Moving to Missouri

Living costs are low.

• The MERIC first quarter 2026 series put the cost of living index at 88.6, tied for the seventh lowest in the country, with housing at 76.1.
• The Tax Foundation lists income tax rates from 2.00 to 4.70 percent, a 4.225 percent state sales tax, and a 0.89 percent effective property tax rate on owner-occupied homes.
• Local sales taxes bring the average combined rate to 8.44 percent.

Electricity is cheap per kWh, but homes use a lot of it.

• In EIA 2024 data, the average Missouri home used about 1,001 kWh a month at about 12.9 cents per kWh.
• The average bill was about $129, against about $142 nationally.
• Missouri also taxes cars as personal property every year.
• The county bills you for what you owned on January 1.
• To renew plates, you show the paid receipt or a statement of non-assessment.

Get a Missouri license as soon as you are a resident

Missouri gives no grace period. Apply at any Missouri license office. Surrender a valid license from another state, or one expired 184 days or less, and you skip the written and skills tests. Everyone takes the road sign recognition test and the vision test. A commercial driver license must transfer within 30 days.

Title your car within 30 days

The 30 days start on the date you become a resident. Bring the original out-of-state title, Form 108, proof of insurance, and an ID/OD inspection. To get plates, you also need a Missouri safety inspection unless the vehicle is exempt. The safety inspection counts as the ID/OD inspection. If a lender holds the title, send it Form 5834 to request it. The title fee is $8.50 plus a $9 processing fee. For a passenger vehicle, the plate fee depends on taxable horsepower.

Get a statement of non-assessment from the county assessor

The license office asks for it when you first title the car. It shows that you owe no Missouri personal property tax. Get it from the assessor in your county, or the City of St. Louis. Ask the assessor to add you to the roll for next year. To renew plates later, bring a paid personal property tax receipt or a statement of non-assessment.

Check the safety and emissions inspection rules

To get plates, you need a Missouri safety inspection unless the vehicle is exempt. A vehicle is exempt for the first ten years after its model year if it has less than 150,000 miles. In St. Louis City and in Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties, you also need an emissions inspection. Inspections must be no more than 60 days old.

Carry 25/50/25 liability and uninsured motorist coverage

Liability limits must be at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is required at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Register to vote by the fourth Wednesday before an election

Register online, by mail, or in person. A mailed form must be postmarked by the fourth Wednesday before the election. If you register after that, you can vote in later elections.