, temporary license plates can be obtained from the dealership where you purchased your vehicle or for $11 at your local Missouri licensing office.

Temporary license plates are valid for 30 days in Missouri, but qualified dealers may be able to issue longer temporary plates under certain circumstances
Missouri recently updated its
vehicle registration laws
to dissuade new car buyers from driving with expired temporary license plates
Drivers who are caught driving without a valid license plate in Missouri face a fine anywhere from $5 to $500
Driving with expired temporary plates carries a $200 fine in the state of Missouri

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How temporary license plates work in Missouri

Temporary license plates in Missouri are valid for up to 30 days. Missouri issues temp tags so new vehicle buyers have time to do the following:

Complete their Missouri vehicle registration at a Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) licensing office

Drive their unregistered car to prerequisites like vehicle inspections

MORE: How to buy a car in Missouri

Problems with Missouri’s temporary license plate system

Until recently, car buyers in Missouri were required to pay a car sales tax when they registered their vehicle, which could amount to thousands of unexpected dollars in addition to the following standard Missouri registration fees:

$6 title processing fee

$6 registration processing fee

$8.50 title fee

Here’s an example: If you had purchased a vehicle for $20,000 in

St. Louis

, you would pay a combined 11.998% state and local sales tax for a total of $2,397.60 on top of the above-mentioned $20.50 for title and processing fees. Many Missouri drivers choose to risk the $200 fine for driving with an expired temporary plate instead of paying thousands for proper registration.

Updates to the law: A new law now allows car buyers to pay tax at the point of purchase. However, many drivers are still avoiding the tax bill they amassed under the old system.

How to get a temporary license plate in Missouri

You can get temporary license plates in Missouri from:

Your motor vehicle dealer, or

Your local Missouri DMV office.

You’ll need to bring along the following paperwork to get temporary license tags on your own:

Proof of ownership: This can be a properly signed-over certificate of title, a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, a Bill of Sale, a Notice of Sale, or a Missouri Application for Title and License signed by the dealer.

A Missouri safety inspection: This inspection should be no more than 60 days old. Out-of-state buyers and vehicles that are less than 11 years old with less than 150,000 miles are exempt.

Proof of insurance

: You’ll need to provide

a valid insurance identification card

or other proof of financial responsibility.

Proof of identity: Make sure to bring your Missouri driver’s license with you to the licensing office!

Pro Tip Be sure to have your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) on hand when getting temporary tags.

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Temporary registration permits in Missouri

Temporary registration in Missouri typically lasts for 30 days. Qualified dealers may issue 60 or 90-day temporary registrations under certain circumstances.

How much it costs: Temporary permits cost $5 with an additional $6 processing fee if you obtain it from a license office instead of a dealer.

You need valid plates to drive a car in Missouri

You must display a temporary or permanent license plate to legally drive your car in Missouri. Anyone found guilty of driving without a valid license plate in the state of Missouri may face a fine between $5 and $500.

What to expect: You can drive your car in Missouri until your temporary tag expires—usually up to 30 days. Failure to register your vehicle with permanent Missouri license plates will result in a $25 fine on the day after the expiration date.

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