No notary is required.
No. The seller's and buyer's signatures on the back of the title don't need to be notarized.
In the official wording
"These signatures do not need to be notarized."
From the official pages listed below, checked November 2026.
What else the signing needs
- Buyer's signature
- No. The state says the signatures on the back of the title don't need a notary.
"These signatures do not need to be notarized."
- Bill of sale
- The seller reports the sale with a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957).
"must submit a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957) form to report the sale"
- Odometer
- The seller writes in the odometer reading and the sale date.
"The seller must write in the odometer reading and date of sale."
- Buyer's deadline
- The buyer applies for a title within 30 days of the purchase date.
"apply for title in your name within 30 days of the purchase date."
- Plates
- The seller removes the plates, valid or expired, before the buyer takes the vehicle.
"remove your license plates (whether they are valid or expired)"
- Seller's report of sale
- The seller reports the sale to the Department within 30 days.
"must report the sale within 30 days to the Department."
Not confirmed on the pages we read: the title fee. Check with Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau.
Next step
No notary appointment needed for the title on the agency's page. If another paper in the sale needs one, such as a lost-title affidavit, a local notary or our mobile notary request can help.
If a local notary in Missouri does it: Acknowledgment, jurat or signature witnessing, per signature, $5; Electronic acknowledgment, jurat or signature witnessing, per signature, $5, under the state's fee rules (Missouri notary fees).
Official sources
- Missouri DOR: Selling a Vehicle (checked November 2026)
- Missouri DOR: Titling and Registration FAQs (checked November 2026)
We are not lawyers, and this is general information, not legal advice. Checked November 2026. Rules change, and whoever receives the document decides what it accepts; we can't guarantee acceptance.
Common questions
Is notarization required to sign over a Missouri car title?
No notary is required. The seller's and buyer's signatures on the back of the title don't need to be notarized.
Does the buyer's signature need a notary in Missouri?
No. The state says the signatures on the back of the title don't need a notary.
Is a bill of sale needed with a Missouri title?
The seller reports the sale with a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957).
How long does the buyer have to title the car in Missouri?
The buyer applies for a title within 30 days of the purchase date.
Keep going
A car title in another state: Louisiana · Montana · every state