The Bee Friendly License Plate is now a reality in Missouri
Thanks to your support you can now order a specialty license plate that supports beekeeping and bees in the state of Missouri
Getting a personalize plate in the state of Missouri requires multiple steps. MSBA does NOT sell Bee Friendly plates, they are provided by the Missouri Department of Revenue and obtained at your local DMV after following the following directions. Please read the enter FAQ below, 90% of all questions we get about these plates are answered already in the FAQ below. Please do not reach out to MSBA with any questions until after you have read the FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bee Friendly License Plate is a special initiative by the Missouri State Beekeepers Association to raise awareness about the importance of bees and support beekeeping activities across the state. This specialty license plate features a beautiful bee-themed design and is available for purchase by Missouri residents.
By purchasing a Bee Friendly License Plate, you are:
- Supporting local beekeepers and beekeeping education programs.
- Raising awareness about the critical role bees play in our ecosystem.
- Showing your commitment to environmental conservation.
The cost of the Bee Friendly License Plate includes:
- A $15 annual fee from the Missouri Department of Revenue for the specialty plate. (Paid to the Department of Revenue)
- Standard vehicle registration fees as determined by the Missouri Department of Revenue.
- An annual $25 contribution to the Missouri State Beekeepers Association, which supports beekeeping education and conservation efforts. ($50 for two year renewals, which are only available if obtaining a plate in an even year for car vehicles made in an even year or an odd year for car vehicles made in an odd year).
- Fore more information on applying for a specialty plate see the Department of Revenue’s information page here
To obtain a Bee Friendly License Plate, you must:
- Be a resident of Missouri with a vehicle registered in your name.
- Complete the specialty plate application form (1716) available on the Missouri Department of Revenue website and this website after you click “Sign Up Now”
- Pay the required fees, including the $15 annual fee for the specialty plate and any applicable vehicle registration fees.
- Make a $25 annual contribution to the Missouri State Beekeepers Association ($50 for two year registrations).
To obtain a Bee Friendly License Plate, you must:
- Visit the Missouri State Beekeepers Association Bee Friendly website (this current site) to access the form 1716 or fill it out through the department of revenue (we have a link to the form 1716 when you apply for an EUAS, more on this below)
- Fill out the application form for an EUAS, ensuring all information is accurate and complete and submit it to MSBA (done through “Obtain EUAS” form access below.
- Submit the completed 1716 form along with the $15 Missouri Department of Revenue required fees directly to the DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (NOT MSBA) as well as the EUAS (which requires a $25 annual donation to MSBA or $50 for two year registrations) which you will be able to obtain through the form below. Donating to MSBA will provide you with an “Emblem Use Authorization Statement (EUAS)” that allows you to use a Bee Friendly License Plate on your vehicle.
- Once the Department of Revenue receives your form 1716, the $15 fee, and the EUAS from MSBA they will process your request and if accepted will produce your plate. This process in our experience takes a very long time, they state 6-8 weeks. In our experience it is take closer to 8 weeks or longer. This is managed by the Department of Revenue and not MSBA, you can contact the DOR directly to see the status of your plates through their webpage here.
Yes, you are required to personalize your Bee Friendly License Plate with a custom message or combination of letters and numbers. Note that personalized plates may have additional fees and restrictions. Check the Missouri Department of Revenue website for more details on personalization options.
If you already have a personalized plate you should be able to request that personaliztion on a new plate but will be required to surrender your old plate. Please contact the DOR for further information on this.
Bee Friendly License Plates may consist of no more than six characters including a dash, or a space, or an apostrophe. Five if applying for a handicap plate.
To see what options are available you can use this website link and select any of the samples there are to test different configurations (currently Bee Friendly is not an option to test, but you should be fine using any of the other options limited to 6 characters to search the Missouri Department of Revenue database). You can then fill your selections out on your 1716 form.
Processing times may vary, but typically, you can expect to receive your Bee Friendly License Plate within 6-8 weeks after submitting your application and payment. In our experience it is take closer to 8 weeks or longer. This is managed by the Department of Revenue and not MSBA, you can contact the DOR directly to see the status of your plates through their webpage here.
An Emblem Use Authorization Statement (EUAS) is a document that certifies your eligibility to obtain a Missouri specialty license plate, such as the Bee Friendly License Plate. It is issued by the Missouri State Beekeepers Association and confirms that you have made the required contribution to support their programs. It is not purchasing a plate from the MSBA and is a non-refundable donation regardless of if you choose to obtain a Bee Friendly plate or not with the donation.
The Emblem Use Authorization Statement is required to:
- Ensure that the funds raised from the specialty plates are directed to the appropriate organization or cause.
- Verify that applicants have made the necessary financial contribution to the Missouri State Beekeepers Association.
- Maintain the integrity and purpose of the specialty plate program by ensuring that only those who support the cause receive the specialty plate.
To obtain an Emblem Use Authorization Statement for the Bee Friendly License Plate, follow these steps:
- Visit the Missouri State Beekeepers Association website and click on the “Obtain EUAS” button below to make your $25 contribution ($50 for two year renewals).
- Once your contribution is processed, you will receive the Emblem Use Authorization Statement electronically
- Submit the Emblem Use Authorization Statement along with your specialty plate application (Form 1716) to the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Because there is an unpredictable delay between the time your plate is ordered and it arrives there is no special time to order your plate. Every plates is custom manufactured. So even if you try, you may or may not be able to time the arrival of your custom plates with your plate renewal. The Department of Revenue follows the same procedure (they will exchange plates or pro-rate your fees previous fees paid and change your registration renewal date to July [or December for heavy trucks]). All emblem plates (like the Bee Friendly Plates) will be set to expire in July. Renewals will require you to obtain a new EUAS every year when you go to the DMV. You may do so by clicking on the “Obtain EUAS” link below.
The Department of Revenue accepts the Emblem Use Certificates for 90 days after the date on the form.
If your Emblem Use Certificate is more than 90 days old but you haven’t applied for the plates yet, just contact us and we will get an updated form to you.
Please read the FAQ above, it answers almost all questions about the plate. MSBA is 100% volunteer run so we ask your assistance in doing this before trying to reach out to your staff. If you have additional questions about the Bee Friendly License Plate, please contact the Missouri State Beekeepers Association or visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website for more information.
