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Missouri License Plate Lookup

GoodCar's license plate lookup provides interested parties with the right information on their vehicles.
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How To Lookup Missouri License Plates

Apart from helping law enforcement find and uncover hit-and-run vehicles and stolen cars, a Missouri license plate lookup can help anyone identify a vehicle or obtain certain information about it. For instance, a Missouri license plate lookup can help you uncover the model, year of manufacture, odometer readings, repossession history, natural damage, accident history, and several other history reports about the vehicle to which the plate is registered. A license plate lookup can be conducted offline or online.

Anyone can perform a Missouri license plate lookup offline by visiting the state's Department of Revenue (DOR) in person and requesting certain information about the vehicle. While the DOR offers online license plate lookup services, you can also look up a Missouri license plate on third-party websites like GoodCar and request a vehicle history report. However, state law limits the information you may obtain from a license plate check as a person. Hence, do not expect any personally identifying information to appear when you look up a Missouri license plate. Generally, you can look up a license plate online using a car's license plate number or the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

License Plates

License Plates

Using a vehicle's license plate number, you can perform a Missouri license plate lookup on the GoodCar website. To do this, select Search by License Plate and enter a license plate number while ensuring to select "Missouri" as the state and then click the search button. Typically, a Missouri license plate number search will return information such as the accident history, vehicle specifications, odometer rollback, last reported mileage, and whether the vehicle has been reported stolen. Note that you may need to pay a small fee to be able to access or view full vehicle history reports/information.

VIN

VIN

Looking up a Missouri-registered vehicle on GoodCar's website using VIN, a set of numbers with 17 characters that identifies a vehicle, will return the same results as a license plate search. The VIN is unique for each vehicle and can be found on the dashboard near the windshield on the driver's side or near the bottom of the door frame on the driver's side door. To look up a Missouri-registered vehicle on GoodCar using the VIN, select Search by VIN, enter the VIN, and then click the search button. Finding a full vehicle report using the VIN also attracts a fee, although affordable. Vins are longer and more difficult to use than license plate numbers, but they deliver nearly the same result without the requirement to add the state the vehicle is registered in.

Why Run a License Plate Search in Missouri?

Reasons to Run License Plate Search in Missouri

Checking a vehicle on the surface, especially when contemplating purchasing a used vehicle in Missouri, is not enough to understand its history. For instance, a Missouri license plate search can help you determine if the used car you intend to purchase in the state has been reported stolen. Missouri has consistently featured as one of the states with the most stolen vehicles. In 2023, at least 27,279 vehicles were reported stolen in the state. Conducting a license plate lookup becomes crucial, considering that many of these vehicles will be sold to unsuspecting buyers, who may end up getting into legal trouble.

Also, a license plate search in Missouri can prevent a person from buying a problematic vehicle. With a license plate lookup on GoodCar, you can obtain several history reports on a vehicle, such as accident history, repossession history, and recall history. At least 900 road crash incidents involving motor vehicles were reported in 2021 in Missouri. Doing a license plate search can prevent someone from purchasing such accident vehicles from deceitful dealers or car owners who may intentionally refurbish them for sale.

Furthermore, because owning or driving a vehicle without insurance in the state is illegal, law enforcement can run a Missouri license plate lookup to confirm a vehicle's insurance status in a bid to ensure compliance with state law. Revisor of Missouri, Section 303.160 requires vehicle owners to show proof of insurance each time they register their cars with the DOR or renew license plates. Generally, running a vehicle's license plate in Missouri using the license plate number is easier than VIN checks. VINs have longer characters than license plate numbers, and retrieving them (VINs) from vehicles can be arduous.

What Can You Get Out of a Missouri License Plate Lookup?

Each vehicle registered in Missouri has a unique license plate, and the information associated with each license plate is created and maintained by relevant government agencies. These agencies include the Missouri Department of Revenue (vehicle titling and registration division), the Department of Transport (DOT), and other authorized local agencies.

Generally, the Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) protects every piece of information linked to Missouri license plates. However, with GoodCar, it is possible for anyone to retrieve detailed and comprehensive vehicle reports about a car using its license plate number. You can get the following out of a Missouri license plate lookup:

Vehicle Records

Vehicle Records

The Missouri license plate lookup services offered by GoodCar allow interested persons to obtain several vehicle reports/records, including title records, registration history, accident history, rebuild records, recall history, and odometer information. GoodCar is approved by the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) to provide consumers with several vehicle reports.

Title Brands and Problem Checks

Title Brands and Problem Checks

Conducting a Missouri license plate lookup can help you uncover a vehicle's title history and find out if the title has been branded. A title brand check can help someone determine if a car (especially used) is unsafe to drive or has previously sustained certain damage. Reports obtained from this check may indicate whether a vehicle has been rebuilt, flooded, salvaged, declared a total loss, or has some other serious problems.

Why Choose GoodCar for Missouri Plate Lookups?

Why Choose GoodCar for Missouri Plate Lookups?

Requesters can benefit from extensive vehicle records and reports as they obtain information from accredited data providers like the NMVTIS. GoodCar also illustrates theft checks, collision records, recalls, flood, hail, or fire damage, and pricing.

Missouri Resources

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Missouri License Plates

Missouri license plates are aluminum plates containing certain characters that serve as vehicle identification. State law requires each motor vehicle to have one or two license plates, depending on the type of vehicle. Missouri license plates are manufactured by the state's Department of Corrections (DOC) at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. However, they are issued by the Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration Division of the Missouri Department of Revenue. State law prohibits driving a vehicle with no license plate on the highway.

Standard Issue License Plates

Standard Issue License Plates

Missouri standard license plates are the regular plates issued to vehicle owners after titling and registering their cars. The latest standard license plates come in white background embossed with blue characters (letters and numbers) and a splash of red at the top of the plates. The new design was introduced in commemoration of Missouri's bicentennial. However, the standard license plate introduced in 2008 is still widely used in the state. It features a white and blue design with dark blue lettering, the state emblem at the center, and the image of a bluebird. The total cost of getting a Missouri License plate includes an $8.50 title fee and a $6 processing fee.

Personalized License plates

Personalized License plates

Missouri personalized license plates offer interested persons the opportunity to select their preferred plate number configuration up to six characters, depending on the type of vehicle and plate on standard license plates. When choosing a plate number configuration for a personalized license plate, avoid using characters (letters, numbers, or a combination of both) that are profane, obscene, or offensive. The DOR will not approve or issue such a license plate. A $15 application fee applies when requesting a Missouri personalized license plate.

Specialty License Plates

Specialty License Plates

Specialty license plates in Missouri allow vehicle owners to show support for various groups or causes like the military, universities, colleges, charitable groups, and several other organizations. The state's Department of Revenue issues over 100 specialty license plate designs to interested persons. Popular among them are Breast Cancer Awareness, Fight Terrorism, University of Missouri, Support Our Troops, and the God Bless America license plates. Besides allowing a person to show support for a particular cause or group, a Missouri specialty license plate permits vehicle owners to select a preferred plate number configuration, up to six characters, depending on the vehicle type. Expect to pay at least $15 to obtain a specialty license plate in the state.

How to Get a License Plate in Missouri

How to Get a
License Plate in Missouri

The first step to obtaining a Missouri license plate is to title the vehicle on which the license plate will be affixed. While residents have 30 days from the date of purchase to title their new cars, non-residents must title their 30 days from the date they establish residency in the state. Afterward, prepare all the documents/information required to apply for a license plate, including the following:

Proof of vehicle ownership in the form of a Certificate of Title or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO)

Required documents can be submitted by mail to the DOR at:

Motor Vehicle Bureau
P.O. Box 2046
Jefferson City, MO 65105-0100

Alternatively, applications for Missouri license plates can be submitted in person at any local motor vehicle license office within the state.

MO License Plate Renewal

Typically, you will get a renewal notice from the Missouri Department of Revenue before your vehicle registration expires. If a personal identification number (PIN) is printed on your vehicle license plate renewal notice or you meet certain conditions, you can renew your Missouri license plate online. Otherwise, read the instructions on the vehicle registration renewal notice and mail your renewal application to the DOR. While all local licensing offices also allow in-person license plate renewal in Missouri, some offer phone-in renewal services. You can contact your local vehicle license office to confirm their preference. Generally, renewing a Missouri license plate online is recommended as it is convenient, fast, and offers convenient payment options.

MO License Plate Replacement

If your Missouri license plate is stolen or lost, ensure to report the situation to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) or your local law enforcement authority immediately. Afterward, complete and notarize Form 1576 (Application for Replacement Plates/Tabs Form), stating your reason for seeking a replacement, and submit it in person at any Missouri license office or by mail to the Motor Vehicle Bureau at Jefferson City. While you may obtain up to two sets of replacement license plates per year free of charge, the $6 standard processing fee will still apply.

Frequently Asked Questions about Missouri License Plate Lookups

Frequently Asked Questions about
Missouri License Plate Lookups

  1. Can I Look Up MO License Plates for Free?

    Yes. While you can look up Missouri license plates for free online, you may not find as much information as you would like. At best, you may find information like the vehicle's make, model, year of manufacture, recalls, and market value. Generally, GoodCar offers consumers a free license plate search platform for basic information. However, for a small fee (as little as $2.95), you can take advantage of the company's reliable license plate lookup services to obtain a more comprehensive vehicle history report when conducting a Missouri license plate search.

  2. Can I Use Missouri License Plate Lookup Services To Find Out About a Vehicle's Accident History?

    Yes. Any reliable online license plate lookup service like GoodCar will reveal a vehicle's accident history in Missouri for as far back as the car has been registered in the state.

  3. How Can I Register a Vanity License Plate in Missouri?

    You can register a vanity license plate in Missouri by submitting a completed Application for Missouri Personalized and Special Plates (Form 1716) and all required documents/information to the MVB at:

    Motor Vehicle Burea
    Personalized License Plate Section
    301 West High Street, Room 370
    P.O. Box 569
    Jefferson City, MO 65105-0569

Missouri Resources: