Motor Vehicle Inspection FAQs

The Missouri Department of Revenue provides oversight to motor vehicle registration requirements. Inspection requirements related to motor vehicle registration may be viewed on the Department of Revenue’s motor vehicle help resources page. Inspection requirements related to the sale of a vehicle may be viewed on its selling a vehicle page.

A vehicle being sold for junk, salvage, or for rebuilding may be sold without a certificate of safety inspection and approval if the buyer gives the seller an affidavit declaring such. Form SHP-498, Junk, Salvage, or Rebuilding Affidavit is approved to be used in this circumstance.

Inspection stations may charge no more than $12.00 for the safety inspection of passenger vehicles and trucks, and no more than $10.00 for the safety inspection of motorcycles, motor tricycles, and autocycles.

Visit the Patrol’s official motor vehicle safety inspection station search. Stations may be searched by city, ZIP code, and type of vehicle to be inspected.

You may register your vehicle with the Missouri Department of Revenue while temporarily residing out of state, without obtaining a safety inspection; however, a safety inspection must be obtained within ten (10) days of return to the state of Missouri.

The inspection checklists on the MVI forms and publications page set out the components covered by a safety inspection.

Detailed regulations governing the safety inspection of passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, and autocycles are published in the Code of State Regulations, 11 CSR 50-2 (PDF). Regulations governing the safety inspection of school buses are in the School Bus Regulations Manual.

Airbags are not inspected during motor vehicle safety inspections. Questions regarding airbags should be directed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1 (800) 424-9393, or online at nhtsa.gov.

Bumper height requirements are included in the Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulations Manual.

When a windshield is replaced, no new safety inspection sticker is required. Retain the white approval certificate issued to you at the time of inspection, as it serves as proof your vehicle passed inspection.

Should you question the integrity of a safety inspection performed on your vehicle, contact the Motor Vehicle Inspection Office at your local troop headquarters. An investigation of your complaint will be conducted to determine if proper inspection procedures were followed.

Troop contact information is on the Troops page, and a printable version of the complaint form is SHP-516, Motor Vehicle Inspection Complaint Receipt.

If the business that inspected your vehicle ceases to operate as a Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Station prior to completing a reinspection of your vehicle, contact the Motor Vehicle Inspection Office at your local troop headquarters to schedule a date and time for the reinspection of your vehicle by a Motor Vehicle Inspector. Troop contact information is on the Troops page.

Station and inspector/mechanic requirements are set out in the Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulations Manual.

The fee for a safety inspection station permit is $10.00 annually. The fee for an emissions inspection station permit is $100.00 annually. The combined fee for a safety and emissions inspection station permit is $110.00 annually. All fees are payable at the time of application.

A business may apply to become an official motor vehicle safety, emissions, or safety and emissions inspection station by making application through the Motor Vehicle Inspection Office at the nearest troop headquarters. Troop contact information is on the Troops page.

Information regarding inspection station and inspector/mechanic requirements is available in the Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulations Manual. Contact the Motor Vehicle Inspection Office at the nearest troop headquarters to obtain more detailed information regarding enrolling as an official Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Station. Troop contact information is on the Troops page.

Public and private motor vehicle safety inspection stations may use the MVI online ordering system to order supplies online. Station signs are available through hard-copy requisition only.

In lieu of ordering supplies online, please mail requisitions to:

Missouri State Highway Patrol

Attn: Motor Vehicle Inspection

P.O. Box 568

Jefferson City, MO 65102

Printable requisitions are SHP-455, Requisition for MVI Supplies and SHP-453, Requisition for GVIP Supplies.

Orders are only accepted online or via mail submission. Motor Vehicle Inspection employees are not authorized to accept public or private station orders via e-mail, telephone, or walk-in. Requisitions and online orders are processed daily by employees, with stickers and decals shipped to the station’s address of record via United Parcel Service. Please consider processing and delivery time when determining when to order supplies.

MVI-2 Motor Vehicle Inspection Certificates shall be obtained through the Motor Vehicle Inspection Office at your local troop headquarters. Troop contact information is on the Troops page.

Note: government-owned stations are not eligible to place online orders. Government-owned stations are not assessed station fees or fees for motor vehicle safety inspection stickers or motorcycle inspection decals, are not subject to minimum order requirements, and may submit orders via e-mail or telephone. Walk-in orders from government-owned stations are not accepted.

Missouri Revised State Statute allows for the exchange of expired motor vehicle safety inspection stickers and motorcycle inspection decals between January 1 and April 30 following the year of expiration. Requests for exchange postmarked after the April 30 statutory deadline will not be processed. There is no cost associated with the exchange of expired stickers or decals. Exchanges are completed on a one-for-one basis; therefore, combinations of exchanges and orders are not accepted and will be returned to the station unprocessed.

Public and private stations should complete and submit SHP-466, Return of Expired Stickers/Decals, along with the expired stickers and decals, to:

Missouri State Highway Patrol

Attn: Motor Vehicle Inspection

P.O. Box 568

Jefferson City, MO 65102

Note: government-owned stations are not eligible for the exchange process, and should order additional stickers or decals upon expiration.

Inspection criteria for school buses are set out in SHP-517, School Bus Inspection Checklist, and the governing regulations are in the School Bus Regulations Manual.

Annual results for all Missouri schools providing pupil transportation services are published on the Motor Vehicle Inspection page.