PURPOSE: The director of the Department of Revenue is charged with the responsibility of regulating the license plates issued to dealers. This rule establishes safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of dealer plates.

1. (1) Whenever a dealer is no longer entitled to registration pursuant to section 301.251, RSMo through voluntary cessation of business, abandonment of a bona fide established place of business, failure to make four (4) sales per year, suspension or revocation of its registration, sale of the business, declaration of bankruptcy or for any other reason, the dealer license plates issued to that dealer immediately shall be surrendered to the director regardless of the unexpired time remaining in the registration period applicable to that license plate.

2. (2) Dealer license plates are issued primarily for the purpose of allowing a potential buyer to test drive a motor vehicle owned and held for resale by a dealer. A secondary purpose is to allow the transportation of vehicles owned by a dealer or manufacturer and held for the purpose of resale. Therefore, dealer plates may be displayed only on a motor vehicle or trailer that is—

   1. (A) Owned by the manufacturer/dealer; and
   2. (B) Held for resale.

3. (3) Vehicles on which the plates are displayed then may be operated by—

   1. (A) A customer who is test driving the motor vehicle;
   2. (B) An owner, officer or employee of the manufacturer/dealer;
   3. (C) A buyer as provided in section 301.140.3, RSMo; or

   4. (D) A customer who is test driving a truck or a trailer under loaded conditions provided a written demonstration agreement signed by the prospective customer and the dealer is present in the vehicle. The motor vehicle or trailer may be test driven for no more than twenty-four (24) hours if the vehicle is being operated in Missouri or for one (1) round trip only if being test driven outside Missouri. The written demonstration agreement must be on the dealership’s stationery and include the following items: 12 CSR 10-23

      1. 1. A statement that the vehicle is being

used for demonstration purposes only;

1. 2. A description of the vehicle; that is,

year, make and vehicle identification number;

1. 3. The name of the person or company

demonstrating the vehicle;

1. 4. The dealer number;
2. 5. A statement of the type of property

being transported;

1. 6. The date and time the demonstration

began; and

1. 7. If the vehicle is being demonstrated

on a round trip outside Missouri, the estimated date the vehicle will be returned to the dealership.

1. (4) Section 301.253, RSMo provides that dealer plates may be displayed on any motor vehicle used by an employee or officer and owned by the manufacturer, distributor or dealer, but shall not be displayed on any motor vehicle or trailer hired or loaned to others or upon any regularly used service or wrecker vehicle. Therefore, dealer license plates may not be displayed on the following:

   1. (A) Motor vehicles or trailers that are rented or leased;
   2. (B) Motor vehicles or trailers that are loaned to someone other than an owner, officer or employee of the dealership (for example, a dealer may not loan a motor vehicle displaying a dealer license plate to his/her customer while the customer’s vehicle is being serviced or repaired);
   3. (C) Motor vehicles or trailers that are used for hauling or towing;
   4. (D) Motor vehicles or trailers used by anyone who is not an officer or employee of the manufacturer/dealer, this includes relatives of employees and officers;
   5. (E) Motor vehicles or trailers that are not for resale; and
   6. (F) Any boat or vessel.
2. (5) Dealer plates displayed on all motor vehicles, other than motorcycles and motortricycles, must be twelve inches by six inches (12” × 6”) in size.

AUTHORITY: sections 301.140, 301.251 and 301.253, RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed April 14, 1980, effective Sept. 12, 1980. Amended: Filed March 26, 1982, effective July 12, 1982. Amended: Filed Sept. 16, 1985, effective Jan. 26, 1986. *Original authority 301.140, RSMo 1939, amended 1947, 1951, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1987; 301.251, RSMo 1981, amended 1984, 1985, 1986; 301.253, RSMo 1981, amended 1985, 1986.