Effective 28 Aug 2019

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 ten years of age or less and has less than one hundred fifty thousand miles on the odometer, 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 ten 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 ten years of age or less and has less than one hundred fifty thousand miles on the odometer, 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 ten 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.

7. An applicant for registration may make a donation of one dollar to promote a blindness education, screening and treatment program. The director of revenue shall collect the donations and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the blindness education, screening and treatment program fund established in section 209.015. Moneys in the blindness education, screening and treatment program fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in section 209.015; except that the department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for registration at the time of issuance or renewal. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the applicant presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one dollar donation prescribed in this subsection.

8. An applicant for registration may make a donation of one dollar to promote an organ donor program. The director of revenue shall collect the donations and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the organ donor program fund as established in sections 194.297 to 194.304. Moneys in the organ donor fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in sections 194.297 to 194.304, except that the department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for registration at the time of issuance or renewal. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the applicant presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one dollar donation prescribed in this subsection.

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(RSMo 1939 § 8369, A.L. 1943 p. 663, A.L. 1945 p. 1194, A. 1949 S.B. 1110, A.L. 1957 p. 637, A.L. 1969 S.B. 242, A.L. 1985 H.B. 280, et al., A.L. 1986 H.B. 1367 & 1573, A.L. 1988 H.B. 990, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1581, A.L. 1989 H.B. 211, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361, A.L. 2000 S.B. 721, A.L. 2003 S.B. 355, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1233, et al., A.L. 2005 H.B. 487 merged with S.B. 488, A.L. 2007 S.B. 82, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision, A.L. 2018 S.B. 881, A.L. 2019 S.B. 89)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 7761; 1919 § 7553; 1909 § 8503