Gifting a Car in Missouri

Gifting a car in Missouri is fairly straightforward, but requires several forms, including a bill of sale, and general affidavit of gift.

Written by Joshua Levy Reviewed by Kathleen Flear Updated on May 31, 2024

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Table of Contents The legal process for gifting cars in

can be a little tricky. Before you give a car as a gift, you’ll need to make sure you file the right paperwork and that your car passes the required inspections.

QUICK LOOK

Gifting a car in Missouri is fairly straightforward, but it's recommended you bring the recipient to the dealership and include them in the buying process.

Whether you’re gifting a new car or a used vehicle, follow the same process of negotiating terms and writing a bill of sale.

Complete the title transfer and registration process at the local Department of Revenue license office. Factor in the car’s future costs, like fuel, maintenance, and car insurance How to buy a car as a gift in Missouri

The easiest way to gift a car in Missouri is to bring the recipient to a dealership and have them sign for the car. You can always pay for the vehicle yourself, but having the recipient sign for the car could save you piles of paperwork.

Of course, if you’d rather keep the whole thing a surprise, you can always buy the car yourself and transfer it to the recipient. When you buy a car as a gift in Missouri, it’s actually no different than buying a car for yourself, but you’ll need to have the car inspected and transfer the title before you can officially give it away.

This means: You can’t gift a car that has a

on it to a new owner. So before gifting the car, you’ll need to ensure it’s completely paid off and lien-free.

Transferring your gift car in Missouri

Whether you’re buying a new car as a gift for a family member or giving a car you already own, you’ll need to go through a transfer process to make sure everything goes smoothly (and legally!).

Negotiate the gift with your recipient

It goes without saying that car ownership is expensive. Aside from the upfront purchase price, car owners need to pay for gas, maintenance, repairs, car insurance, and yearly registration.

That said, you should make sure your gift recipient is in a sound financial position to own a car before you gift it. If they are, it’s also important to ensure they know exactly what you’ll be paying for and what you won’t be.