Imposition and Waiver of Motor Vehicle and Trailer Titling and Registration Penalties

PURPOSE: This rule clarifies the reasons for imposition and waiver of all penalties assessed by the department on motor vehicles and trailers. (1) The department assesses penalties on three (3) types of motor vehicle and trailer titling and registration transactions. These penalties are—a delinquent registration renewal penalty, a failure to title penalty, and a failure to renew or transfer a multiyear license plate penalty. All penalties may be waived by the department under certain circumstances. (A) Delinquent Registration Renewal Penalty. If an owner of a multiyear license plate submits his/her application for renewal on the first day of the month following the month of expiration of the license plate, a delinquent registration renewal penalty will be assessed. If the last day of the month of expiration falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, the following state working day is penalty free. If, for example, an owner has November license plates and the last day of November falls on Sunday, then Monday, December 1 would be considered penalty free for all November renewals. 1. Once a motor vehicle is registered for use on Missouri highways, it is subject to registration renewal. The motor vehicle registration is to be renewed whether or not it is actually on or off the highways for any period of time. This obligation to renew the registration continues until the owner ceases to operate the vehicle on Missouri highways, at which time s/he is required to return his/her license plates to the director of revenue within ninety (90) days. If an owner of a motor vehicle surrenders his/her license plates to an office of the Department of Revenue within the ninety- (90-) day period after ceasing to operate the motor vehicle, s/he may register that same vehicle again at a later date without being subject to a delinquent registration renewal penalty. A. If an owner elects to renew the registration of a vehicle which s/he has ceased operating anytime during the twelve- (12-) month period following the expiration of the license plates, s/he will be issued the appropriate license plate and validation tabs and be charged the appropriate twelve- (12-) month registration fee. A delinquent registration renewal penalty will not be charged provided the owner submits the receipt documenting his/her surrender of previously issued license plates. B. An owner’s registration will be automatically cancelled after one (1) year from the date of expiration of a Missouri license plate. If an owner elects to cease operation of his/her vehicle, and the license plates on the vehicle have been expired for at least one (1) year, the owner will not be required to pay a delinquent registration renewal penalty if s/he elects to relicense the vehicle after one (1) year from the date of expiration of the license plates. C. The owner of a motor vehicle may not surrender his/ her license plates and request new license plates on the same day in order to avoid paying a delinquent registration renewal penalty. (B) Failure to Title Penalty. If a purchaser of a motor vehicle or trailer fails to make application for a certificate of ownership within thirty (30) days after acquiring a motor vehicle or trailer, the department assesses the title penalty set by law for each thirty- (30-) day period of delinquency, not to exceed the maximum penalty allowed. The first penalty fee shall be assessed on the 31st day of delinquency. If the 30th, 60th, 90th, 120th, 150th, 180th, 210th, 240th or the 270th day of delinquency falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, the penalty fee will not be imposed on the next state working day. If, for example, an individual purchases a motor vehicle on August 1, and the 30th day of the first period of delinquency falls on Sunday, August 31, the first penalty would not be imposed on Monday, September 1 but on Tuesday, September 2. (C) Penalty for Failure to Renew or Transfer a Multiyear License Plate. A penalty fee will be imposed on any applicant who elects not to renew or transfer a multiyear license plate. Multiyear license plates are issued to—passenger vehicles; recreational vehicles; motorcycles; motortricycles; commercial motor vehicles registered for Local (L) and Beyond Local (BL) 6,000 to 24,000; shuttle buses; and van pool vehicles. If an applicant does not renew the multiyear license plates currently registered to his/her vehicle, but requests that new multiyear license plates be issued, a penalty fee will not be imposed provided the applicant changes license plate categories. For example, if the applicant has regular passenger license plates and requests disabled person license plates, no failure to renew or transfer penalty will be imposed. AUTHORITY: section 301.130, RSMo Supp. 2018.* Original rule filed July 30, 1986, effective Nov. 28, 1986. Amended: Filed Oct. 25, 2018, effective May 30, 2019. ** *Original authority: 301.130, RSMo 1939, amended 1947, 1949, 1951, 1969, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018. **Pursuant to Executive Order 21-09, 12 CSR 10-23.340 and section 301.050, subsection 4 of section 307.350, and subsection 1 of section 643.315, RSMo was suspended from April 7, 2020 through December 31, 2021.