V.A.M.S. 301.132 Street rod and custom vehicle certificate of title--requirements--fee--safety inspection required--plates issued, content--use of blue dot tail lights

1. For purposes of this section, "street rod" is a vehicle older than 1949 or a vehicle manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949; and has been altered from the manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal materials.

2. The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title of a street rod vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the body of such vehicle resembles. The current and all subsequent certificates of ownership shall be designated with the word "REPLICA".

3. For each street rod, there shall be an annual fee equal to the fee charged for personalized license plates in section 301.144 in addition to the regular annual registration fees.

4. In applying for registration of a street rod pursuant to this section, the owner of the street rod shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the application is made:

(1) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, and similar uses;

(2) Will not be used for general daily transportation.

5. In addition to the certification required pursuant to subsection 4 of this section, when applying for registration of a street rod, the new owner of the street rod shall provide proof that the street rod passed a safety inspection in accordance with section 307.350 that shall be approved by the department of public safety in consultation with the street rod community in this state.

6. On registration of a vehicle pursuant to this section, the director of the department of revenue shall issue to the owner two license plates containing the number assigned to the registration certificate issued by the director of revenue, and the following words: "STREET ROD", "STATE OF MISSOURI". Such license plates shall be kept securely attached to the motor vehicle registered pursuant to this section. The director of revenue shall determine the characteristic features of such license plates for vehicles registered pursuant to the provisions of this section so that they may be recognized as such, except that such license plates shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130.

7. Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this state as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title, the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered pursuant to this section.

8. Except as provided in subsection 5 of this section, a vehicle registered pursuant to this section is exempt from any statute of this state that requires periodic vehicle inspections and from any statute of this state that requires the use and inspection of emission controls.

9. A "custom vehicle" means any motor vehicle that:

(1) Is at least twenty-five years old and of a model year after 1948, or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle twenty-five years old or older and of a model year after 1948; and

(2) Has been altered from the manufacturer's original design, or has an entire body constructed from nonoriginal materials.

10. The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title of a custom vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the body of such vehicle resembles. The current and all subsequent certificates of ownership shall be designated with the word "REPLICA".

11. For each custom vehicle, there shall be an annual fee equal to the fee charged for personalized license plates in section 301.144 in addition to the regular annual registration fees.

12. In applying for registration of a custom vehicle pursuant to this section, the owner of the custom vehicle shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the application is made:

(1) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibits, club activities, parades, tours, and similar uses; and

(2) Will not be used for general daily transportation.

13. In addition to the certification required pursuant to subsection 12 of this section, when applying for registration of a custom vehicle, the new owner of the custom vehicle shall provide proof that the custom vehicle passed a safety inspection in accordance with section 307.350 that shall be approved by the department of public safety in consultation with the street rod community in this state.

14. On registration of a vehicle pursuant to this section, the director of the department of revenue shall issue to the owner two license plates containing the number assigned to the registration certificate issued by the director of revenue, and the following words: "CUSTOM VEHICLE", "STATE OF MISSOURI". Such license plates shall be kept securely attached to the motor vehicle registered hereunder. The director of revenue shall determine the characteristic features of such license plates for vehicles registered pursuant to the provisions of this section so that they may be recognized as such, except that such license plates shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130.

15. Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this state as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title, the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered pursuant to this section.

16. Except as provided in subsection 13 of this section, a vehicle registered pursuant to this section is exempt from any statute of this state that requires periodic vehicle inspections and from any statute of this state that requires the use and inspection of emission controls.

17. For purposes of this section, "blue dot tail light" is a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter.

18. A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors.

V.A.M.S. 301.190 Certificate of registration--application, contents--special requirements, certain vehicles--fees--failure to obtain within time limit, delinquency penalty--duration of certificate--unlawful to operate without certificate--certain vehicles brought into state in a wrecked or damaged condition or after being towed, inspection--certain vehicles previously registered in other states, designation--reconstructed motor vehicles, procedure

1. No certificate of registration of any motor vehicle or trailer, or number plate therefor, shall be issued by the director of revenue unless the applicant therefor shall make application for and be granted a certificate of ownership of such motor vehicle or trailer, or shall present satisfactory evidence that such certificate has been previously issued to the applicant for such motor vehicle or trailer. Application shall be made within thirty days after the applicant acquires the motor vehicle or trailer, unless the motor vehicle was acquired under section 301.213 in which case the applicant shall make application within thirty days after receiving title from the dealer, upon a blank form furnished by the director of revenue and shall contain the applicant's identification number, a full description of the motor vehicle or trailer, the vehicle identification number, and the mileage registered on the odometer at the time of transfer of ownership, as required by section 407.536, together with a statement of the applicant's source of title and of any liens or encumbrances on the motor vehicle or trailer, provided that for good cause shown the director of revenue may extend the period of time for making such application. When an owner wants to add or delete a name or names on an application for certificate of ownership of a motor vehicle or trailer that would cause it to be inconsistent with the name or names listed on the notice of lien, the owner shall provide the director with documentation evidencing the lienholder's authorization to add or delete a name or names on an application for certificate of ownership.

2. The director of revenue shall use reasonable diligence in ascertaining whether the facts stated in such application are true and shall, to the extent possible without substantially delaying processing of the application, review any odometer information pertaining to such motor vehicle that is accessible to the director of revenue. If satisfied that the applicant is the lawful owner of such motor vehicle or trailer, or otherwise entitled to have the same registered in his name, the director shall thereupon issue an appropriate certificate over his signature and sealed with the seal of his office, procured and used for such purpose. The certificate shall contain on its face a complete description, vehicle identification number, and other evidence of identification of the motor vehicle or trailer, as the director of revenue may deem necessary, together with the odometer information required to be put on the face of the certificate pursuant to section 407.536, a statement of any liens or encumbrances which the application may show to be thereon, and, if ownership of the vehicle has been transferred, the name of the state issuing the transferor's title and whether the transferor's odometer mileage statement executed pursuant to section 407.536 indicated that the true mileage is materially different from the number of miles shown on the odometer, or is unknown.

3. The director of revenue shall appropriately designate on the current and all subsequent issues of the certificate the words "Reconstructed Motor Vehicle", "Motor Change Vehicle", "Specially Constructed Motor Vehicle", or "Non-USA-Std Motor Vehicle", as defined in section 301.010. Effective July 1, 1990, on all original and all subsequent issues of the certificate for motor vehicles as referenced in subsections 2 and 3 of section 301.020, the director shall print on the face thereof the following designation: "Annual odometer updates may be available from the department of revenue.". On any duplicate certificate, the director of revenue shall reprint on the face thereof the most recent of either:

(1) The mileage information included on the face of the immediately prior certificate and the date of purchase or issuance of the immediately prior certificate; or

(2) Any other mileage information provided to the director of revenue, and the date the director obtained or recorded that information.

4. The certificate of ownership issued by the director of revenue shall be manufactured in a manner to prohibit as nearly as possible the ability to alter, counterfeit, duplicate, or forge such certificate without ready detection. In order to carry out the requirements of this subsection, the director of revenue may contract with a nonprofit scientific or educational institution specializing in the analysis of secure documents to determine the most effective methods of rendering Missouri certificates of ownership nonalterable or noncounterfeitable.

5. The fee for each original certificate so issued shall be eight dollars and fifty cents, in addition to the fee for registration of such motor vehicle or trailer. If application for the certificate is not made within thirty days after the vehicle is acquired by the applicant, or where the motor vehicle was acquired under section 301.213 and the applicant fails to make application within thirty days after receiving title from the dealer, a delinquency penalty fee of twenty-five dollars for the first thirty days of delinquency and twenty-five dollars for each thirty days of delinquency thereafter, not to exceed a total of two hundred dollars, but such penalty may be waived by the director for a good cause shown. If the director of revenue learns that any person has failed to obtain a certificate within thirty days after acquiring a motor vehicle or trailer, or where the motor vehicle was acquired under section 301.213 and the applicant fails to make application within thirty days after receiving title from the dealer, or has sold a vehicle without obtaining a certificate, he shall cancel the registration of all vehicles registered in the name of the person, either as sole owner or as a co-owner, and shall notify the person that the cancellation will remain in force until the person pays the delinquency penalty fee provided in this section, together with all fees, charges and payments which the person should have paid in connection with the certificate of ownership and registration of the vehicle. The certificate shall be good for the life of the motor vehicle or trailer so long as the same is owned or held by the original holder of the certificate and shall not have to be renewed annually.

6. Any applicant for a certificate of ownership requesting the department of revenue to process an application for a certificate of ownership in an expeditious manner requiring special handling shall pay a fee of five dollars in addition to the regular certificate of ownership fee.

7. It is unlawful for any person to operate in this state a motor vehicle or trailer required to be registered under the provisions of the law unless a certificate of ownership has been applied for as provided in this section.

8. Before an original Missouri certificate of ownership is issued, an inspection of the vehicle and a verification of vehicle identification numbers shall be made by the Missouri state highway patrol on vehicles for which there is a current title issued by another state if a Missouri salvage certificate of title has been issued for the same vehicle but no prior inspection and verification has been made in this state, except that if such vehicle has been inspected in another state by a law enforcement officer in a manner comparable to the inspection process in this state and the vehicle identification numbers have been so verified, the applicant shall not be liable for the twenty-five dollar inspection fee if such applicant submits proof of inspection and vehicle identification number verification to the director of revenue at the time of the application. The applicant, who has such a title for a vehicle on which no prior inspection and verification have been made, shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars for such verification and inspection, payable to the director of revenue at the time of the request for the application, which shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the state highways and transportation department fund.

9. Each application for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for a vehicle which is classified as a reconstructed motor vehicle, specially constructed motor vehicle, kit vehicle, motor change vehicle, non-USA-std motor vehicle, or other vehicle as required by the director of revenue shall be accompanied by a vehicle examination certificate issued by the Missouri state highway patrol, or other law enforcement agency as authorized by the director of revenue. The vehicle examination shall include a verification of vehicle identification numbers and a determination of the classification of the vehicle. The owner of a vehicle which requires a vehicle examination certificate shall present the vehicle for examination and obtain a completed vehicle examination certificate prior to submitting an application for a certificate of ownership to the director of revenue. Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, an owner presenting a motor vehicle which has been issued a salvage title and which is ten years of age or older to a vehicle examination described in this subsection in order to obtain a certificate of ownership with the designation prior salvage motor vehicle shall not be required to repair or restore the vehicle to its original appearance in order to pass or complete the vehicle examination. The fee for the vehicle examination application shall be twenty-five dollars and shall be collected by the director of revenue at the time of the request for the application and shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the state highways and transportation department fund. If the vehicle is also to be registered in Missouri, the safety inspection required in chapter 307 and the emissions inspection required under chapter 643 shall be completed and the fees required by section 307.365 and section 643.315 shall be charged to the owner.

10. When an application is made for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for a motor vehicle previously registered or titled in a state other than Missouri or as required by section 301.020, it shall be accompanied by a current inspection form certified by a duly authorized official inspection station as described in chapter 307. The completed form shall certify that the manufacturer's identification number for the vehicle has been inspected, that it is correctly displayed on the vehicle and shall certify the reading shown on the odometer at the time of inspection. The inspection station shall collect the same fee as authorized in section 307.365 for making the inspection, and the fee shall be deposited in the same manner as provided in section 307.365. If the vehicle is also to be registered in Missouri, the safety inspection required in chapter 307 and the emissions inspection required under chapter 643 shall be completed and only the fees required by section 307.365 and section 643.315 shall be charged to the owner. This section shall not apply to vehicles being transferred on a manufacturer's statement of origin.

11. Motor vehicles brought into this state in a wrecked or damaged condition or after being towed as an abandoned vehicle pursuant to another state's abandoned motor vehicle procedures shall, in lieu of the inspection required by subsection 10 of this section, be inspected by the Missouri state highway patrol in accordance with subsection 9 of this section. If the inspection reveals the vehicle to be in a salvage or junk condition, the director shall so indicate on any Missouri certificate of ownership issued for such vehicle. Any salvage designation shall be carried forward on all subsequently issued certificates of title for the motor vehicle.

12. When an application is made for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for a motor vehicle previously registered or titled in a state other than Missouri, and the certificate of ownership has been appropriately designated by the issuing state as a reconstructed motor vehicle, motor change vehicle, specially constructed motor vehicle, or prior salvage vehicle, the director of revenue shall appropriately designate on the current Missouri and all subsequent issues of the certificate of ownership the name of the issuing state and such prior designation. The absence of any prior designation shall not relieve a transferor of the duty to exercise due diligence with regard to such certificate of ownership prior to the transfer of a certificate. If a transferor exercises any due diligence with regard to a certificate of ownership, the legal transfer of a certificate of ownership without any designation that is subsequently discovered to have or should have had a designation shall be a transfer free and clear of any liabilities of the transferor associated with the missing designation.

13. When an application is made for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for a motor vehicle previously registered or titled in a state other than Missouri, and the certificate of ownership has been appropriately designated by the issuing state as non-USA-std motor vehicle, the director of revenue shall appropriately designate on the current Missouri and all subsequent issues of the certificate of ownership the words "Non-USA-Std Motor Vehicle".

14. The director of revenue and the superintendent of the Missouri state highway patrol shall make and enforce rules for the administration of the inspections required by this section.

15. Each application for an original Missouri certificate of ownership for a vehicle which is classified as a reconstructed motor vehicle, manufactured forty or more years prior to the current model year, and which has a value of three thousand dollars or less shall be accompanied by:

(1) A proper affidavit submitted by the owner explaining how the motor vehicle or trailer was acquired and, if applicable, the reasons a valid certificate of ownership cannot be furnished;

(2) Photocopies of receipts, bills of sale establishing ownership, or titles, and the source of all major component parts used to rebuild the vehicle;

(3) A fee of one hundred fifty dollars in addition to the fees described in subsection 5 of this section. Such fee shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the state highways and transportation department fund; and

(4) An inspection certificate, other than a motor vehicle examination certificate required under subsection 9 of this section, completed and issued by the Missouri state highway patrol, or other law enforcement agency as authorized by the director of revenue. The inspection performed by the highway patrol or other authorized local law enforcement agency shall include a check for stolen vehicles.

The department of revenue shall issue the owner a certificate of ownership designated with the words "Reconstructed Motor Vehicle" and deliver such certificate of ownership in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Notwithstanding subsection 9 of this section, no owner of a reconstructed motor vehicle described in this subsection shall be required to obtain a vehicle examination certificate issued by the Missouri state highway patrol.

V.A.M.S. 301.020 Application for registration of motor vehicles, contents--certain vehicles, special provisions--penalty for failure to comply--optional blindness assistance donation-- donation to organ donor program permitted

1. Every owner of a motor vehicle or trailer, which shall be operated or driven upon the highways of this state, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, shall annually file, by mail or otherwise, in the office of the director of revenue, an application for registration on a blank to be furnished by the director of revenue for that purpose containing: (1) A brief description of the motor vehicle or trailer to be registered, including the name of the manufacturer, the vehicle identification number, the amount of motive power of the motor vehicle, stated in figures of horsepower and whether the motor vehicle is to be registered as a motor vehicle primarily for business use as defined in section 301.010;

(2) The name, the applicant's identification number and address of the owner of such motor vehicle or trailer;

(3) The gross weight of the vehicle and the desired load in pounds if the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle or trailer.

2. If the vehicle is a motor vehicle primarily for business use as defined in section 301.010 and if such vehicle is five years of age or less, the director of revenue shall retain the odometer information provided in the vehicle inspection report, and provide for prompt access to such information, together with the vehicle identification number for the motor vehicle to which such information pertains, for a period of five years after the receipt of such information. This section shall not apply unless:

(1) The application for the vehicle's certificate of ownership was submitted after July 1, 1989; and

(2) The certificate was issued pursuant to a manufacturer's statement of origin.

3. If the vehicle is any motor vehicle other than a motor vehicle primarily for business use, a recreational motor vehicle, motorcycle, motortricycle, autocycle, bus, or any commercial motor vehicle licensed for over twelve thousand pounds and if such motor vehicle is five years of age or less, the director of revenue shall retain the odometer information provided in the vehicle inspection report, and provide for prompt access to such information, together with the vehicle identification number for the motor vehicle to which such information pertains, for a period of five years after the receipt of such information. This subsection shall not apply unless:

(1) The application for the vehicle's certificate of ownership was submitted after July 1, 1990; and

(2) The certificate was issued pursuant to a manufacturer's statement of origin.

4. If the vehicle qualifies as a reconstructed motor vehicle, motor change vehicle, specially constructed motor vehicle, non-USA-std motor vehicle, as defined in section 301.010, or prior salvage as referenced in section 301.573, the owner or lienholder shall surrender the certificate of ownership. The owner shall make an application for a new certificate of ownership, pay the required title fee, and obtain the vehicle examination certificate required pursuant to subsection 9 of section 301.190. If an insurance company pays a claim on a salvage vehicle as defined in section 301.010 and the owner retains the vehicle, as prior salvage, the vehicle shall only be required to meet the examination requirements under subsection 10 of section 301.190. Notarized bills of sale along with a copy of the front and back of the certificate of ownership for all major component parts installed on the vehicle and invoices for all essential parts which are not defined as major component parts shall accompany the application for a new certificate of ownership. If the vehicle is a specially constructed motor vehicle, as defined in section 301.010, two pictures of the vehicle shall be submitted with the application. If the vehicle is a kit vehicle, the applicant shall submit the invoice and the manufacturer's statement of origin on the kit. If the vehicle requires the issuance of a special number by the director of revenue or a replacement vehicle identification number, the applicant shall submit the required application and application fee. All applications required under this subsection shall be submitted with any applicable taxes which may be due on the purchase of the vehicle or parts. The director of revenue shall appropriately designate "Reconstructed Motor Vehicle", "Motor Change Vehicle", "Non-USA-Std Motor Vehicle", or "Specially Constructed Motor Vehicle" on the current and all subsequent issues of the certificate of ownership of such vehicle.

5. Every insurance company that pays a claim for repair of a motor vehicle which as the result of such repairs becomes a reconstructed motor vehicle as defined in section 301.010 or that pays a claim on a salvage vehicle as defined in section 301.010 and the owner is retaining the vehicle shall in writing notify the owner of the vehicle, and in a first party claim, the lienholder if a lien is in effect, that he is required to surrender the certificate of ownership, and the documents and fees required pursuant to subsection 4 of this section to obtain a prior salvage motor vehicle certificate of ownership or documents and fees as otherwise required by law to obtain a salvage certificate of ownership, from the director of revenue. The insurance company shall within thirty days of the payment of such claims report to the director of revenue the name and address of such owner, the year, make, model, vehicle identification number, and license plate number of the vehicle, and the date of loss and payment.

6. Anyone who fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

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V.A.M.S. 301.131 Historic motor vehicles, permanent registration, fee--license plates--annual mileage allowed, record to be kept--penalty

1. Any motor vehicle over twenty-five years old which is owned solely as a collector's item and which is used and intended to be used for exhibition and educational purposes shall be permanently registered upon payment of a registration fee of twenty-five dollars. Upon the transfer of the title to any such vehicle the registration shall be cancelled and the license plates issued therefor shall be returned to the director of revenue.

2. The owner of any such vehicle shall file an application in a form prescribed by the director, if such vehicle meets the requirements of this section, and a certificate of registration shall be issued therefor. Such certificate need not specify the horsepower of the motor vehicle.

3. The director shall issue to the owner of any motor vehicle registered pursuant to this section the same number of license plates which would be issued with a regular annual registration, containing the number assigned to the registration certificate issued by the director of revenue. Such license plates shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130.

4. Historic vehicles may be driven to and from repair facilities one hundred miles from the vehicle's location, and in addition may be driven up to one thousand miles per year for personal use. The owner of the historic vehicle shall be responsible for keeping a log of the miles driven for personal use each calendar year. Such log must be kept in the historic vehicle when the vehicle is driven on any state road. The historic vehicle's mileage driven in an antique auto tour or event and mileage driven to and from such a tour or event shall not be considered mileage driven for the purpose of the mileage limitations in this section. Violation of this section shall be punishable under section 301.440 and in addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, upon plea or finding of guilt thereof, the director of revenue shall revoke the historic motor vehicle license plates of such violator which were issued pursuant to this section.

5. Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, any person possessing a license plate issued by the state of Missouri that is over twenty-five years old, in which the year of the issuance of such plate is consistent with the year of the manufacture of the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle may register such plate as an historic vehicle plate as set forth in subsections 1 and 2 of this section, provided that the configuration of letters, numbers or combination of letters and numbers of such plate are not identical to the configuration of letters, numbers or combination of letters and numbers of any plates already issued to an owner by the director. Such license plate shall not be required to possess the characteristic features of reflective material and common color scheme and design as prescribed in section 301.130. The owner of the historic vehicle registered pursuant to this subsection shall keep the certificate of registration in the vehicle at all times. The certificate of registration shall be prima facie evidence that the vehicle has been properly registered with the director and that all fees have been paid.

V.A.M.S. 137.080. Annual assessment date--subclasses of tangible personal property

Real estate and tangible personal property shall be assessed annually at the assessment which commences on the first day of January. For purposes of assessing and taxing tangible personal property, all tangible personal property shall be divided into the following subclasses:

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(6) Motor vehicles which are eligible for registration and are registered as historic motor vehicles under section 301.131;

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3. The following items of personal property shall each constitute separate subclasses of tangible personal property and shall be assessed and valued for the purposes of taxation at the following percentages of their true value in money:

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(4) Motor vehicles which are eligible for registration as and are registered as historic motor vehicles pursuant to section 301.131 and aircraft which are at least twenty-five years old and which are used solely for noncommercial purposes and are operated less than fifty hours per year or aircraft that are home built from a kit, five percent;

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V.A.M.S. 137.115. Real and personal property, assessment--maintenance plan--assessor may mail forms for personal property--classes of property, assessment--physical inspection required, when, procedure--mine property assessment

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3. The following items of personal property shall each constitute separate subclasses of tangible personal property and shall be assessed and valued for the purposes of taxation at the following percentages of their true value in money:

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(4) Motor vehicles which are eligible for registration as and are registered as historic motor vehicles pursuant to section 301.131 and aircraft which are at least twenty-five years old and which are used solely for noncommercial purposes and are operated less than fifty hours per year or aircraft that are home built from a kit, five percent;