Title issues

You're the first person in the history of my 40+ years to get a title with JUST a bill of sale in Missouri. Oddly enough, the department of motor vehicles in Jefferson City requires that you have a title, so it's not just 'your local office being cool'. When I got licensed to do MVI's (including ID/OD's) in '99, this process was clearly explained to us, and many of us asked these exact questions.

Otherwise, what's to stop you from snagging the VIN off that Hemi Cuda at your neighbor's house, drafting yourself up a BOS, and mailing it off while you wait for your new 'Cuda ownership papers to arrive?

I hate to say it, but I'm going to disagree. Missouri has NEVER accepted a bill of sale as ownership. You should see how long I had to wait at the local tag office while they called Jeff City about the Vermont deal.

Specifically:
View attachment 1716061727

Or...
View attachment 1716061729

There are exceptions for abandoned property but unless you're the owner of a business, even those are troublesome.

I first ran into this in '95, and at that time tried calling places about 'Georgia' titles and such as were advertised in Hemmings. Every single one of those places (back then there were 4 or 5 of them) told me that Missouri was worse than California about getting titles. Not saying you weren't successful with the Georgia route, but they didn't want to touch my car.

Ironically, it's gotten easier since NMVTIS went in due to the introduction of bonded titles and all that, but if you have a junker on the NMVTIS roll call, you're just screwed (ask me how I know this)
You know I have NO dog in this race, just relaying what I have done many times after Mo. relaxed thier old car title requirements. Maybe the cars I did were not in Mo. title data base?, maybe were out of state cars, I don't remember. I DO KNOW I did such more than a few times probably in time period after maybe mid 90s. maybe into early 2000s.

P.S> If you there in Mo. buys an out of state car, YOU have that title, YOU must take it in to the state inspection and he gives YOU a ID/OD which simply shows that cars vin and mileage. YOU take that paperwork with title to transfer it to your name thus new title.


I still have a 62 Lancer that I bought IN MO. withput a title back about 2002-2004 or 5 maybe. I got it titled there in Mo. with bill of sale and ID/OD/ Done arguing. There were more than a few others. Maybe Mo. has gone back and tightened their BS for old car titles. don't know. Everyone, have a good day!