You just bought a car in Missouri, maybe from a private seller, an auction, or a dealer, and it has no plates. You want to drive it home this week without getting pulled over or paying a late penalty. Here is how Missouri temporary tags work in 2026, what they cost, how long they last, and what the new law changes.
The short answer: A Missouri temporary tag, officially a temporary permit, costs up to $5, plus a $9 processing fee at a license office. It lasts 30 days from the purchase date, longer for some dealer sales, and it cannot be renewed. You need proof of ownership and insurance. You still have 30 days to title the car and pay sales tax.
Updated October 26, 2026. Checked against the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Missouri Revised Statutes. Sources are linked at the bottom.
Key takeaways
- Cost: the permit is capped at $5 by law. A license office adds a $9 processing fee.
- Length: 30 days from the purchase date. Some dealer sales allow up to 60 or 90 days.
- One per car: permits are not transferable or renewable. Only the Department of Revenue can reissue one, at its discretion.
- Bring: proof of ownership, proof of insurance, and a safety inspection unless the car is exempt.
- The real deadline: title the car and pay sales tax within 30 days, or a $25 penalty starts on day 31 and grows to as much as $200.
- New law: Senate Bill 28 will replace dealer temp tags with sales tax paid at the dealership, but only after the state’s new system is ready. Private sales stay the same.
What is a Missouri temporary tag?
It is the paper permit you tape to the back of a car you just bought, so you can drive it legally while you get the title and plates. Missouri law calls it a temporary permit. RSMo 301.140 lets three places sell one: the Department of Revenue, a license office acting as its agent, and a registered Missouri dealer.
Your old plates do not come with the car. When a car changes hands, the seller’s plates and registration stay with the seller. The one exception is a trade-in. If you trade in a car with valid plates, you can move those plates to the car you bought and drive on them for 30 days, or longer for some dealer sales.
How much is a temporary tag in Missouri?
The permit itself is cheap. The statute says no dealer, license office, or the department can charge more than $5 for it. Here is what you will see at the counter, from the Department of Revenue buying a vehicle page:
| Item | Amount | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary permit | Up to $5 | When you get the temp tag |
| Permit processing fee | $9 | At a license office |
| Title fee | $8.50 | When you title the car |
| Title processing fee | $9 | When you title the car |
| State sales tax | 4.225% plus your local rate | When you title the car |
| Late title penalty | $25 on day 31, plus $25 every 30 days, up to $200 | Only if you miss the 30-day window |
| Card payments | 2.0% plus $0.25 | If you pay by card |
The temp tag is the small number. The sales tax is the big one. Our guide to Missouri car sales tax in St. Louis shows what the local rate adds where you live.
How long are temp tags good for in Missouri?
Thirty days from the date you bought the car, not the date you picked up the permit. The statute allows longer permits only for certain dealer sales:
| How you bought the car | Longest permit |
|---|---|
| Private seller, auction, or most other sales | 30 days |
| Dealer selling under RSMo 301.210, subsection 5 | Up to 60 days |
| Dealer selling under RSMo 301.213 | Up to 90 days |
The permit also stops being valid once your real plates are issued, and the Department of Revenue says you cannot buy one after you have already applied for the title. Return it to the license office when you get your plates.
Can you extend a Missouri temp tag?
Not on your own. The law says temporary permits are not transferable or renewable, and only one is allowed per vehicle. The director of the Department of Revenue can reissue a permit to extend it while title and registration are being worked out, but that is the department’s call. If your title is stuck, contact the department before the 30 days run out rather than after.
How do you get a temp tag after a private sale or auction?
Private sellers cannot give you one. You get it at a Missouri license office. Here is the order that keeps you legal and inside the deadline:
- 1. Get proof of ownership. That is the title signed over to you, or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957), Notice of Sale (Form 5049), or a dealer-signed Form 108. Our Missouri title transfer guide walks through each form.
- 2. Insure the car. No permit is issued without proof of financial responsibility.
- 3. Get a safety inspection if the car needs one. The Department of Revenue exempts cars under 11 years old with under 150,000 miles, buyers who live in another state, and trailers. See our Missouri safety inspection guide for the checklist.
- 4. Go to a license office and buy the permit. Put it on the rear of the car where it is fully visible.
- 5. Title the car within 30 days of the purchase date and pay the sales tax, or the penalty starts on day 31.
Bought at an auction? The same steps apply unless the auction is a dealer that issues the permit for you. Junk vehicles cannot get a temporary permit at all. A salvage car headed to its Highway Patrol exam can get a separate permit good only for the direct trip to the inspection and back, which our Missouri salvage title guide explains.
Is Missouri getting rid of temporary tags?
Yes, for dealer sales, but not yet. In an August 4, 2025 news release, the Department of Revenue said Senate Bill 28 will end temporary tags for dealership buyers. Instead, you will pay sales tax at the dealership, get a paper copy of your new plate, and receive the metal plate in the mail.
The catch is timing. The department said the change only starts once the second phase of its new FUSION computer system is running. The statute says the same thing: the tax-at-the-dealer rule takes effect only when the director gives notice that it is technologically feasible. As of October 26, 2026, the department’s buying a vehicle page still describes the 30-day temporary permit and paying sales tax at the license office, so the current rules in this guide still apply.
| How you buy | Today | After SB 28 is turned on |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri dealer | Dealer can issue a temp tag. You pay sales tax at the license office. | No temp tag. You pay sales tax at the dealer and get a paper copy of your plate. |
| Private seller or auction | Temp tag at a license office. You pay sales tax there. | No change. You still take your bill of sale to a license office. |
What St. Louis area buyers need to know
Where you live changes what you need at the license office, and the river changes which state’s rules apply.
| Where you live | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| St. Louis City | Emissions test no more than 60 days old to title, plus a safety inspection if not exempt |
| St. Louis County | Same as the city |
| St. Charles County | Same as the city |
| Jefferson County | Same as the city |
| Illinois Metro East | You register in Illinois. A Missouri dealer can sell you a Missouri permit only if you buy the car from that dealer. |
The emissions test is separate from the safety inspection. Our St. Louis emissions testing guide covers exemptions and waivers. If you live on the Illinois side and bought from a private seller in Missouri, check the Illinois Secretary of State for its temporary registration rules instead, and see our guide to car auctions in Illinois.
Bought a car out of state and bringing it to Missouri?
You still title it in Missouri and pay Missouri sales tax within the same 30 days. Our guide to registering an out-of-state car in Missouri covers the forms and fees. If you would rather not drive an untagged car across state lines at all, our guide to transporting a car after winning at auction explains your shipping options. Still deciding between a title transfer and a registration renewal? See car registration vs title transfer.
Skip the drive home: buy online and have it delivered
A temp tag exists so you can drive an unregistered car home. If the car comes to you, that trip goes away. Remarket Space is an online car marketplace open to the public. You need a free account and an ID, not a dealer license. Every listing has an inspection by a Verified Remarket Space Inspector, a free Carfax, an HD virtual test drive, and your out-the-door total with a delivery quote. Every car is delivered, including in the St. Louis area, and the administrative fee covers title work.
See cars up for auction now, read how bidding works, or check the buyer premium and fees. A few St. Louis area listings right now: a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4WD, a 2011 Honda CR-V LX, and a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. For every local option, start with our hub on car auctions in St. Louis.
Frequently asked questions
A Missouri temporary permit lasts 30 days from the purchase date. Some dealer sales allow up to 60 or 90 days under state law. The permit stops being valid once your permanent plates are issued.
State law caps the permit at $5. If you buy it at a license office, the Department of Revenue lists a $9 processing fee on top. Title fees, sales tax, and plate fees are separate and paid when you title the car.
Yes. Take proof of ownership, such as the signed title or a bill of sale, plus proof of insurance and a safety inspection if the car needs one, to a Missouri license office. Private sellers cannot issue temp tags.
Not on your own. Missouri temporary permits are not renewable or transferable, and only one is allowed per vehicle. The Department of Revenue director can reissue a permit while title and registration are pending, so contact the department before it expires.
For dealer sales, yes, under Senate Bill 28, but only once the Department of Revenue’s new FUSION system is ready. Dealership buyers will then pay sales tax at the dealer and get a paper plate copy. Private sales will not change.
You pay a late title penalty. It is $25 on the 31st day after purchase and grows by $25 for every additional 30 days, up to $200. Your temporary permit also runs out after 30 days in most sales.
Sources
- Missouri Revised Statutes 301.140: Temporary permits, fees, and plate transfers
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Buying a vehicle
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Form 5687, titling and registering a vehicle
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Changes coming for motor vehicle buyers (SB 28)
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Missouri is changing how temporary tags and dealer sales tax work, so confirm with the Missouri Department of Revenue before you buy.
