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Missouri car registration fee calculator

How much does it cost to register a car in Missouri? Registration is $18.25 to $51.25 a year depending on your car's taxable horsepower, plus a $9 processing fee. When you buy, add the $8.50 title fee and its $9 processing fee, and sales tax: 4.225% to the state plus your local rate, on the price less any trade-in. Electric cars add a $150 yearly alternative fuel decal and plug-in hybrids $75.

Your vehicle

$
Not needed for renewals or gifts. New residents: what you paid, if you've owned the car less than 90 days.
$
Tax is charged on the price less any trade-in or rebate.
$
If you sold a vehicle within 180 days before or after this purchase, its sale price is also taken off before tax (bring the bill of sale).
%
Set by where you live. Look it up with the DOR's sales tax calculator (answer "No" to "Sold by a Missouri dealer" for a private or out-of-state purchase). Leave blank if you don't know it yet.
%
Missouri charges only the difference. Leave blank if you paid none.
Shown on your Missouri title, title application or renewal notice. Electric vehicles always pay the under-12 HP fee.
Two years is offered in even years for even model years and in odd years for odd model years.
Estimated total
$1,318.25

Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.

  • Registration (1 yr)By taxable horsepowerMissouri DOR · checked Oct 16, 2026$24.25
  • Registration processing fee$9 per yearMissouri DOR · checked Oct 16, 2026$9.00
  • Title feeMissouri DOR · checked Oct 16, 2026$8.50
  • Title processing feeMissouri DOR · checked Oct 16, 2026$9.00
  • State sales tax4.225% of priceMissouri DOR · checked Oct 16, 2026$1,267.50
  • Local sales taxEnter your local rateMissouri DOR · checked Oct 16, 2026not available

Total excludes items marked "not available".

What you'll pay later

Renewal at today's rates: $33.25/yr

Year 1 $1,318.25 · Years 2–5 $33.25/yr · 5-year total $1,451.25 + items not available

Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.

Estimate only. Rates checked October 16, 2026 · Missouri. Confirm with the Missouri Department of Revenue (through your local license office).SOURCE-CITED

How we calculate each line

FeeHow it's worked outSource
RegistrationThe Department's fee for your taxable horsepower class, times one or two years; electric vehicles use the under-12 HP fee.Missouri DOR – Motor Vehicle FeesChecked October 16, 2026
Processing fee$9 for each year of registration.Missouri DOR – Motor Vehicle FeesChecked October 16, 2026
Title$8.50 plus a $9 title processing fee, on any title transaction.Missouri DOR – Form 5113 Customer Fee ScheduleChecked October 16, 2026
State sales tax4.225% of the price less trade-in or rebate and less the price of a car you sold within 180 days.Missouri DOR – Form 5687 Buying a VehicleChecked October 16, 2026
Local sales taxThe rate you enter on the same amount; not available if left blank.Missouri DOR – Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Rate Chart for October–December 2026Checked October 16, 2026
New resident tax$0 after 90 days of ownership in your old state; otherwise state plus local rate minus the rate you paid there.Missouri DOR – Motor Vehicle FeesChecked October 16, 2026
GiftNo sales tax with a signed gift statement.Missouri DOR – Missouri Titling ManualChecked October 16, 2026
Alternative fuel decal$150 (electric) or $75 (plug-in hybrid) a year in 2026, plus the $9 processing fee.Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026

Totals add up every line that has an amount; lines marked "not available" are left out. More on our method: how we calculate.

Missouri vehicle fees at a glance (2026)

Registration, by taxable horsepower$18.25 – $51.25/yr
Electric vehicles$18.25/yr (lowest class)
Processing fee$9 per year of registration
Title fee$8.50 + $9 processing
Alternative fuel decal, electric$150/yr
Alternative fuel decal, plug-in hybrid$75/yr
State sales tax4.225%
Local sales tax (October–December 2026)0% – 7.263% by address

Download this fee summary (PDF)

Missouri fee history

Past, current and already-scheduled amounts, only where an official source prints them. The calculator uses the row marked "now".

Alternative fuel decal, electric passenger vehicle (per year)

In effectAmountSource
Until Dec 31, 2021$75Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022$90*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023$105*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024$120*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025$135*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
From Jan 1, 2026 (now)$150*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026

Alternative fuel decal, plug-in hybrid (model year 2018 or newer, per year)

In effectAmountSource
Until Dec 31, 2021$37.50Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022$45*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023$52.50*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024$60*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025$67.50*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026
From Jan 1, 2026 (now)$75*Revised Statutes of Missouri § 142.869 – alternative fuel decalChecked October 16, 2026

* Worked out from the yearly schedule written in the law; the agency doesn't print each year's amount.

What this estimate does and does not include

  • Registration fees are from the Department of Revenue's fee page and its Customer Fee Schedule (Form 5113, revised October 2026). They are a little above the base amounts in RSMo 301.055 (for example $24.25 against $24), and the license office charges the Department's amounts. Each year of registration also carries a $9 processing fee.
  • Your local sales tax rate depends on your exact address, including some ambulance, fire and other districts, so the calculator asks you to enter it. The Department's rate chart for October to December 2026 runs from 0% to 7.263% for cars sold by a Missouri dealer; a separate, often lower rate applies when the seller isn't a Missouri dealer. Leave the box blank and the local tax shows as not available.
  • If you sold a car within 180 days before or after this purchase, its sale price is taken off the taxable price too (replacement vehicle credit). Trade-ins and rebates at a dealer are also deducted.
  • Title and pay the tax within 30 days of buying. After that there's a $25 penalty for each 30 days, up to $200.
  • Moving to Missouri: title within 30 days of becoming a resident. No Missouri sales tax is due if you owned and drove the car in your old state for at least 90 days; otherwise you pay the difference between Missouri's state and local tax and what you paid there. An electronic transmission fee of $2 may also apply, which isn't included.
  • Gifts are exempt from sales tax with a gift statement signed by the giver, if the giver had paid the tax on the car.
  • Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids (model year 2018 or newer) pay a yearly alternative fuel decal instead of fuel tax: $150 and $75 in 2026 (RSMo 142.869, the last of five yearly increases). The $9 processing fee for the decal is from the Department's fee schedule.
  • Not included: personal property tax (you need last year's paid receipt or a statement of non-assessment from your county to register), safety inspection fees (cars under 10 years old and 150,000 miles are exempt) and emissions inspections in St. Louis City and St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties, which are paid at the inspection station.
  • Trucks, motorcycles, trailers and RVs have different fees and aren't covered by this calculator. Transferring plates from a car you already own is also not covered.
Official sources · Last checked October 16, 2026 · Next monthly check: November 2026

Missouri registration questions

How much is car registration in Missouri?

$18.25 to $51.25 a year depending on the car's taxable horsepower, plus a $9 processing fee. Electric vehicles pay the lowest class, $18.25, but add a $150 yearly alternative fuel decal in 2026 (plug-in hybrids $75). You can register for two years in some cases, which doubles both amounts.

How much is sales tax on a car in Missouri?

4.225% to the state plus your local rate, which depends on where you live. It's charged on the purchase price less any trade-in or rebate, and less the price of a car you sold within 180 days. On a $30,000 car the state part alone is $1,267.50.

How much does it cost to title a car in Missouri?

$8.50 plus a $9 processing fee, so $17.50. You have 30 days after buying; after that there's a $25 penalty for every 30 days late, up to $200.

Do I pay sales tax when I move to Missouri with my car?

Not if you owned and drove it in your old state for at least 90 days. If you've owned it for less, you pay the difference between Missouri's state and local tax and the tax you already paid. You have 30 days after becoming a resident to title it.

Is there sales tax on a car given as a gift in Missouri?

No, if you submit a gift statement signed by the giver and the giver had paid the tax on the car. You still pay the title and registration fees.

What is taxable horsepower?

A figure the Department of Revenue uses to set the registration fee for passenger cars. It's printed on your Missouri title, your title application and your renewal notice; the license office can look it up from the VIN. Electric vehicles are always in the lowest class.

Missouri guides

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