1. The director of revenue shall issue certificates for all cars owned by the state of Missouri and shall assign to each of such cars two plates bearing the words: “State of Missouri, official car number ______” (with the number inserted thereon), which plates shall be displayed on such cars when they are being used on the highways. No officer or employee or other person shall use such a motor vehicle for other than official use.

2. Motor vehicles used as ambulances, patrol wagons and fire apparatus, owned by any municipality of this state, shall be exempt from all of the provisions of sections 301.010 to 301.440 while being operated within the limits of such municipality, but the municipality may regulate the speed and use of such motor vehicles owned by them; and all other motor vehicles owned by municipalities, counties and other political subdivisions of the state shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 301.010 to 301.440 requiring registration, proof of ownership and display of number plates; provided, however, that there shall be a plate, or, on each side of such motor vehicle, letters not less than three inches in height with a stroke of not less than three-eighths of an inch wide, to display the name of such municipality, county or political subdivision, the department thereof, and a distinguishing number. Provided, further, that when any motor vehicle is owned and operated exclusively by any school district and used solely for transportation of school children, the commissioner shall assign to each of such motor vehicles two plates bearing the words “School Bus, State of Missouri, car no. ______” (with the number inserted thereon), which plates shall be displayed on such motor vehicles when they are being used on the highways. No officer, or employee of the municipality, county or subdivision, or any other person shall operate such a motor vehicle unless the same is marked as herein provided, and no officer, employee or other person shall use such a motor vehicle for other than official purposes.

3. For registration purposes only, a public school or college shall be considered the temporary owner of a vehicle acquired from a motor vehicle dealer which is to be used as a courtesy vehicle or a driver training vehicle. The school or college shall present to the director of revenue a copy of a lease agreement with an option to purchase clause between the authorized motor vehicle dealer and the school or college and a photocopy of the front and back of the dealer’s vehicle manufacturer‘s statement of origin or certificate of title, and shall make application for and be granted a nonnegotiable certificate of ownership and be issued the appropriate license plates. Registration plates are not necessary on a driver training vehicle when the motor vehicle is plainly marked as a driver training vehicle while being used for such purpose and such vehicle can also be used in conjunction with the activities of the educational institution.

4. As used in this section, the term “political subdivision” is intended to include any township, road district, sewer district, school district, municipality, town or village, sheltered workshop, as defined in section 178.900, and any interstate compact agency which operates a public mass transportation system.