A Missouri bill of sale has an official job: it can be the document the seller uses to report the sale to the Department of Revenue. Missouri’s official Bill of Sale, Form 1957, sits alongside the Notice of Sale, Form 5049, as one of the two ways a private seller meets the 30-day reporting rule.
This page sets out what the Missouri Department of Revenue asks of sellers and buyers, quoted from its guidance and forms, and gives you a free Missouri bill of sale template.
The short answer
In Missouri, “the seller of a motor vehicle, trailer, or all-terrain vehicle must report the sale within 30 days“, and private sellers do it with “a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957)” (Missouri Department of Revenue). Ownership still passes through the title: both parties sign the back, and “these signatures do not need to be notarized”. The buyer has 30 days to title the vehicle and pay sales tax, or penalties start.
Two ways to report the sale: Form 5049 or Form 1957
| Form | What it is | Notarized? |
|---|---|---|
| Form 5049, Notice of Sale | A notice to the Department that you sold or transferred the vehicle. It asks for the sale date, net price, title number, VIN, and the buyer’s name, address and signature. | No notary section |
| Form 1957, Bill of Sale | Missouri’s official bill of sale. It records the sale or an even trade, and also meets the reporting rule. | Only “when showing proof of ownership on major component parts of a rebuilt vehicle or when specifically requested to be notarized by the Department of Revenue” |
Form 5049 lists what you must do: “Submit this notice within 30 days of the date of the sale”, complete the required sections, “Sign the notice and obtain the purchaser’s signature”, mail it to the Department and “Keep a copy of this form for your records”. The practical point: get the buyer’s details and signature at the handover, because you will not see them again.
Seller checklist
- Sign the title. “All sellers and purchasers must print their names and sign the back of the title in the assignment area.”
- Write the mileage and date. “The seller must write in the odometer reading and date of sale.”
- No corrections. “You may not use correction fluid (white-out) or erase marks from the title.”
- Take your plates. “Before the purchaser takes possession of the vehicle, remove your license plates (whether they are valid or expired).”
- Report the sale within 30 days with Form 5049 or Form 1957.
What the buyer has to do
Thirty days, then penalties. The Department’s buyer guidance says you have 30 days from the purchase date to title the vehicle and pay sales tax. If you don’t, “there is a title penalty of $25 on the 31st day after purchase. The penalty increases another $25 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $200” (Buying a Vehicle).
Sales tax is the state rate of 4.225% plus your local sales tax, based on your address, on the purchase price less any trade-in allowance.
A bill of sale does not replace the title: insist on the signed title at the handover.
What to put in a Missouri bill of sale
- Year, make, title number and VIN.
- Sale date and sale price (for an even trade, the vehicle traded for).
- Names and addresses of seller and buyer, and the buyer’s driver license number.
- The odometer reading, matching the title.
- Signatures of seller and buyer, and a copy for each.
Common mistakes
- Letting the buyer drive off with your plates. Missouri tells sellers to remove them first.
- Not reporting the sale. Form 5049 or 1957, within 30 days.
- Fixing a mistake on the title with white-out. The Department does not allow it.
- Getting a bill of sale notarized when nobody asked. It is only needed for rebuilt-vehicle parts or when the Department requests it. Title signatures do not need a notary either.
Free Missouri bill of sale template
Fill it in online below, or download the 2026 Missouri version in PDF or Word, which ends with a checklist of the Department of Revenue steps. To report the sale, use the Department’s own Form 5049 or Form 1957. Nothing is uploaded and there is no signup.
Missouri bill of sale: common questions
Is a bill of sale required in Missouri?
The title transfers ownership. What Missouri requires of a private seller is to report the sale within 30 days, and its official Bill of Sale (Form 1957) is one of the two forms you can use to do it. The other is the Notice of Sale (Form 5049).
Does a Missouri bill of sale need to be notarized?
Only when it shows proof of ownership of major component parts of a rebuilt vehicle, or when the Department of Revenue specifically asks. The signatures on the title do not need to be notarized.
How long do I have to report the sale?
Thirty days from the sale.
What happens if the buyer titles the car late?
A $25 penalty for each 30 days late, up to $200.
Who keeps the license plates?
The seller. Remove them before the buyer takes possession, whether they are valid or expired.
Related
- Bill of sale rules for all 50 states + DC
- Texas bill of sale: what TxDMV asks for instead
- Vehicle bill of sale template
- General bill of sale template
How this page was checked
The requirements and quotations come from the Missouri Department of Revenue: “Selling a Vehicle”, “Buying a Vehicle”, Form 1957 (08-2019) and Form 5049 (12-2018), all read in full on dor.mo.gov.
Last verified: October 2026. We do not advance this date without re-checking the sources. Forms, fees and tax rates can change: confirm with the Department of Revenue or your license office before you file.
LegalTemplateVault is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Compiled and edited by Daniel Mercer, editor of LegalTemplateVault. He is not an attorney, and neither is anyone else on this site: we compile primary sources and cite them so you can check them yourself.