Missouri begins transition to flat license plates ahead of 2027 system upgrade

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KBSI) — The Missouri Department of Revenue is beginning the transition from traditional raised-letter license plates to flat plates as part of an effort to modernize the state’s vehicle registration system.

The change will replace embossed license plates, which have been used in Missouri for decades.

According to the department, the transition is intended to improve production efficiency and support the implementation of FUSION, the state’s new motor vehicle and driver licensing system.

State budget documents confirm the department is working with Missouri Vocational Enterprises, a division of the Missouri Department of Corrections, to transition license plate production from embossed to flat designs.

The department said the change will help modernize production and make the process more compatible with newer technology.

FUSION, which stands for Fifty Unique Systems In One Nexus, is designed to consolidate older state systems and improve the processing of motor vehicle and driver licensing services.

The first phase of FUSION, focused on driver licensing, launched in November 2024.

The department previously announced that the system’s next phase will also change how Missouri residents pay sales tax when purchasing vehicles.

Once that phase is implemented, customers purchasing vehicles from dealerships will pay sales tax at the dealership. Buyers will receive a paper copy of their license plate, with the permanent metal plate mailed to them.

The department has not yet confirmed a specific implementation date for those changes in the official materials reviewed.

More information about Missouri license plates and vehicle registration is available at dor.mo.gov.