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May 26, 2016

Missouri Vehicle Identification Numbers
How do you get a Vehicle History Check in the state of Missouri?

The state of Missouri’s Department of Revenue has an entire set of webpages which are devoted to Motor Vehicles and the Titling and Registration of Cars. As with any state, Missouri has a specific set of law for the titling of vehicles, for example, titling a motor vehicle in the state of Missouri; titling for new residents and requirements for registration; titling abandoned vehicles; and titling abandoned property. If you have submitted an Application for Title (Form 108) more than four (4) weeks ago and have not yet received anything, then you can use the “Check Status of a Title Request” form.

By using the online services at the Missouri Department of Revenue you can:

  • Renew your registration and license plates;
  • Check the status of your title and registration;
  • Order vanity license plates;
  • Calculate the estimated sales tax on a vehicle;
  • Look up vehicle safety inspection locations;
  • Search for title records; and
  • Check the child support lien list.

For information on how to obtain motor vehicle records from the state of Missouri Department of Revenue you are asked to call (573) 526-3669 Ext. 6, Option 2.

Missouri VIN Search

There are also both public and private companies which allow you to check the history of a vehicle on the Internet. One of these, which is recommended by the Missouri Department of Revenue, is the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS.) NMVTIS is a database which provides data on cars that have been in recycling yards, junkyards, and salvage yards. They provide information in five key areas which are associated with auto fraud and theft:

  1. Current State Title and Last Title Date;
  2. Brand History – these are descriptive labels applied by motor vehicle titling agencies and include the terms “junk,” “salvage,” and “flood.” This helps protect consumers from purchasing a damaged vehicle without knowing the condition of the car. In Minnesota, which allows consumers to purchase “rebuilt” cars, knowing the history and the “brand” of a car may save you from paying far more than a vehicle is worth or from buying a vehicle which is unsafe or has the potential to be unsafe due to its history;
  3. Odometer Reading – people have been known to “roll the odometer back” to decrease the appearance of miles on a vehicle. This makes the vehicle appear to be worth more than it is worth, and it may also cause a consumer to purchase a vehicle which is unsafe. Odometer readings are recorded at the transfer of the title, so it can be a useful tool to check for any discrepancies of the vehicle’s history;
  4. Total Loss History – when a vehicle has been declared a total loss it has had severe damage. Knowing this information could save a consumer from paying more than what the vehicle is worth or from purchasing a vehicle which is unsafe; and
  5. Salvage History – vehicles with a salvage history have had severe damage. Knowing this information could save you money or save you from purchasing a car that is potentially unsafe.

The data reported to NMVTIS must be reported on every vehicle which they receive into inventory each month and includes:

  • The name, address, and contact information for the reporting entity;
  • VIN;
  • Date the automobile was obtained;
  • Name of the individual or entity from whom automobile was obtained (this information is only to be used by law enforcement and other government agencies);
  • A statement of whether the automobile was crushed or disposed of, offered for sale, or other purposes; and
  • Whether the vehicle is intended for export out of the United States.

The Attorney General of Missouri in the brochure “All About Autos” recommends Carfax and Autocheck for companies which run vehicle history reports; however, they warn that you should always have your car checked out by an independent mechanic. Although those are the companies which are recommended by the Attorney General, there are other companies which will perform VIN checks on a vehicle and give you more detailed and important information.

Another highly regarded source for vehicle history check is VinCheck, a free service provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Using a VIN, consumers are allowed to perform five searches within a 24-hour period per IP address. VINCheck helps by determining if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, and not recovered, or has been reported as a salvage vehicle by one of the insurance agencies in cooperation with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

If you suspect that fraudulent activities are occurring you can contact NICB anonymously:

  1. TEXT the keyword “FRAUD” to TIP411 (847411);
  2. Call 800-TELL-NICB (800-835-6422) Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
  3. Report it by using the form on this site; or
  4. Download the NICB Fraud Tips App for iPhone.

If you suspect that you have been the victim of fraud by a car dealer, did not receive a Federal Buyer’s Guide when you purchased a used car, did not receive a Federal Buyer’s Guide when you purchased a vehicle at a public auction, or have a concern that you feel the Better Business Bureau should be notified about, you should contact the following:

  • Missouri Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 392-8222; and
  • Better Business Bureau in St. Louis (314) 645-3300, Kansas City (816) 421-7800, and Springfield (417) 862-4222.

If you wish to file a complaint with the Missouri Department of Revenue, you will need to use form 4683.

Missouri Department of Revenue Motor Vehicles

Getting Motor Vehicle Records from the Missouri Department of Revenue:

Motor Vehicle Records

Online Services in Missouri

DOR Forms in Missouri

Check Status of a Title Request:

Motor Vehicle Inquiries

Instructions for completing the Certificate of Title:

Instructions for Completing the Title Assignment

List of Missouri Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License Department Office locations:

Motor Vehicle and Driver License Office Location Map

E-mail address if you are unable to receive your title: mvbmail@dor.mo.gov.

FORM 108 – Application for Missouri Title and License

Recommended by the Missouri Department of Revenue National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS):

NMVTIS

National Motor Vehicle History Title Information System (NMVTIS):

NMVTIS

Getting a vehicle history from the NMVTIS:

NMVTIS

Brochure from the Missouri Attorney General “All About Autos:

All About Autos

VINCheck

Reporting Fraud to NICB

Form for reporting fraud to the NICB:

NICB

Consumer Complaints Regarding Motor Vehicle Dealers

Better Business Bureau Auto Line Missouri

Consumer Complaint Form for the Attorney General of Missouri

FORM 4683 – Complaint with the Missouri Department of Revenue

Brochure from the Missouri Attorney General “All About Autos:

All About Autos

Are VIN checks important in the state of Missouri?

VIN fraud is illegal and is a felony in both the state of Kentucky and in the United States, including when the VIN is removed during the restoration of a car. One of the best ways to not become the victim of vehicle fraud is to obtain a Vehicle History Report, which will include information such as:

  • Information on the past owners, including:
    • The number of owners the car has had; and
    • The odometer readings at the time of each change in ownership.
  • Whether there are liens on the vehicle – if you purchase a vehicle which has liens against it then you may be unwittingly assuming those loans when you buy the vehicle. This can even include liens such as child support which are tied to the owner of the car and not to the car itself;
  • Brand History – such as if the car was every used as a police car or a taxi;
  • Title and accident history – this will usually include any accident reports, information regarding whether the car was involved in a flood, whether the car has been in a salvage yard, and will also tell you the name of the legal owner of the car;
  • Odometer settings and rollback alerts – sellers of cars have been known to “rollback” the numbers on the odometer so that the car appears to have lower mileage which increases the value of the car; and
  • “Lemon” determination – a VIN check will alert you if your car has been deemed a “lemon” and been repurchased by the manufacturer.

Some VIN checks may even tell you information as specific as the dates of servicing of the vehicle or if it has previously been sold at an auction.

http://www.boss302.com/legal.htm

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United States Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-1364-altering-or-removing-motor-vehicle-identification-numbers

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Lemon Laws in Missouri

The Missouri Lemon Law statute, formally known as the Missouri New Vehicles Warranty Law, can be found in the Missouri Rev. Stat. Section 407.560. et seq. and it protects consumers by forcing drivers manufacturers to honor an express warranty. The law requires vehicle manufacturers to replace or refund your defective vehicle after they have tried to fix the problem or defect a certain number of times. While the Missouri Lemon law covers vehicle purchased and those which are in a lease-to-purchase agreement, it mainly covers vehicles while they are still under the manufacturer’s warranty; however, there are some vehicles which are exempt, including:

  • Commercial vehicles;
  • Used vehicles or leased vehicles unless, in the case of leased vehicles, it was through a lease-purchase agreement;
  • Off-road vehicles;
  • Mopeds;
  • Motorcycles; and
  • The living quarters of motorhomes and recreational vehicles.

    The Missouri Lemon Law covers any new motor vehicle which is in any of the following categories, and also includes demonstrators or any vehicles that were sold as part of a lease-purchase as long the manufacturer’s warranty was issued and in effect at the time of the sale. Missouri’s Lemon Law does apply to vehicle converters and does cover the chassis, engine, powertrain and component parts of recreational motor vehicles. The law also covers the following vehicles:

    • Those being transferred for the first time from a manufacturer, distributor, or new vehicle dealer;
    • Has not been titled or registered in Missouri or any other state; and
    • Are offered for sale, barter, or exchange by a dealer who is franchised to sell, barter, or exchange that particular make of motor vehicles.

The Missouri Lemon Law covers the following consumers:

  • The purchaser, for reasons other than the purposes of resale, of a new motor vehicle primarily to be used for personal, family, or household uses;
  • Any individual to whom the new motor vehicle is transferred for the same purposes during the duration of an express warranty which is applicable to the new vehicle; and
  • Any other people entitled by the terms of the warranty to enforce its obligations.

For your car to be considered a “lemon” under the terms of the Missouri Lemon Law, it must meet one or more of the following requirements:

  • The vehicle has had four (4) or more attempts to repair a defect in the vehicle; OR
  • The vehicle has been out of service for 30 days or more due to a problem directly related to the defect in the vehicle.

In order to file a lawsuit against the car manufacturer you must provide a written notice (certified mail with a return receipt is a wise choice in such a case) to the manufacturer of the vehicle and allow the company one final opportunity to correct the problem. The manufacturer has ten (10) calendar days to repair the vehicle after you deliver the car to a designated dealer. If the vehicle cannot be fixed after the final attempt then they have the option of either:

  • Offer you a replacement vehicle;
  • Refund your money for the original purchase; OR
  • Dispute the lemon status of your car.

In the event the manufacturer denies your request and does not offer to either replace or repurchase your car then you may proceed with legal action against them. In most states, manufacturers have set up informal dispute programs which allow the manufacturer and the consumer to meet with an arbitrator to try and come to a resolution before going to court. In the state of Missouri the lemon law states that if the manufacturer has an established informal dispute settlement procedure which complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must first go through the arbitration (informal dispute program) before they can proceed with a lawsuit.

The following manufacturers have informal dispute programs which meet the Missouri requirements:

  • Audi, Bentley, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC Truck, Hyundai, Indian Motorcycle, Infiniti, Kia, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lotus, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Saturn, smart USA, Volkswagen, Workhouse Custom Chassis.

If the arbitrator agrees with the consumer then the manufacturer is bound by the decision and must either replace the car or refund the money; however, the consumer is not bound by the decision and may choose to take the manufacturer to court if they do not win in arbitration.

Lemon Law in Missouri

Better Business Bureau Auto Line

MO-LLaddinfo

MO-LLsummary

Brochure from the Missouri Attorney General “All About Autos:”

All About Autos

Missouri Lemon Laws

Understanding Missouri Lemon Law

Should you hire an attorney for a lemon law case in Missouri?

While many consumers handle vehicles that are lemons on their own, you have the right to hire an attorney to represent you. In fact the system was designed to protect consumers and therefore a lawyer should not be required; however, you should remember that the manufacturer will have experts on their side to refute your claims and you have the same rights.

If you choose to retain an attorney, be sure and find one who is familiar with the lemon laws in the state of Missouri and has experience working with lemon law cases.

Here are some good questions to ask before you sign a contract with an attorney:

  • Have they handled any lemon law cases previously?
  • How many lemon law cases have they won and lost?
  • Do they require payment upfront or do they work on contingency? and
  • If they work on contingency then they only get paid if you win your case, what percentage of your settlement do they get?

If you don’t know any lawyers or any lemon law attorneys you should ask for recommendations from friends and family or, do you know any other lawyers that you could ask? If not, you can contact the Missouri Find a Lawyer to find a lawyer in your area.

Missouri Attorney Referral Service:

Missouri Find Lawyer

DMV Bonne Terre
Department of Motor Vehicles
522 Benham St
1 573-358-3584

Driver’s License & Vehicle
Department of Motor Vehicles
515 High St
1 573-526-2407

Oakville License Office
Driver’s License Office
3164 Telegraph Rd
1 314-894-7512
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Missouri Department of Motor Vehicle & Driver License
Department of Motor Vehicles
620 N Hwy 67
1 314-921-3446
Closing soon: 12:30 PM

Affton License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
9503 Gravois Rd
1 314-631-1311
Open until 2:00 PM

Camdenton License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
108 Cecil St Suite H
1 573-346-7029
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Sullivan License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
111 Progress Dr
1 573-860-2328

Bethany License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
3105 Miller St
1 660-425-3117

State of Missouri: Motor Vehicle and Driver License
Department of Motor Vehicles
301 W High St #470
1 573-751-7195

Ferguson License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
728 S Florissant Rd
1 314-521-2360
Closed now

Missouri State Revenue
City Government Office
10292 Page Ave
1 314-890-0860
Open until 1:00 AM

St Louis Motor Vehicle Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
St. Louis City Hall
1200 Market St #110
1 314-622-4231

Arnold License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
3540 Jeffco Blvd #120
1 636-461-0846
Closed now

Grandview Vehicle License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
1200 Main St
1 816-316-4835

Kansas City DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
615 E 13th St #111
1 816-842-4100

Gladstone License Office
Driver’s License Office
5943 NE Antioch Rd
1 816-455-5100

Driver Examination & Testing
Department of Motor Vehicles
16647 East 23rd St S
1 816-325-5925

Sugar Creek DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
521 S Sterling Ave
1 816-836-9191
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Glenstone License Office
Driver’s License Office
1002 S Glenstone Ave
1 417-831-2600

Independence DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
Hub Shopping Center
16643 East 23rd St S
1 816-252-7557
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Warrensburg License Bureau
Department of Motor Vehicles
1034 S Maguire St
1 660-747-3500

Cape Girardeau DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
3102 Blattner Dr
1 573-290-5105

Dexter License Bureau
License Bureau
1525 W Business U.S. 60
1 573-624-8808

Department of Motor Vehicle – License Office
Driver’s License Office
Center 63 Shopping Center
6138 Raytown Trafficway
1 816-737-1100

Excelsior Springs License
Department of Motor Vehicles
115 Crown Hill Rd #1
1 816-630-6612

Republic License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
243 US-60
1 417-732-7557

Joplin License Office
Driver’s License Office
1110 E 7th St #6
1 417-623-9700

Liberty License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
137 N Stewart Rd
1 816-407-9186
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Waynesville Motor Vehicle & Driver License
Department of Motor Vehicles
218 Rte 66
1 573-774-8400

Lees Summit License Bureau
Department of Motor Vehicles
196 NW Oldham Pkwy
1 816-524-8003

High Ridge License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
1684 Gravois Rd
1 636-677-3339
Closing soon: 12:30 PM

Nixa Licence Office
Driver’s License Office
214A Village Center St
1 417-725-9697

Dealer Licensing Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
301 W High St
1 573-751-8343

St. Charles License Office
Driver’s License Office
2499 Raymond Dr
1 636-946-4456

Revenue Department License Bureau
Department of Motor Vehicles
1447 MO-248
1 417-334-2496

Warrenton License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
609 E Veterans Memorial Pkwy
1 636-456-2955
Opens at 8:30 PM

Chesterfield License Bureau
Department of Motor Vehicles
1711 Clarkson Rd
1 636-530-9500
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Union License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
105 S Oak St
1 636-583-3282

Marshfield License Office
County Government Office
101 E Jefferson St
1 417-468-5100

Missouri Revenue Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
702 E Ohio St # 4
1 660-885-8929

Columbia License Office
Driver’s License Office
403 Vandiver Dr
1 573-474-4700

Platte City License Bureau
Department of Motor Vehicles
1211 Branch St
1 816-858-5711

De Soto License Office
Driver’s License Office
324 S Main St
1 636-586-9228
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Eldon License Inc
Department of Motor Vehicles
401 W 4th St
1 573-392-0339

License Bureau
Department of Motor Vehicles
316 E Church St
1 417-678-3003

West County License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
Ballwin Plaza
15425 Manchester Rd #12
1 636-230-5041
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Des Peres License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
Des Peres Square
1080 Old Des Peres Rd
1 314-909-1514

Benton County License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
237 Main St
1 660-438-0025

Farmington License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
103 Walker Dr
1 573-747-0527

Lebanon License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
219 N Adams Ave
1 417-532-5075

DMV
Driver’s License Office
1 N Delaware St
1 660-679-4566

Plattsburg License Bureau
Department of Motor Vehicles
102 E Maple St
1 816-539-2006

O’Fallon License Office
Driver’s License Office
2421 State Hwy K
1 636-474-8790
Closing soon: 1:00 PM

Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver’s License Office
1029 Franklin Ave # 100
1 660-259-2872

Bolivar License Office
City Government Office
930 San Martin
1 417-326-5194

Motor Vehicle Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
807 N Main St #5
1 417-926-3333

Motor Vehicle Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
504 US-54
1 417-745-6409

DMV Rolla
License Bureau
1038 S Bishop Ave
1 573-364-7848

Creve Coeur DMV
Tax Department
12943 Olive Blvd
1 314-878-2110

Driver License & Vehicle Registration Office of Fulton
Department of Motor Vehicles
354 Country Meadows
1 573-642-1100

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