2017 Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XXVI TRADE AND COMMERCE
Chapter 407 Merchandising Practices
Section 407.536 Odometer mileage to be shown on title, when — incorrect mileage on odometer, procedure — duties of director of revenue — liens on motor vehicle, release of, statement not required — penalties.

Effective 01 Jan 2017, see footnote

Title XXVI TRADE AND COMMERCE

407.536. Odometer mileage to be shown on title, when — incorrect mileage on odometer, procedure — duties of director of revenue — liens on motor vehicle, release of, statement not required — penalties. — 1. Any person transferring ownership of a motor vehicle previously titled in this or any other state shall do so by assignment of title and shall place the mileage registered on the odometer at the time of transfer above the signature of the transferor. The signature of the transferor below the mileage shall constitute an odometer mileage statement. The transferee shall sign such odometer mileage statement before an application for certificate of ownership may be made. If the true mileage is known to the transferor to be different from the number of miles shown on the odometer or the true mileage is unknown, a statement from the transferor shall accompany the assignment of title which shall contain all facts known by the transferor concerning the true mileage of the motor vehicle. That statement shall become a part of the permanent record of the motor vehicle with the Missouri department of revenue. The department of revenue shall place on all new titles issued after September 28, 1977, a box titled "mileage at the time of transfer".

2. Any person transferring the ownership of a motor vehicle previously untitled in this or any other state to another person shall give an odometer mileage statement to the transferee. The statement shall include above the signature of the transferor and transferee the cumulative mileage registered on the odometer at the time of transfer. If the true mileage is known to the transferor to be different from the number of miles shown on the odometer or the true mileage is unknown, a statement from the transferor shall accompany the assignment of title which shall contain all facts known by the transferor concerning the true mileage of the motor vehicle. That statement shall become a permanent part of the records of the Missouri department of revenue.

3. If, upon receiving an application for registration or for a certificate of ownership of a motor vehicle, the director of revenue has credible evidence that the odometer reading provided by a transferor is materially inaccurate, he may place an asterisk on the face of the title document issued by the Missouri department of revenue, provided that the process required thereby does not interfere with his obligations under subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of section 301.190. The asterisk shall refer to a statement on the face and at the bottom of the title document which shall read as follows: "This may not be the true and accurate mileage of this motor vehicle. Consult the documents on file with the Missouri department of revenue for an explanation of the inaccuracy.". Nothing in this section shall prevent any person from challenging the determination by the director of revenue in the circuit courts of the state of Missouri. The burden of proof shall be on the director of the department of revenue in all such proceedings.

4. The mileage disclosed by the odometer mileage statement for a new or used motor vehicle as described in subsections 1 and 2 of this section shall be placed by the transferor on any title or document evidencing ownership. Additional statements shall be placed on the title document as follows:

(1) If the transferor states that to the best of his knowledge the mileage disclosed is the actual mileage of the motor vehicle, an asterisk shall follow the mileage on the face of the title or document of ownership issued by the Missouri department of revenue. The asterisk shall reference to a statement on the face and bottom of the title document which shall read as follows: "Actual Mileage";

(2) Where the transferor has submitted an explanation why this mileage is incorrect, an asterisk shall follow the mileage on the face of the title or document of ownership issued by the Missouri department of revenue. The asterisk shall reference to a statement on the face and at the bottom of the title document which shall read as follows: "This is not the true and accurate mileage of this motor vehicle. Consult the documents on file with the Missouri department of revenue for an explanation of the inaccuracy.". Further wording shall be included as follows:

(a) If the transferor states that the odometer reflects the amount of mileage in excess of the designed mechanical odometer limit, the above statement on the face of the title document shall be followed by the words: "Mileage exceeds the mechanical limits";

(b) If the transferor states that the odometer reading differs from the mileage and that the difference is greater than that caused by odometer calibration error and the odometer reading does not reflect the actual mileage and should not be relied upon, the above statement on the face of the title document shall be preceded by the words: "Warning Odometer Discrepancy".

5. The department of revenue shall notify all motor vehicle ownership transferees of the civil and criminal penalties involving odometer fraud.

6. Any person defacing or obscuring or otherwise falsifying any odometer reading on any document required by this section shall be guilty of a class E felony.

7. The granting or creation of a security interest or lien shall not be considered a change of ownership for the purpose of this section, and the grantor of such lien or security interest shall not be required to make an odometer mileage statement. The release of a lien by a mortgage holder shall not be considered a change of ownership of the motor vehicle for the purposes of this section. The mortgage holder or lienholder shall not be required to make an odometer disclosure statement or state the current odometer setting at the time of the release of the lien where there is no change of ownership.

8. For the purposes of the mileage disclosure requirements of this section, if a certificate of ownership is held by a lienholder, if the transferor makes application for a duplicate certificate of ownership, or as otherwise provided in the federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act and related federal regulations, the transferor may execute a written power of attorney authorizing a transfer of ownership. The person granted such power of attorney shall restate exactly on the assignment of title the actual mileage disclosed at the time of transfer. The power of attorney shall accompany the certificate of ownership and the original power of attorney and a copy of the certificate of ownership shall be returned to the issuing state in the manner prescribed by the director of revenue, unless otherwise provided by federal law, rule or regulation. The department of revenue may prescribe a secure document for use in executing a written power of attorney. The department shall collect a fee for each form issued, not to exceed the cost of procuring the form.

(L. 1977 S.B. 180, A.L. 1983 S.B. 9, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1581, A.L. 1989 S.B. 327, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1279, A.L. 1992 H.B. 884, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Effective 1-01-17