The procedures and approach for selling a car online vary by state. Discover how to sell your used car or truck in Missouri confidentially.
If you're considering selling your used automobile or truck privately and live in the Ozarks, close to the Gateway Arch, in Branson, Springfield, or Jefferson City, you've come to the perfect location. It is understandable that thousands of individual car owners from the Show-Me State have used cashforcarsinc.com to sell their cars, given that there are an estimated 2 million registered trucks and cars in the state of Missouri. You may sell your automobile quickly and for the most money by following the six steps and forms we've detailed below for selling a car in the state of Missouri.
Remember that the majority of U.S. states view the vehicle title as a legal document, thus it is recommended to use the full legal names (no nicknames) of all parties and legible handwriting in either black or blue ink. Be cautious and take your time when filling out the form because mistakes, errors, and the use of correction fluid may render the document invalid.
Step 1: Allow third-party inspection of the vehicle by the buyer
Private car buyers should typically have their chosen skilled and licensed auto mechanic do an inspection. Although the buyer is responsible for paying for this examination, the seller and the buyer must agree on the location and time of the inspection. It is a good idea for you, the seller, to keep the inspection report for your records if it turns out that the automobile has any problems.
Step 2: Compile and arrange the relevant vehicle paperwork
Find the owner's manual, any paper or electronic maintenance records, and other related documentation for the car. The buyer will feel more confident that you have properly maintained the vehicle if you can show them substantial and thorough maintenance records. Paperwork Required Before Selling Your Car: Everything You Need To Know About
The seller is required to give the buyer of the car the inspection certificate if the vehicle has had its biannual safety inspection within the previous 60 days. If the vehicle's emission inspection was performed within the previous 60 days and the buyer lives in the counties of Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Louis, the seller is required to give the buyer the emission certificate. If necessary, sellers must additionally deliver a notarized lien release (Form 4809). These automobiles are not required to undergo emission testing.
Step 3: Sale Bill or Sale Notice
A Notice of Transaction (form 5049) or Bill of Sale (DOR-1957) must be submitted to the Missouri Department of Revenue within 30 days of the sale, according to state law. The following details must be on the bill of sale, which should also be notarized:
Vehicle's Year and Make
Title Number
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Sale Price
Sale Date
The buyer and seller's full legal names and printed addresses
Buyer and seller signatures
If the car is being gifted, the seller must complete a General Affidavit and write "GIFT" next to the purchase amount on the Bill of Sale (Form 768). Sales tax is not required for gifts of vehicles. Despite what the form says, it is not necessary to have the document notarized. The Missouri Department of Revenue must receive a report of any gifted cars within 30 days.
Step 4: Transfer the title
Prior to selling the car, you must fill out an Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108) and pay any associated fees if the vehicle's title has been lost, stolen, or severely damaged. If you're filing for a duplicate title because the original was damaged, this form needs to be notarized, and you must send the damaged title and your application to any Missouri license office. Other queries buyers may have about duplicate titles may be addressed by this practical checklist. Gifted automobiles must carry the word "gift" in the title's sale price section.
In December 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) changed its odometer disclosure guidelines, which have an effect on some private vehicle transactions in Missouri: Any car with a model year of 2011 or later (2012, 2013, etc.) will need to have an odometer disclosure for transfers that take place between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2030. Any vehicle that is less than 20 model years old must have an odometer disclosure as of January 1, 2031. In the past, the NHTSA only mandated disclosure for the first 10 years. Odometer disclosures are not required for vehicles older than 2010. On its website, Missouri makes the Odometer Disclosure Statement form 3019 available.
If there are multiple sellers and buyers, each must be documented. Private car vendors in Missouri must include the following information on the title:
At least one buyer's legal name and address should be printed.
Date of the sale
Market value
Model of the Vehicle
Odometer reading (depending on the model year of the vehicle)
At least one buyer must sign.
Every seller named on the title is required to print and sign
If relevant, the lienholder should be noted in the designated place.
The surviving co-owner of the car may use Form 108 to request a new title in the event that one of the co-owners has passed away. Additionally, an Affidavit to Establish Title to Exempt Property must be signed and notarized by the surviving owner (Form 2305). According to Missouri law, the specified beneficiaries listed to the right of the deceased person's name in the Owner section will receive ownership of the vehicle if the Transfer on Death (TOD) section on Form 108 is checked.
Step 5: Take off your license plates
Remove your license plates, even if they are expired, before the buyer takes control of the car. Even if the car is a gift, the license plate should never be provided to the buyer. The plates should either be destroyed, recycled, or delivered back to a Missouri license office unless the vendor is transferring the plate to another vehicle.
Step 6: Submit a Notice of Sale
Beginning on January 1, 2006, all private motor vehicle sellers must use a Notice of Sale form or Bill of Sale form to notify the Missouri Department of Revenue of the sale within 30 days. This also holds true if you serve as the trustee, personal estate representative, or another type of successor. Vehicles that are sold to an out-of-state buyer, transferred to a beneficiary listed in a trust, or transferred to a transfer-on-death beneficiary are exempt. Visit dor.mo.gov to see the complete list of exemptions. A fine of up to $300 could be imposed on a private car seller who neglects to disclose the sale of an essential vehicle. Sellers should only submit the Notice of Sale or the Bill of Sale; neither document is required. Cancel your insurance when the deal is finished.
Visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website for further details.
The Easier Way to Sell Your Car
Now that you've learned everything there is to know about selling a car in Missouri, it's time to determine where to list it. Cashforcarsinc.com makes it simple to sell your car. With ready-to-sign state documentation, encrypted chat, and more, our platform provides all the tools and recommendations you need to make the transaction a breeze.
