Missouri Duplicate Title Request
A duplicate Missouri title is required when the original is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The Missouri Department of Revenue uses Form DOR-108 for both new titles and duplicates, with the "duplicate" box marked. The fee is $8.50, the application requires notarization, and the duplicate is mailed within 7 to 14 business days from the DOR Motor Vehicle Bureau in Jefferson City.
Who can request a duplicate
A duplicate Missouri title can be requested by:
- The current registered owner shown on the DOR record.
- A lien holder of record (with the owner's notarized consent or court order).
- A licensed Missouri dealer holding the vehicle in inventory.
- An attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney recorded with the DOR.
- The personal representative of a deceased owner's estate.
If the original title was issued in joint ownership, both owners must sign the duplicate request unless one has died — in which case the surviving owner submits a death certificate with the application.
Documents required
Bring to any Missouri fee office (or mail to the DOR Motor Vehicle Bureau) the following:
- Completed Form DOR-108 with the duplicate title box checked, signed by the owner in the presence of a notary public.
- The owner's Missouri driver's license or state ID.
- Lien holder consent if a lien is recorded — usually a signed and dated letter on lender letterhead, or the lender's notation in the lien-release section of the form.
- Payment of $8.50 by check, money order, cash, or card.
- If the original title was damaged or mutilated, surrender the partial title with the application.
The notarization requirement applies whether the application is filed at a fee office or by mail. Most banks, credit unions, and UPS Stores in Missouri offer notary services for $5 to $15.
Lien holder consent
If the DOR record shows an active lien, the duplicate title cannot be issued without the lien holder's involvement:
- If the loan is still active, the duplicate title is mailed to the lender, who continues to hold the title until the loan is paid.
- If the loan was paid off but the title was never returned, request a release letter from the lender on letterhead and submit it with the duplicate application.
- If the lender is no longer in business, submit Form 4569 (also used for record requests) along with documentation of the lender's dissolution.
For ELT (electronic lien and title) lenders, the release is processed automatically when the lender updates the DOR record. Once released, the duplicate title is mailed to the registered owner.
Processing time
Duplicate Missouri titles are processed at the DOR Motor Vehicle Bureau in Jefferson City. The standard turnaround is 7 to 14 business days from receipt of the complete application. Expedited processing is not available, but the fee office may issue a printed temporary title for a time-sensitive transaction (a vehicle closing, an out-of-state move) provided the application is otherwise complete and the lien is clear.
Once the duplicate arrives
When the duplicate title arrives, it supersedes the original. If the original is later found, destroy it — using the original after a duplicate has been issued can void a subsequent transfer. The duplicate is identical to the original except for "DUPLICATE" printed across the top. It can be used immediately for a title transfer, a refinance, or a registration update.
If the title is held by another state
If the vehicle was titled in another state and the title was lost there, the duplicate must be requested from that state's titling agency, not the Missouri DOR. Once the duplicate arrives, the new Missouri resident can title the vehicle in Missouri using the standard registration process. A VIN inspection by the Missouri State Highway Patrol or by an authorized fee office is required for any out-of-state title brought into Missouri, including duplicates issued by the prior state.
If a clean title cannot be obtained — for example because the vehicle was purchased through a private sale and the seller never had a title in their own name — Missouri offers a Bonded Title process. The applicant posts a surety bond worth 1.5 times the appraised value of the vehicle and the DOR issues a bonded title that converts to a clean title after 3 years if no claims are filed. The bond is generally a last-resort option when other paths to clear title have been exhausted.