Department of Revenue News Release

JEFFERSON CITY - Joseph Smith has been named as the agent for the Palmyra Motor Vehicle and License Office.  The winning proposal was chosen as part of a competitive bidding process for all of Missouri's local license offices.

Smith's winning bid was one of two submitted for the office, which is located at 100 S. Main St. inside the Marion County Courthouse.  Smith is the former city administrator of Bowling Green, and he continues to live there.

Thursday, Sept. 9, will be the last full day that the office will be run by Larry Markley.  There will be a few days when the office is in transition between the former agent and the new one, and the office will be closed while the transition takes place. Smith will announce the exact re-opening date for the Palmyra office.

During the few days that the office is closed, Palmyra-area citizens have other options to conduct their motor vehicle-related business.

Many Marion County citizens can use the online license plate renewal option plates.mo.gov.  Personalized or specialty license plates (such as Children's Trust Fund, collegiate or military license plates) can't be renewed using this system.

All motor vehicle-related business, such as obtaining or getting a driver license, obtaining or renewing license plates, or other transactions such as paying sales tax on a motor vehicle or obtaining a motor vehicle title, can be conducted at other area license offices.  The closest ones to Palmyra, their addresses, phone numbers and hours of operation are: 

*Hannibal, 21 Northport Plaza, (573) 221-5830, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Last Saturday of the month, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

*Monroe City, 109 Second St., (573) 735-4585, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

*Shelbina, 201 Fairground Rd., (573) 588-7790, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

*Monticello, 204 E. Lafayette St., (573) 767-1214, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (Closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday).

*New London, 112 E. Fourth St., (573) 985-3560, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; (Closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.).

A listing of all license offices, contact information and driving directions can be accessed at http://dor.mo.gov/offloc/.  

According to figures from Fiscal Year 2010, the estimated number of transactions conducted at the Palmyra office was 15,207, and it generated about $51,717 in agent processing fees.

Bidders have the option of returning a portion of an office's revenues to the state. Smith's bid included a 1 percent ($517) return to the state.  More than $1 million is estimated to be returned to the state during the first contract year from all 183 state license offices.

Although Gov. Jay Nixon authorized the Missouri Department of Revenue to implement the new bidding system in January of 2009, it didn't become part of state law until legislation was signed by the Governor in the summer of 2009. The new law was overwhelmingly approved by both Republican and Democratic members of the Missouri Legislature.

Alana M. Barragán-Scott, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said she is confident the transition between the two agents will go smoothly.

"Mr. Smith submitted a quality proposal and I'm sure he will be a splendid agent," she said.  "The Palmyra office should only be closed a few days, and there are several alternatives people can avail themselves of if they need to conduct motor vehicle-related business."

All local license offices provide services that are overseen by the Department of Revenue, but each office is operated by an independent contractor. 

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