How car sales tax works in Missouri
Missouri charges 4.225% state sales tax plus the local sales tax of the address where you live, not where the dealer is. For October to December 2026 local rates on vehicles run from 0% to 7.263%. In Kansas City (Jackson County) the local part is 4.75%, so the total is 8.975%.
- Trade-in credit: the trade-in allowance is subtracted before tax.
- Rebates reduce the tax too. A rebate from the dealer or the manufacturer is subtracted if it is on the bill of sale.
- Selling your old car yourself also counts as a credit if you buy the new one within 180 days before or after.
- Doc fee cap: the dealer administrative fee is capped at $620.79 in 2026.
- Private sales: same rate, paid at the license office within 30 days.
- Gifts owe no sales tax. New residents owe none if they owned and drove the car in another state for at least 90 days.
Title and registration fees in Missouri
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $8.50 |
| Title processing fee | $9 |
| Registration (1 year, by taxable horsepower) | $18.25 – $51.25 |
| Registration processing fee (1 year) | $9 |
| Electric vehicle fuel decal (2026) | $150 + $9 |
| Plug-in hybrid fuel decal (2026) | $75 + $9 |
Registration depends on taxable horsepower, a formula based on the engine's bore and cylinders. Most 4-cylinder cars fall in the 12–23 HP bracket ($21.25). Electric cars pay the lowest bracket ($18.25) plus the yearly fuel decal. After you buy, your county also bills a personal property tax every year, and you need the paid receipt to renew.
Example: a $32,000 new car
Price $32,000.00, $1,000.00 manufacturer rebate, $8,000.00 trade-in and a $500.00 doc fee, bought from a dealer:
| Sales tax (4.225%) | $992.87 |
| Local tax (3.75%) | ≈ $881.25 |
| Title fee | $8.50 |
| Registration fee | $21.25 |
| Title processing fee | $9.00 |
| Registration processing fee (1 year) | $9.00 |
| Electronic transmission fee | ≈ $2.00 |
| Total taxes | $1,874.12 |
|---|---|
| Total government fees | $49.75 |
| Out-the-door price | $33,423.87 |
| After the trade-in, you pay | $25,423.87 |
Common mistakes
- Using the dealer's local rate. Missouri charges the local tax of the address where you live.
- Forgetting that rebates reduce Missouri sales tax when they are on the bill of sale.
- Missing the 30-day deadline to title the car. The penalty starts at $25 on day 31.
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