Fairways at StoneBridge COA. A residential community in Branson West, Missouri

Beginning Jan. 1, Missouri drivers of new automobiles won't have to have a safety inspection for the first five years, meaning a vehicle made in 2009 will be exempt from the inspection requirement until 2014.

Currently, state law requires owners to get a safety inspection when renewing lidcense plates good for one-year or two-year periods.

Current law exempts owners of new vehicles from the inspection requirement for the model year when the vehicle was manufactured and the immediate year thereafter.

Missouri Department of Revenue officials estimate the new law will exempt 650,000 vehicles from the inspection requirement in 2010.

If a motor vehicle is sold, the new law still applies. For instance, if a 2009 vehicle is sold to another person in 2011, an inspection will not be required.

School buses and interstate commercial vehicles will not be affected by the new law.