New to Missouri

SUMMARY: New Missouri Residents

When you become a resident of Missouri, there are a number of items to accomplish, including registering your car, completing safety and emissions inspections, transferring your driver's license, and obtaining MO car insurance. If you want to participate in the next election, you'll also need to register to vote in your new county. Military members recently stationed in Missouri may be exempted from some of the requirements involved in these tasks.

This page will help you find all the information you need to complete all of your Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) Motor Vehicle Bureau transactions.

Missouri State Departments

The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR), commonly referred to as the "DMV," is your main resource for licensing and vehicle services.

The DOR works in conjunction with:

  • The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which regulates:
    • Driver skills exams.
      • Administered by the Driver Examination Division.
    • Emissions testing.
      • Administered by the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program.
  • The Missouri Secretary of State, which oversees elections and voter registration.
Just Moved?

Find all the information you need to finish your moving requirements with the DMV.

Register Your Car in Missouri

Once you become a resident of Missouri, you have 30 days to register your out-of-state car with the Department of Revenue (DOR). You will need to visit your local MO Motor Vehicle Bureau office in person and provide certain documents and payment for the registration fee. For more information, see our page on Car Registration in Missouri.

Special Vehicles

If you have a special vehicle, such as a trailer, motorhome, or off-road vehicle, you may need to follow a different registration process. You may also have different licensing requirements. Visit our Special Vehicles in Missouri page for more information.

Required Car Insurance

Before you can have your car registered in MO, you'll need to have sufficient car insurance coverage. To compare quotes and research different auto insurance providers, visit our Missouri Car Insurance center.

Required Car Inspections

In Missouri, most vehicles are required to undergo the following inspections:

  • A vehicle safety inspection.
  • An emissions test (only required in certain counties).

For more information about testing requirements and processes, please visit our Car Inspections page.

MO Driver's License & ID Cards

Once you establish residency in Missouri, you'll need to transfer your out-of-state driver's license to the state. You can apply in person at your local Motor Vehicle Bureau office. You'll need to surrender your out-of-state driver's license and pass all the required road and written tests.

For more information, see our Applying for a New License in Missouri page.

Teen Drivers

If you're a teenager with a valid out-of-state driver's license, you may be able to transfer it to a MO intermediate license or a full driver's license, depending on your age. For more information, see our guide to Applying for a Teen License.

NOTE: If you need a Missouri commercial driver's license (CDL), you can find application instructions on our Applying for a New CDL page.

Organ Donor and Voter Registration

If you wish to be an organ donor or wish to vote in Missouri, you must register once you become a resident. Your previous registration from your former state is not automatically transferred to your new address when you move.

Organ Donor Registration

If you were a registered organ donor in your previous state and want to continue to be a donor, you will need to register with the Missouri donor registry. For more information about organ donation and how it can save lives, or to register as a donor, visit our Organ Donation page.

Voter Registration

If you want to vote in the next election, you must be properly registered in the state of Missouri. You can register while applying for your driver's license at the MO DOR office. Visit our Voter Registration page for instructions.

Military Members Stationed in Missouri

If you're only in Missouri temporarily while fulfilling your military obligations, you and your family may be exempt from the state's licensing and vehicle registration requirements. For more information, see our Drivers in the Military page.

MO DMV Offices & Resources

If you need to find your local DOR office, our DMV Office Finder does the trick every time.

Before you get on the road with your new Missouri driver's license, study the DMV's road manuals and be aware of the state's road rules:

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