Missouri Department of Revenue Begins Transition to Flat License Plates

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) has begun transitioning from embossed license plates with raised lettering to flat license plates.

Embossed plates have been a familiar sight on Missouri roadways for decades. Moving to flat plates will improve production efficiency, reduce costs and prepare the state to transition from six-digit to seven-digit license plate numbers. The change will coincide with the implementation of DOR’s new FUSION system in February 2027.

“The transition to flat license plates is an important step in modernizing our process,” said Trish Vincent, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue. “We are running out of six-digit configurations for plates. This move not only saves taxpayer dollars but also prepares us for the future.”

Customers who request replacement plates because their vehicle or trailer plates were lost, stolen or damaged will currently receive six-digit flat plates.

DOR will begin distributing seven-digit flat plates when the FUSION system launches. Motorcycle plates and certain specialty plates will be excluded from the initial transition.

For more information about Missouri license plates and vehicle registration and renewal requirements, visit dor.mo.gov.