Mississippi Title Transfer

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

A Mississippi title transfer is processed at the county tax collector's office in the buyer's county of residence, under rules set by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. The state title fee is $9, the form set is short, and the 5% Casual Sales Tax is collected at the same visit. The catch is the timing: the buyer has just 7 days from the sale date to complete the transfer before privilege-tax penalties begin.

Seller responsibilities

The seller's job is to release the title cleanly. That requires:

Sign and date the assignment block on the back of the Mississippi Certificate of Title.
Print the buyer's full legal name and address exactly as it will appear on the new title.
Complete the odometer disclosure for any vehicle less than 20 model years old (federal rule).
Provide a bill of sale showing purchase price, sale date, and VIN. Mississippi's recommended template is Form MVT-12; a notarized bill of sale is preferred but not always required.
Remove the license plate from the vehicle — in Mississippi, the plate stays with the owner, not the vehicle. The owner can transfer the plate to a different vehicle they own or surrender it to the county tax collector.

The seller should also notify their auto insurance carrier of the sale to avoid liability for the buyer's later use of the vehicle.

Buyer responsibilities

The buyer must complete the title transfer within 7 days of purchase to avoid the 5% per month privilege-tax penalty (capped at 25%) plus the $250 ad valorem penalty under MS Code § 27-19-63. The transfer requires:

Properly assigned Mississippi Certificate of Title from the seller.
Bill of sale showing the purchase price and date.
Lien release if the title shows a prior lien that has been satisfied.
Proof of Mississippi 25/50/25 liability insurance.
Completed Form MS-MV-001 (Application for Mississippi Title) and Form MS-MV-002 (Application for Registration).
Driver license or state ID for every buyer named on the new title.
Payment for the title fee, sales tax, registration fees, and first-year ad valorem.

Title fee and taxes

The Mississippi title fee is $9. At the same transaction, the county tax collector collects:

5% Casual Sales Tax on private-party purchases between Mississippi residents.
7% sales tax on dealer purchases.
$14 annual privilege license tax (state portion).
County tag fees ($7-$15 typical).
The first-year ad valorem (property) tax.

Vehicles received as inheritance, gift, or transfer between immediate family members may qualify for a sales-tax exemption with appropriate documentation. The exemption requires Form MS-MV-001 to be marked "gift" or "inheritance" with supporting documentation (death certificate or notarized gift affidavit). Trade-in credit is available only at dealer purchases — private-party transactions cannot reduce the taxable price by a trade-in.

Out-of-state vehicles

Vehicles entering Mississippi from another state require a fresh Mississippi title and registration at the buyer's county tax collector. The county verifies the VIN against the prior state's title; some counties may require a VIN inspection by local law enforcement before the title can be issued, particularly when the prior title shows brands like "rebuilt" or "salvage." For out-of-state private-party purchases, the buyer is also responsible for the 5% Casual Sales Tax (or 7% if from an out-of-state dealer) unless equivalent tax was paid in the originating state.

Lien releases

If the title shows a lien holder, the lien must be released before the county tax collector can issue a new title. Mississippi accepts:

An electronic lien release transmitted by the lender to MDOR (most common for auto loans paid off in the past few years).
A physical lien release letter on the lender's letterhead, signed and dated.
The original Mississippi title with the lien released and stamped by the lender.

Lenders that have moved or merged may take 5-10 business days to issue a release. Buyers should never pay for a vehicle showing an unsatisfied lien until the release is in hand — the 7-day registration deadline does not extend just because a lender is slow.

Power of attorney

A buyer or seller who cannot appear in person at the county tax collector can use Form MS-MV-78 (Power of Attorney for Vehicle Title Transactions) to authorize an agent. The form must be notarized and specifically authorize the transaction (transfer, registration, or both). The agent must present the form, their own government-issued photo ID, and the principal's required documents. Lost or damaged titles must be replaced with a duplicate title before the assignment can be completed.

License plates after a sale

Mississippi license plates belong to the registered owner, not the vehicle. When a vehicle is sold:

The seller removes the plate before delivering the vehicle.
The seller can transfer the plate to a different vehicle they own (with a $5 transfer fee).
The seller can surrender the plate to the county tax collector for a partial refund of unused privilege tax.

The buyer must obtain a new plate at the title transfer. If the seller forgot to remove the plate before delivery, the seller is still responsible for retrieving it — the buyer cannot drive with the seller's plate.