About Missouri License Plates
- About the Missouri License Plate
- Personalized License Plates
- Missouri Standard and Special License Plates
- Month Tab on your License Plate
- Year Tab on your License Plate
- Conservation Heritage License Plate Information
- Homeland Security Fight Terrorism License Plate Information
- Historic License Plate Information
About The Missouri License Plate
The design for Missouri's license plates was unveiled on April 1, 1996.
St. Louis artist Bill O'Donnell designed the Missouri license plate. His design features gradations of blue and green on a field of white. At the top of the license plate, the state name is featured in green block letters. Under it is a wavy blue line that represents the state's many bodies of water - rivers, streams, and lakes. As required by law, the words SHOW-ME STATE appear across the bottom of the license plate in blue. The characters of the standard license plate also appear in blue.
The current license plate design replaced the white-on-maroon plates that had been in use since 1979. Standard license plates are embossed (raised lettering), but personalized license plates are made by a computer graphics process that produces a flat license plate. The computer process has also enabled the state to produce very detailed special license plates, which may or may not be personalized, that commemorate a particular organization, activity, or charity. You can view the various special license plates by clicking here.
Missouri's license plates are made of aluminum and are manufactured by the Missouri Department of Corrections at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.
A special advisory committee approved the license plate design in 1996. Serving on the committee were Col. Fred Mills, then superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Ms. Barbara Binger of Fulton, then Senator Bill McKenna of Hillsboro, then Rep. Larry Thomason of Kennett; then Director of Revenue Janette M. Lohman, and Wilbur Gooch of the Missouri Department of Corrections.
In 2004, state legislators passed into law another required plate reissuance. Senate Bill 1233 authorized the License Plate Advisory Committee to again develop designs for a new Missouri license plate. The committee will visit Springfield, Kansas City, and St. Louis to unveil the new design options and gather input from the public.
Personalizing Your License Plate
License plates may be personalized. Regular personalized license plates with no emblem or wheelchair symbol may have up to six letters including one space, dash, or apostrophe.
There is an additional annual fee of $15.00 added to the annual registration fee for having your license plate personalized.
Missouri Standard and Special License Plates
Missourians can choose from a variety of license plate designs. Many of them may be personalized with the "number" of your choice. Some special provisions may apply and an additional contribution to the sponsoring organization may be required. Special provisions are listed under each license plate type. If you have questions about applying for any of these license plates, you may contact the sponsoring organization or Motor Vehicle Bureau at mvbmail@dor.mo.gov.
Click here to view plate designs and try out your personal "number".
Month Tab on Your License Plate
 |
Month | Color Letters/Numerals | Color Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Light Blue | White | |
| Feb | Black | White | |
| Mar | Green | White | |
| Apr | Orange | White | |
| May | Light Brown | White | |
| Jun | Red | White | |
| Jul | White | Light Blue | |
| Aug | White | Black | |
| Sep | White | Green | |
| Oct | White | Orange | |
| Nov | White | Light Brown | |
| Dec | White | Red |
Year Tab on Your License Plate
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