a biennial inspection of their mechanism and equipment in
18 accordance with the provisions of sections 307.350 to 307.390 and obtain a certificate of
19 inspection and approval and a sticker , seal, or other device from a duly authorized of ficial
20 inspection station. The inspection, except the inspection of school buses which shall be made
21 at the time provided in section 307.375, shall be made at the time prescribed in the rules and
22 regulations issued by the superintendent of the Missouri state highway patrol; but the
23 inspection of a vehicle shall not be made more than sixty days prior to the date of application
24 for registration or within sixty days of when a vehicle's registration is transferred; however , if
25 a vehicle was purchased from a motor vehicle dealer and a valid inspection had been made
26 within sixty days of the purchase date, the new owner shall be able to utilize an inspection
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27 performed within ninety days prior to the application for registration or transfer . Any vehicle
28 manufactured as an even-numbered model year vehicle shall be inspected and approved
29 pursuant to the safety inspection program established pursuant to sections 307.350 to 307.390
30 in each even-numbered calendar year and any such vehicle manufactured as an odd-numbered
31 model year vehicle shall be inspected and approved pursuant to sections 307.350 to 307.390
32 in each odd-numbered year . The certificate of inspection and approval shall be a sticker , seal,
33 or other device or combination thereof, as the superintendent of the Missouri state highway
34 patrol prescribes by regulation and shall be displayed upon the motor vehicle or trailer as
35 prescribed by the regulations established by him. The replacement of certificates of
36 inspection and approval which are lost or destroyed shall be made by the superintendent of
37 the Missouri state highway patrol under regulations prescribed by him.
38 2. For the purpose of obtaining an inspection only , it shall be lawful to operate a
39 vehicle over the most direct route between the owner's usual place of residence and an
40 inspection station of such owner's choice, notwithstanding the fact that the vehicle does not
41 have a current state registration license. It shall also be lawful to operate such a vehicle from
42 an inspection station to another place where repairs may be made and to return the vehicle to
43 the inspection station notwithstanding the absence of a current state registration license.
44 3. No person whose motor vehicle was duly inspected and approved as provided in
45 this section shall be required to have the same motor vehicle again inspected and approved for
46 the sole reason that such person wishes to obtain a set of any special personalized license
47 plates available pursuant to section 301.144 or a set of any license plates available pursuant to
48 section 301.142, prior to the expiration date of such motor vehicle's current registration.
49 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 307.390, violation of this section shall
50 be deemed an infraction.
307.380. 1. Every vehicle of the type required to be inspected upon having been
2 involved in an accident and when so directed by a police of ficer must be inspected and an
3 of ficial certificate of inspection and approval, sticker , seal or other device be obtained for
4 such vehicle before it is again operated on the highways of this state.
5 2. At the seller's expense every used motor vehicle of the type required to be
6 inspected by section 307.350 shall immediately prior to sale be fully inspected regardless of
7 any current certificate of inspection and approval, and an appropriate new certificate of
8 inspection and approval, sticker , seal or other device shall be obtained no mor e than sixty
9 days prior to the date of sale, except that such inspection shall not be requi red for a
10 motor vehicle sold to a person who lives outside of this state and intends to regist er the
11 vehicle outside of this state or for a motor vehicle having less than thirty thousand miles
12 for the thr ee-year period following the model year of manufactur e when:
13 (1) Sold by a private seller; or
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14 (2) Sold by a licensed new or used motor vehicle dealer , pr ovided that such
15 dealer has sold at least two hundr ed motor vehicles in the pr evious calendar year .
16
17 The seller of a motor vehicle req uired to be inspected under this subsection shall present
18 the certificate of inspection and appr oval to the buyer at the point of sale and the buyer
19 shall be requ ired to submit the certificate of inspection when applying for r egistration of
20 the vehicle .
21 [ 2. ] 3. Nothing contained in the provisions of this section shall be construed to
22 prohibit a dealer or any other person from selling a vehicle without a certificate of inspection
23 and approval if the vehicle is sold for junk, salvage, or for rebuilding, or for vehicles sold at
24 public auction or from dealer to dealer . The purchaser of any vehicle which is purchased for
25 junk, salvage, or for rebuilding shall give to the seller an af fidavit, on a form prescribed by the
26 superintendent of the Missouri state highway patrol, stating that the vehicle is being
27 purchased for one of the reasons stated herein. No vehicle of the type required to be inspected
28 by section 307.350 which is purchased as junk, salvage, or for rebuilding shall again be
29 registered in this state until the owner has submitted the vehicle for inspection and obtained
30 an of ficial certificate of inspection and approval, sticker , seal or other device for such vehicle.
31 [ 3. ] 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 307.390, violation of this section
32 shall be deemed an infraction.
✔
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