Mississippi Title Replacement (Duplicate Title)

If your Mississippi Certificate of Title has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a duplicate from the Mississippi Department of Revenue (MDOR). The duplicate replaces the original, voiding any earlier copies the moment it's printed. The fee is the same $9 as a new title, and the application can be filed by mail to MDOR or in person at any county tax collector that accepts MDOR title work.

Who can request a duplicate

Only the registered owner of record (or all co-owners on the title) can request a duplicate Mississippi title. If the title shows multiple owners joined by "AND," every named owner must sign the request; if joined by "OR," any one owner can request alone. A third party can request on behalf of an owner only with a notarized Form MS-MV-78 power of attorney that specifically authorizes title transactions, and the agent must also present a government-issued photo ID at submission.

When you'll need a duplicate

• The original title was lost or never received from MDOR after issuance.
• The original was damaged, mutilated, or rendered unreadable.
• The original was stolen and a police report has been filed.
• You sold the vehicle but cannot locate the title to assign to the buyer — you must obtain the duplicate before completing the title transfer.
• You're refinancing or paying off the lien and need a clear title in hand.

Application by mail

The standard duplicate-title application is submitted by mail to MDOR. The owner completes Form MS-MV-001 with the duplicate-title checkbox marked, signs and dates the form, and mails it to MDOR with a $9 fee paid by check or money order. The duplicate is mailed to the address on file in 14-21 business days. If the owner needs the title urgently, expedited processing is available for an additional $30 with a typical 5-business-day turnaround.

In-person application

Many county tax collectors accept duplicate-title applications and forward them to MDOR. The owner brings:

• The completed Form MS-MV-001 with the duplicate-title checkbox marked.
• A government-issued photo ID.
• The $9 fee.
• A police report if the original was stolen.

Some counties offer same-day duplicate-title processing if the owner appears in person; others batch the requests and send them to MDOR weekly. Calling the county tax collector before the visit is the fastest way to confirm processing time.

Lien-holder titles

If a vehicle has an active lien, Mississippi issues the original title to the lien holder, not the registered owner. Owners who need a duplicate while the lien is active must first contact the lender; the lender requests the duplicate from MDOR on the lender's own application. Once the loan is paid off, the lender either electronically releases the lien (allowing MDOR to issue a clear title to the owner) or mails the released title directly to the owner. If the lender has gone out of business or merged, the FDIC or successor institution can provide a release letter that the owner submits to MDOR with the duplicate request.

Stolen titles

If the title was stolen, file a police report immediately and bring a copy of the report to the duplicate application. MDOR will void the prior title number when the duplicate is issued, which prevents the stolen original from being used in any future transfer. Owners worried about identity-theft exposure should also pull their Mississippi driver record to confirm no fraudulent transfers are in process.

Bonded titles for missing-chain situations

An owner with a bill of sale but no original title from a prior seller may need a bonded title rather than a duplicate. Mississippi issues bonded titles when the chain of ownership is incomplete — for example, when a vehicle was bought from a private seller years ago but never properly retitled, and the prior seller cannot be located. The bonded-title process requires:

• A surety bond of 1.5x the vehicle's appraised value.
• An MDOR-approved appraisal.
• A 3-year hold period during which other claimants can challenge ownership.
• Bill of sale documentation showing the chain of possession.

After 3 years with no claim, the bonded title converts to a clean title. Bonded titles are processed only at MDOR, not at county tax collectors, and the application typically takes 60-90 days.

Estate and probate situations

If the original title is held by a deceased owner's estate, a separate probate path applies before any duplicate or transfer can be issued. Mississippi accepts:

• A small-estate affidavit under MS Code § 91-7-323 if the decedent's total estate is under $75,000.
• A certified Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the chancery court.
• A formal court order distributing the vehicle to a specific heir.

The successor named in the probate documents can then apply for a duplicate title and complete the transfer to themselves or another heir — or to a buyer if the vehicle is being sold from the estate. See title transfer for the next step after the duplicate is in hand.