This year, Baringer has another bill before the Legislature that she hopes will curtail the use of expired plates and educate car buyers.

If passed, it would require a check for the amount of the sales tax be made out to the Missouri Department of Revenue when sales tax is rolled into a car loan. Now, she said that check goes to the vehicle’s buyer, who can spend it elsewhere.

It also would require a vehicle buyer to sign a waiver that all applicable sales taxes are due within 30 days of the purchase and that it is illegal to drive a vehicle in Missouri without properly insuring the vehicle — not submitting the tax within 30 days would result in a fine of $25 every 30 days, or a maximum fine of $200.

“We need to make sure everyone understands this is how much money it will cost you to get into the car — and not just the car, but the sales tax and insurance,” Baringer said.

She said she doesn’t want to penalize people who don’t know about those costs, but stressed the sales tax on vehicle purchases helps pay for needed taxpayer-funded transportation services.

‘A societal problem’