Missouri car title transfer

At a glance

Seller's signature

No. The seller's and buyer's signatures on the back of the title don't need to be notarized.

Buyer's signature

No. The state says the signatures on the back of the title don't need a notary.

Bill of sale

The seller reports the sale with a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957).

Odometer

The seller writes in the odometer reading and the sale date.

Buyer's deadline

The buyer applies for a title within 30 days of the purchase date.

Plates

The seller removes the plates, valid or expired, before the buyer takes the vehicle.

Seller's report

The seller reports the sale to the Department within 30 days.

Agency

Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau

If you're selling

1. Find the title and clear any lien. Have the original title in hand. If a lender is listed, get the lien release or the lender's sign-off before the sale; the buyer can't title the car over an open lien.
2. Sign the title over. No. The seller's and buyer's signatures on the back of the title don't need to be notarized. Don't sign until the buyer is ready, and write in the buyer's name and the sale date exactly.
3. Write down the mileage. The seller writes in the odometer reading and the sale date.
4. Give the buyer a bill of sale. The seller reports the sale with a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957).
5. Deal with the plates. The seller removes the plates, valid or expired, before the buyer takes the vehicle.
6. Report the sale. The seller reports the sale to the Department within 30 days.
7. Cancel insurance and keep copies. Once the car is gone and the plates are off, call your insurer. Keep a photo of the signed title, the bill of sale and any sale report.

If you're buying

1. Check the title against the car and the seller. The VIN on the title should match the car, and the seller's ID should match the owner's name on the title. Ask about any lien listed on it.
2. Watch the title get signed. Seller: No. The seller's and buyer's signatures on the back of the title don't need to be notarized. Buyer: No. The state says the signatures on the back of the title don't need a notary.
3. Get a bill of sale. The seller reports the sale with a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957).
4. Check the mileage entry. The seller writes in the odometer reading and the sale date.
5. Insure the car before you drive it. Most states require insurance to register. Arrange it before driving away.
6. Title it in your name in time. The buyer applies for a title within 30 days of the purchase date.
7. Plates and fees. The seller removes the plates, valid or expired, before the buyer takes the vehicle.

Sold on the first of a month? See the due date for a December 1, 2026 sale.

Your own checklist, marked step by step: seller · buyer.

In the agency's words

Seller

"These signatures do not need to be notarized."

Buyer

"These signatures do not need to be notarized."

Bill of sale

"must submit a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957) form to report the sale"

Deadline

"apply for title in your name within 30 days of the purchase date."

Plates

"remove your license plates (whether they are valid or expired)"

Report of sale

"must report the sale within 30 days to the Department."

Not stated on the pages we read: the title fee.

Official sources

• Missouri DOR: Selling a Vehicle (checked November 2026)
• Missouri DOR: Titling and Registration FAQs (checked November 2026)

General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the official pages listed above. Forms, fees and deadlines change, a county office can add its own steps, and gifts, estates, liens and out-of-state titles follow other rules; the agency or an attorney can tell you how a rule applies to your sale. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with any motor vehicle agency.

Common questions

All states: car title notarization by state · Kansas · Montana