How to get dealer plates in Missouri
What Missouri dealer plates cost, the types you can get, how to apply, and the rules on using them. Verified as of July 2026.
MO dealer plates at a glance:
- Issued by
- Missouri DOR Motor Vehicle Bureau
- Cost per plate
- $50 first plate, $10.50 each additional
- Requirement
- Active MO motor vehicle dealer license
- Use them for
- Demos, inventory moves, dealership business
- Term
- Calendar year (renews by Dec 31)
Informational only — confirm current fees and rules with the Missouri DOR Motor Vehicle Bureau (Dealer Licensing) before you apply.
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What Missouri dealer plates are
Missouri bundles dealer plates into the license economics: $50 covers your first plate with the dealer application, and additional plates run just $10.50 each for a full year (DOR Form 5690 handles replacements and add-ons). It's one of the cheapest per-plate structures in the country.
Missouri's famous 'D' plates ride on the dealer license — the $150 annual application, the $50,000 bond, and the dealer education seminar come first, and everything renews on the December 31 cycle.
Types of MO dealer plates
For DOR-licensed dealers, on dealership-owned vehicles — demonstrations, transport, and dealership business. The first plate is $50 with the application; extras are $10.50 each per year.
Missouri's dealer-issued temporary permits are what sold vehicles leave on while the buyer's title and registration process.
How to get dealer plates in Missouri
- 1
Get your Missouri dealer license first
Plates require an active DOR motor vehicle dealer license — the $50,000 bond ($100,000 for written-agreement title sales), the dealer education seminar, and the compliant lot come first.
- 2
Get your first plate with the application
The $50 plate fee with your application covers your first dealer plate. Add more on Form 5690 at $10.50 each, up to the maximum your sales volume allows.
- 3
Add plates as the operation grows
Additional plates are $10.50 each for the full year, requested on DOR Form 5690 (which also handles replacements at $8.50 + $9 processing).
- 4
Renew everything by December 31
Missouri dealer licenses and plates run on the calendar year. The Department of Revenue can issue a license for up to two years.
Rules on using MO dealer plates
- Plates go on dealership-owned vehicles for dealership business — demos, transport, auction runs
- Sold vehicles go home on a dealer-issued temporary permit, not your D plate
- Renew plates and license together by December 31 — a lapsed license invalidates the plates
- Keep the $50,000 bond and your sales records current; documented sales support your license renewal
- Misuse (personal use, lending plates) risks the plates and the dealer license behind them
Common questions
How much are dealer plates in Missouri?+
$50 covers the first plate with your dealer application, and each additional plate is $10.50 for a full year — among the cheapest in the country. Replacements run $8.50 plus $9 processing via Form 5690.
Who issues Missouri dealer plates?+
The Missouri Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Bureau, as part of dealer licensing. Plates are requested with the application and added later with Form 5690.
How many dealer plates can a Missouri dealer get?+
Start with the first plate and add plates at $10.50 each as needed. Missouri caps the number of plates you can hold based on your sales, so your reported sales volume sets the ceiling.
Can my customer drive home on my Missouri D plate?+
No — Missouri dealers issue temporary permits to buyers at delivery while the title work processes. D plates stay with the dealership's inventory.
When do Missouri dealer plates renew?+
By December 31, on the same calendar-year cycle as the dealer license. The DOR can issue a license for up to two years.
- Missouri used car dealer license guide
- Used car dealer license guides by state
- Dealer license cost calculator
- How to fill out Form 108 (Missouri)
- E-signatures and e-titling for Missouri dealers
- Renewing a Missouri dealer license
- Dealer plates in every state: what they are and how to get them
- Title application forms in every state
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