...since the vehicle exception is under the concealed carry laws,
No, it is not.
Perhaps I could be educated then.
Section 1, subdivision (1) of 571.030 lays out that carrying a concealed weapon is illegal.
Section 3 provides the exception that sec 1, sub (1) doesn't apply to a lawfully possessed concealable weapon in a vehicle.
Section 4 provides the exception that sec 1, sub (1) doesn't apply to a person with a carry permit.
These are all part of the same law regarding carrying a concealable weapon. Is that reading incorrect?
....then the fact that you are carrying in the car means it is concealed.
No, it does not.
Thinking on it more, you are right, the mere fact that it is in the car doesn't mean it is concealed. If the gun was placed on the dashboard, it certainly wouldn't be considered concealed.
But, at the very least, if the gun was concealed in some manner... stored in the map pocket of the door or under a jacket on the passenger seat, for example, would it be considered to be openly carried?
Still, looking to 21.750.
1. The general assembly hereby occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation touching in any way firearms, components, ammunition and supplies to the complete exclusion of any order, ordinance or regulation by any political subdivision of this state. Any existing or future orders, ordinances or regulations in this field are hereby and shall be null and void except as provided in subsection 3 of this section.
...
3. (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, nothing contained in this section shall prohibit any ordinance of any political subdivision which conforms exactly with any of the provisions of sections 571.010 to 571.070, with appropriate penalty provisions, or which regulates the open carrying of firearms readily capable of lethal use or the discharge of firearms within a jurisdiction, provided such ordinance complies with the provisions of section 252.243. No ordinance shall be construed to preclude the use of a firearm in the defense of person or property, subject to the provisions of chapter 563.
This would seem, based on my possibly flawed reading, to say that the local municipalities cannot prohibit acting under the protection of 571.030 Section 3.
If my reading is wrong I'd like to know, since, from time to time, I drive through MO.