Obtain, Transfer, or Replace a Mississippi Vehicle Title

Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Decide whether the vehicle requires a title

Mississippi's vehicle title page explains that motor vehicles have been subject to the title system since 1969, with voluntary titling for pre-1969 vehicles. Trailers over 5,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and manufactured homes have additional title requirements. A boat itself follows the Wildlife and Parks system rather than the motor vehicle title procedure. Identify the item being transferred before treating a receipt for several pieces of equipment as one title application.

The Motor Vehicle Services resources distinguish title issuance from registration, taxes, and plate services. A title represents ownership, while registration addresses the vehicle's authorized registration period and plate record. A buyer may need both transactions, but the documents and charges serve different purposes. Tell the designated agent or county office whether the vehicle will be registered for road use immediately or whether a permissible title-only application is intended.

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Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Use the proper application channel

The Mississippi title FAQ directs a licensed Mississippi dealer to submit the purchaser's title application. The buyer then uses the yellow application copy for the county registration transaction. A private-party buyer applies through the county Tax Collector, and an out-of-state dealer purchase requires the county filing with the purchase or sales invoice. Keep the document that shows who submitted the application and when so a later status inquiry reaches the right transaction.

For an ordinary used vehicle, the existing certificate must be assigned to the buyer. Complete the purchaser name rather than leaving an open assignment for a future resale. Compare owner names and vehicle identification before signing. If the ownership arrangement requires more than one signature, obtain the necessary signatures or valid representative authority. The individual power of attorney identifies the vehicle and the acts authorized; it should not be treated as a blank substitute for every missing ownership document.

Use the separate odometer statement when the transfer needs that disclosure. Its mileage reading and certifications belong to the described vehicle and transaction. The signature does not authorize a buyer to correct a doubtful mileage reading independently afterward. If the certificate contains a brand such as rebuilt or flood damage, review its meaning through the state salvage vehicle resources before completing the purchase and preserve the brand in the resulting application.

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Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Account for title charges and processing

The state lists a $9 motor vehicle title charge and $9 for its electronic title and electronic lien title categories. A designated-agent charge or accompanying registration transaction can affect the amount paid at the office. The registration instructions address the separate tag and tax process. Request an itemized amount if the county receipt differs from the basic title fee so the title charge is not confused with tax or registration costs.

The main title page describes standard processing as typically within six weeks after DOR receives a complete application and all required documents. Missing evidence can lengthen that period. Use the DOR title-status lookup to investigate a pending application and keep the filing details available. The time from handing papers to a seller is not necessarily the same as the time since the Department received a complete application.

The Fast Track title procedure adds $30 to the ordinary title charge and provides 72-hour processing after receipt of the correct application at the proper central-office destination. Mailing time is excluded. The program has specific mailing and hand-delivery rules, rejects incomplete paperwork, and does not allow an application already in regular processing to be switched to Fast Track. Select that route before submission if it is needed for the transaction.

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Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Resolve recorded liens through the correct party

Mississippi's electronic lien program requires lienholders with a federal employer identification number to enroll through an approved provider and release satisfied liens electronically within 14 days. A paper title can still be requested under the program's procedures. Ask the lender whether it has completed the state-record release rather than relying solely on a zero balance shown in a loan portal.

For a move from another state, DOR may need the title held by the out-of-state lender or leasing company. The FAQ describes alternative evidence used during the request, but the missing title still has to be surrendered for the application to be completed. An unresolved request can block later renewal. Supply the lender with the accurate VIN and the county's request information, and keep copies of the correspondence documenting the effort to obtain the certificate.

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Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Replace a lost Mississippi certificate

The Application for Replacement Certificate of Title, Form 78-006, is appropriate when a Mississippi certificate was previously issued and has been lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in one of the listed circumstances. The standard application carries a $9 charge. It requires the owner or lienholder certification and directs where the replacement will be delivered. Select the reason that fits the actual history, including whether the original was never received from the lender.

If the title is jointly held with names joined by AND, both signatures are required on the replacement application. A recorded lien controls delivery unless the required release is supplied. When the replacement is directed to someone other than the owner, the form requires the appropriate power of attorney; licensed dealers use the secure dealer form identified in the instructions. Once the replacement is issued, the original becomes void and must be surrendered if later found.

The Fast Track replacement form, 78-026, provides the expedited replacement route with its $39 charge. The FAQ directs the owner or owners to appear with valid identification for walk-in replacement at the Clinton central office; Form 78-026 also recognizes the specified power-of-attorney arrangement when both joint owners cannot appear. Replacing a certificate does not add a buyer as the new owner; the sale still requires a proper assignment after the replacement has been obtained.

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Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Correct errors without altering protected fields

The Affidavit of Correction, Form 78-008, covers specified assignment mistakes, but its limits are significant. It cannot cure information erased or hidden by correction fluid or tape, and it cannot correct an odometer reading, purchase date, or improperly recorded lienholder. The person responsible for the affected assignment completes the affidavit. Ask the county which correction procedure applies before crossing out a field on the original certificate.

The FAQ says a county or state error can be corrected without a fee, while an error in the submitted paperwork carries the stated correction charge. Name changes require supporting marriage or court documents where applicable. Adding another owner can also have tax and registration consequences, depending on the relationship and transaction. Explain the intended change fully instead of calling every ownership addition a spelling correction.

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Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Address a missing ownership chain

If the prior title cannot be obtained, DOR describes a bonded-title process requiring a surety bond for one and one-half times the vehicle's average trade-in value, a completed Affidavit of Ownership, and a bill of sale. The affidavit asks how the vehicle was acquired, where it was last registered, and why the current certificate cannot be surrendered. Its instructions also identify an inspection requirement for the specified newer vehicles.

The certificate of title bond runs for three years and must be filed within 30 days of its effective date under the form's terms. Obtain county or state title assistance before purchasing a bond so the amount and documents fit the actual problem. This procedure is not permission to ignore a known lender or conceal a disputed sale; it requires truthful ownership evidence and the Department's acceptance of the completed application.

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Mississippi ownership certificates and title corrections: Common questions

What is the basic Mississippi motor vehicle title charge?
DOR lists $9 for the motor vehicle title itself, with other charges possible when a designated agent, registration, or expedited processing is involved.

Which form replaces a previously issued Mississippi title?
Use Form 78-006 for the standard replacement process, or Form 78-026 for the separate Fast Track replacement service.

Does a Mississippi duplicate title leave the old certificate valid?
Issuance of the replacement voids the original certificate, which must be surrendered if it is later located.

Can Mississippi Form 78-008 correct an odometer reading or purchase date?
The affidavit expressly excludes those fields, so the county must identify the appropriate separate correction procedure.

How long must a covered Mississippi lender take to release a satisfied lien electronically?
The E-Lien program requires lienholders with a federal employer identification number to release the lien within 14 days after satisfaction.

What bond amount does Mississippi describe for a missing-title ownership application?
The FAQ specifies one and one-half times the average trade-in value, together with the ownership affidavit, bill of sale, and any other required supporting evidence.

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More Mississippi DMV guides

The other Mississippi DMV guides, 52 of them:

The public records that sit beside this page, on SearchSystems: the Mississippi property records guide and liens and deeds recorded in Mississippi.

Property records in the largest Mississippi counties, each with the local court and office that holds the file: Harrison, Hinds, DeSoto, Rankin, Jackson and Madison.