Selling a car in Missouri: the paperwork
| Missouri seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Not required |
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | Notice of Sale, Form 5049 (or Bill of Sale Form 1957), within 30 days |
| Duplicate title | Application for Missouri Title and License, Form 108 (notarized); $8.50 plus $9 processing fee |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (Form 5423, Bill of Sale for Scrap Metal Operators, Vehicles Ten Years or Older Without Title) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Missouri
We buy cars in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia and Independence, and in every other town in Missouri a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Missouri
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Missouri, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Missouri
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Missouri too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Missouri car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Missouri?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Missouri title, apply to the Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau with Application for Missouri Title and License, Form 108 (notarized). The fee is $8.50 plus $9 processing fee.
Can I junk a car without a title in Missouri?
Sometimes. RSMo 301.227.9 lets scrap metal operators buy inoperable vehicles 10+ model years old without a title using DOR Form 5423, the seller's state ID copy, and a lien check (waived at 20+ years). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Missouri title, apply to the Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau with Application for Missouri Title and License, Form 108 (notarized). The fee is $8.50 plus $9 processing fee.
Does the title need to be notarized in Missouri?
No. Missouri doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title, and add the odometer reading and sale date where the title asks for them.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Missouri?
In Missouri, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Seller removes the plates, valid or expired, before the buyer takes possession.
How do I tell the Missouri DMV that I sold my car?
File the Notice of Sale, Form 5049 (or Bill of Sale Form 1957), with the state within 30 days of the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Missouri?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Missouri a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Missouri DOR: Selling a Vehicle
- Missouri DOR: Notice of Sale Reporting Requirement
- Missouri DOR: Notice of Sale Form 5049
- Missouri DOR: Missing/Duplicate Titles
- RSMo 301.227 (Revisor of Missouri)
- Missouri DOR Form 5423, Bill of Sale for Scrap Metal Operators, Vehicles Ten Years or Older Without Title
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.