Overview
That last part trips people up constantly: buy a car from a Springfield dealer but title it at your St. Louis address, and you owe St. Louis's combined rate, not Springfield's. Enter your numbers below - pick your actual home jurisdiction from the list - and the calculator itemizes every line your license office will charge, horsepower band and all.
01 - Official fees
Missouri tax, title & license fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle sales tax | 4.225% + local | local rate = buyer's home city/county, not the dealer's |
| Title fee | $8.50 | |
| Title processing fee | $6.00 | |
| Registration, under 12 hp | $18.25/yr | |
| Registration, 36–47 hp | $33.25/yr | typical sedan band |
| Registration, 72+ hp | $51.25/yr | |
| Registration processing fee | $6.00/yr ($12 for 2-year plates) | |
| Alternative fuel decal (EV) | $150/yr | plug-in hybrids MY2018+ pay half, $75/yr |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your local license office (a contracted agent, not a DOR branch) for titling and registration; your county collector for personal property tax - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to title and register a vehicle in Missouri
- 1
Get the properly signed-over title (or dealer paperwork) and, for a private sale, a safety inspection certificate less than 60 days old unless the vehicle is exempt.
- 2
Fill out Form 108 (Application for Missouri Title and License).
- 3
Bring the title, Form 108, proof of insurance, and ID to any Missouri license office within 30 days of the purchase date.
- 4
Pay the combined sales tax for your home address, the $14.50 title cost, and the horsepower-based registration in one transaction.
- 5
Keep the receipt - you'll need it again every December when the county collector bills personal property tax on the vehicle.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Missouri vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Missouri tax, title & license FAQ
How much is tax, title and license on a $25,000 car in Missouri?
It depends entirely on your home address. At the statewide average combined rate (about 8.44%), tax alone is roughly $2,110; add $14.50 in title costs and $39–$45 in first-year registration for a typical sedan, for a total near $2,165–$2,170. In the City of St. Louis (9.679%) the tax portion jumps to about $2,420.
Why does registration cost more for some cars than others?
Missouri prices annual registration by taxable horsepower, not vehicle weight or value. A low-power compact might pay $18.25–$24.25 a year; a high-horsepower truck or sports car pays up to $51.25. Two identically priced cars can have very different registration bills if their engines differ.
Do I pay Missouri's sales tax rate or my county's rate?
Both, added together - but the local piece is set by where you live and title the car, never by the dealership's address. A St. Louis County resident who buys from a Kansas City dealer still pays the St. Louis County combined rate.
Does a trade-in lower my Missouri sales tax?
Yes - Missouri taxes the purchase price minus your trade-in allowance, dealer sales only. Trade a $12,000 vehicle in against a $30,000 purchase and you're taxed on $18,000.
What happens if I don't title the car within 30 days?
A flat $25 penalty hits on day 31, then another $25 for every additional 30 days you're late, capped at $200. It applies regardless of whether you also owe sales tax, so a delayed private-party purchase gets expensive fast.
Is there anything besides TTL I should budget for?
Yes - the December personal property tax bill. Missouri taxes vehicles you own on January 1 each year through your county collector, separately from titling. It's not due at the license office counter, but you'll need the paid receipt to renew your plates later.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.