Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600 (2026)

Liens and encumbrances, how perfected

✓ current as of May 2026

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301.600. Liens and encumbrances, how perfected — effect of on vehicles and trailers brought into state — security procedures for verifying electronic notices. — 1. Unless excepted by section 301.650, a lien or encumbrance on a motor vehicle or trailer, as defined by section 301.010, is not valid against subsequent transferees or lienholders of the motor vehicle or trailer who took without knowledge of the lien or encumbrance unless the lien or encumbrance is perfected as provided in sections 301.600 to 301.660.

2. Subject to the provisions of section 301.620, a lien or encumbrance on a motor vehicle or trailer is perfected by the delivery to the director of revenue of a notice of a lien in a format as prescribed by the director of revenue. The notice of lien is perfected as of the time of its creation if the delivery of such notice to the director of revenue is completed within thirty days thereafter, otherwise as of the time of the delivery. A notice of lien shall contain the name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle or trailer and the secured party, a description of the motor vehicle or trailer, including the vehicle identification number, and such other information as the department of revenue may prescribe. A notice of lien substantially complying with the requirements of this section is effective even though it contains minor errors which are not seriously misleading. Provided the lienholder submits complete and legible documents, the director of revenue shall mail confirmation or electronically confirm receipt of such notice of lien to the lienholder as soon as possible, but no later than fifteen business days after the filing of the notice of lien.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.620, on a refinance by a different lender of a prior loan secured by a motor vehicle or trailer a lien is perfected by the delivery to the director of revenue of a notice of lien completed by the refinancing lender in a format prescribed by the director of revenue.

4. To perfect a subordinate lien, the notice of lien must be accompanied by the documents required to be delivered to the director pursuant to subdivision (3) of section 301.620.

5. Liens may secure future advances. The future advances may be evidenced by one or more notes or other documents evidencing indebtedness and shall not be required to be executed or delivered prior to the date of the future advance lien securing them. The fact that a lien may secure future advances shall be clearly stated on the security agreement and noted as "subject to future advances" on the notice of lien and noted on the certificate of ownership if the motor vehicle or trailer is subject to only one notice of lien. To secure future advances when an existing lien on a motor vehicle or trailer does not secure future advances, the lienholder shall file a notice of lien reflecting the lien to secure future advances. A lien to secure future advances is perfected in the same time and manner as any other lien, except as follows: proof of the lien for future advances is maintained by the department of revenue; however, there shall be additional proof of such lien when the notice of lien reflects such lien for future advances, is receipted for by the department of revenue, and returned to the lienholder.

6. If a motor vehicle or trailer is subject to a lien or encumbrance when brought into this state, the validity and effect of the lien or encumbrance is determined by the law of the jurisdiction where the motor vehicle or trailer was when the lien or encumbrance attached, subject to the following:

(1) If the parties understood at the time the lien or encumbrance attached that the motor vehicle or trailer would be kept in this state and it was brought into this state within thirty days thereafter for purposes other than transportation through this state, the validity and effect of the lien or encumbrance in this state is determined by the law of this state;

(2) If the lien or encumbrance was perfected pursuant to the law of the jurisdiction where the motor vehicle or trailer was when the lien or encumbrance attached, the following rules apply:

(a) If the name of the lienholder is shown on an existing certificate of title or ownership issued by that jurisdiction, the lien or encumbrance continues perfected in this state;

(b) If the name of the lienholder is not shown on an existing certificate of title or ownership issued by that jurisdiction, the lien or encumbrance continues perfected in this state three months after a first certificate of ownership of the motor vehicle or trailer is issued in this state, and also thereafter if, within the three-month period, it is perfected in this state.

The lien or encumbrance may also be perfected in this state after the expiration of the three-month period; in that case perfection dates from the time of perfection in this state;

(3) If the lien or encumbrance was not perfected pursuant to the law of the jurisdiction where the motor vehicle or trailer was when the lien or encumbrance attached, it may be perfected in this state; in that case perfection dates from the time of perfection in this state;

(4) A lien or encumbrance may be perfected pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) or subdivision (3) of this subsection either as provided in subsection 2 or 4 of this section or by the lienholder delivering to the director of revenue a notice of lien or encumbrance in the form the director of revenue prescribes and the required fee.

7. By rules and regulations, the director of revenue shall establish a security procedure for the purpose of verifying that an electronic notice of lien or notice of satisfaction of a lien on a motor vehicle or trailer given as permitted in sections 301.600 to 301.640 is that of the lienholder, verifying that an electronic notice of confirmation of ownership and perfection of a lien given as required in section 301.610 is that of the director of revenue, and detecting error in the transmission or the content of any such notice. A security procedure may require the use of algorithms or other codes, identifying words or numbers, encryption, callback procedures or similar security devices. Comparison of a signature on a communication with an authorized specimen signature shall not by itself be a security procedure.

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(L. 1965 p. 474 § 1, A.L. 1989 H.B. 211, A.L. 1999 H.B. 795, A.L. 2000 S.B. 896, A.L. 2001 H.B. 738 merged with S.B. 186, A.L. 2002 H.B. 2008 merged with S.B. 895, A.L. 2011 H.B. 550, A.L. 2012 H.B. 1150 merged with H.B. 1402 merged with S.B. 485)

(1967) This section is not ambiguous and does not require construction to determine the intent of the lawmakers. Delivery of executed lien perfection copy of Missouri form perfected lien even upon failure of delivery of other copies of form and even though the vehicle was not registered for licensing purposes. Zuke v. Mercantile Trust Company National Association (A.), 385 F.2d 775.

(1974) Repossession proceedings under this section held not to involve sufficient state action to authorize cause of action under federal civil rights act. Nichols v. Tower Grove Bank (C.A. Mo.), 497 F.2d 404.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 34 cases, 1967–2009 · leading case: In Re Jackson, 268 F. Supp. 434 (E.D. Mo. 1967).

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In Re Jackson, 268 F. Supp. 434 (E.D. Mo. 1967). · cites it 49× “Instead, Section 301.600, V.A. M.S., part of a subsequently enacted statute also effective July 1, 1965, provides the sole and exclusive method to be followed for perfecting a security interest in a motor vehicle in the circumstances involved in this case.”

Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co. v. Hart, 152 S.W.3d 420 (Mo. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 5× “The trial court also found that, even if a financing-statement was not required, Blue Ridge Bank had not perfected its hen because it never ensured that an application for a new title was filed with the Director, as required by sections 301.600 and 301.620. Alternatively, the…”

Fid. Fin. Servs., Inc. v. Fink, 522 U.S. 211 (1998). · cites it 3× “See Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600 (2) (1994). 1 Two months after that, Beasley sought relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.”

Bradley v. K & E Investments, Inc., 847 S.W.2d 915 (Mo. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 5× “As K & E correctly points out, §§ 301.600 to 301.660, RSMo 1986, provide the exclusive method of perfecting and giving notice of liens or encumbrances on motor vehicles, unless one of five statutory exceptions applies.”

Cole v. Miller (In Re Miller), 320 B.R. 911 (Bankr. E.D. Mo. 2005). · cites it 8× “Defendant avers that although there is no dispute with the factual allegations referenced by Trustee, Defendant holds a perfected lien to the Vehicle pursuant to Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 301.600 (2) and 301.620.”

In Re Westfall, 227 B.R. 734 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 1998). · cites it 6× “In Dawson, the Court never analyzed the language of section 301.600. It instead looked only to section 9-103 of Missouri’s version of the Uniform Commercial Code (the UCC).”

VTCC, Inc. v. Brown (In Re Brown), 55 B.R. 172 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 1985). · cites it 11× “Although there is no evidence on the point, it is likely that Volvo and debtor knew the truck would be kept in Missouri but driven over the road outside Missouri.”

Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Pedersen, 575 S.W.2d 916 (Mo. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 4× “When the Uniform Commercial Code was adopted by Missouri the legislature also passed § 301.600, which controls the method of perfecting liens and encumbrances on motor vehicles.”

Webb v. Am. Fam. Fin. Servs., Inc., 667 S.W.2d 435 (Mo. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 6× “In a dispute between Mercantile and Jackson’s trustee in bankruptcy 7 the court held that Mercantile perfected its lien on the motor vehicle under § 301.600 by paying the required fee and delivering to the director of revenue an executed lien perfection copy of the Missouri…”

Farmers & Merchants Bank of St. Clair v. Borg-Warner Acceptance Corp., 665 S.W.2d 636 (Mo. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 3× “1 The motor vehicle liens and encumbrances provisions, § 301.600, et seq., do not apply. Section 301.”

Rouse v. Pinegar Chevrolet, Inc. (In Re Chambers), 125 B.R. 788 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 1991). · cites it 2× “Furthermore, if the title had been delivered to the Department of Revenue in a timely manner, the lienholder would have been considered perfected as of the date of the creation of the lien under Section 301.600, subd. 1. Pinegar’s or perhaps more accurately, the bank’s, failure…”

Ozark Fin. Servs. v. Turner, 735 S.W.2d 374 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 6× “The lien of the security agreement dated April 25, 1985, was not shown upon the face of that title.”

Show all 34 citing cases →

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600(1) — 1 case

McRoberts v. WFS Fin., Inc. (In Re Church), 206 B.R. 180 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1997).

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600(2) — 3 cases

Mann v. Belle-Bland Bank, 451 F. Supp. 268 (E.D. Mo. 1978).

Schnarr v. United States, 795 F. Supp. 934 (E.D. Mo. 1992).

In re McFarlane, 298 B.R. 878 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 2003).

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600(3) — 1 case

In re McFarlane, 298 B.R. 878 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 2003).

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600(4) — 1 case

In re McFarlane, 298 B.R. 878 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 2003).

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600(4)(2)(a) — 1 case

In re McFarlane, 298 B.R. 878 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 2003).

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600(a)(1) — 1 case

Rouse v. DeForge (In Re Dawson), 384 B.R. 559 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 2008).

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.600(a)(2)(b) — 1 case

Rouse v. DeForge (In Re Dawson), 384 B.R. 559 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 2008).

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