1. Upon application for registration of a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, by an owner who holds license plates in a registration period which has expired, the director shall register said vehicle for the fraction of the twelve-month period as will enable the owner to use the license plates so held by him, and he shall be required to pay a fee computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the full year’s registration fee prescribed for such vehicles, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the registration period for which he shall be required to register. When the registration renewal is subject to the delinquent renewal penalty imposed by section 301.050, the owner shall file an affidavit of nonoperation for the months during which the license plates were expired or pay the full twelve-month registration fee.

2. For new vehicles, other than commercial motor vehicles, not previously registered in this state, the fee shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the full year’s registration fee prescribed for such vehicles, multiplied by the number of months of the current registration year which have not fully expired on the date of application. When ownership of a nonregistered vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, which has not been previously operated on the public highways during the current registration year, is transferred, the registration fee to be paid by transferee shall be computed as provided above for new vehicles, providing a satisfactory affidavit of such nonoperation is filed with the department of revenue. In the case of a new vehicle, a vehicle not previously registered in Missouri, or a vehicle which is transferred, the legal date of application for registration shall be the date on which such vehicle was first operated on the public highways after it was acquired by the applicant; provided, however, if the bill of sale is dated prior to the date the vehicle was placed in operation, the applicant must file an affidavit of nonoperation, provided the later date is fractional in the computation of the registration fee.