Deal with a vehicle in Missouri
You need to continue regular car payments, maintain vehicle registration, and then transfer the car's ownership. You cannot drive the car unless you have proper registration, and penalties will be charged if this is not done on time.
Follow these instructions based on your specific situation and orientation to the deceased:
1) There was no TOD and you are a surviving spouse or unmarried minor (under 18 years old) child:
The surviving spouse or unmarried minor child may transfer ownership of ONE vehicle without obtaining a probate order.
The surviving spouse or unmarried minor child must obtain title in their name before assigning ownership to a purchaser.
To apply for the title, the surviving spouse or unmarried minor child must submit the following items:
A completed and signed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108) in the name of the surviving spouse or unmarried minor child;
The certificate of title in the deceased's name, or with the deceased named as the purchaser in the title assignment;
A photocopy of the proof of death (such as a death certificate or obituary);
A completed, signed and notarized Affidavit to Establish Title to Exempt Property (Form 2305); and
The $8.50 duplicate title fee and a $6 processing fee.
2) There was no TOD and you are not the surviving spouse or unmarried minor child or you need to deal with a second vehicle
If the deceased owner of a vehicle had not designated a Transfer on Death (TOD) beneficiary, the vehicle must go through probate before a transfer of ownership can occur.
When applying for a Missouri certificate of title accompanied by Letters of Administration, Letters Testamentary, or a Small Estate Certificate/Affidavit, the following items must be submitted:
The appropriate application form, completed and signed:
The certificate of title in the decedent’s name, properly assigned (by the administrator, executor, or personal representative of the estate) to the new owner. If the title is lost, stolen, or mutilated, the administrator, executor, or personal representative named in the court order must apply for:
A duplicate title in the name of the estate (if one is open) or in the deceased person’s name; or
An original title in his or her name or by submitting an affidavit for a lost title and the court order;
The original or certified copy of the Letters of Administration Letters Testamentary, or Small Estate Certificate/Affidavit; and
The appropriate title and processing fees:
$14.50 (motor vehicle or trailer title)
$13.50 (boat title)
$11.00 (outboard motor title)
The administrator, executor, or personal representative (except a creditor with Letters of Refusal) may give the vehicle as a gift if the decedent paid taxes on the vehicle and a gift affidavit is presented. If the vehicle is transferred as a gift, no sales tax is due.
If the administrator, executor, or personal representative applies for the title in their name, no sales tax is due.
Application for the title may be made in person at any Missouri license office (you can find one here) or the paperwork and fees can be mailed to the central office for processing: