SellCarAdvisor is reader-supported, when you sign up through links on this post, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. How We Work.
The bottom line: Selling your car in Mississippi requires one extra step that many states skip: your signature on the title must be notarized before you hand it over.
You’re responsible for signing and notarizing the title, then removing your license plates before the buyer drives away. The buyer handles registration and taxes at their county tax collector’s office within 7 working days after that.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Mississippi requires your signature on the title to be notarized. Just signing it is not enough.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $9.00. Download Form 78-006 from the Mississippi DOR website and submit it to your county tax collector’s office. Standard processing takes 3 to 4 weeks.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 7 working days to register the car at their county tax collector’s office or they’ll face penalty fees. If they bought the car outside their home county, they get an extra 48 hours to transport the vehicle.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer them to another vehicle you own or destroy them.
- Release of liability: Mississippi has no required release of liability form. The signed, notarized title assignment serves as the official record of the sale.
- Bill of sale: Not legally required for most titled vehicle sales in Mississippi, but strongly recommended as protection for both parties.
- Emissions testing: Mississippi does not require emissions testing before selling a car, which makes the process simpler than in many other states.
Compare Instant Offers
Step-by-Step Process for Mississippi
Step 1: Prepare Your Mississippi Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Mississippi driver’s license – Name must match the title exactly
- Lien release documentation – Required if you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form 78-006 and submit it to your county tax collector’s office with your ID and $9.00. Standard processing takes 3 to 4 weeks.
Need it faster? Mississippi also offers a Fast Track service using Form 78-026 for $39. You’ll receive your duplicate title within 72 hours of the office receiving your application.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender must release the lien before you can transfer the title. Contact them to request a lien release letter or have them sign off directly on the title. If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you changed your name after marriage or for any other reason, bring documentation showing the name change.
Notarization required:
Mississippi requires your signature on the title assignment to be notarized. You’ll need a valid photo ID, and it’s recommended that the buyer be present when you sign. Notaries are available at most banks, courthouses, and shipping stores like UPS or FedEx.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Mississippi, especially in Jackson, Gulfport, and Biloxi where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Mississippi has no emissions testing, so older vehicles and trucks sell well locally without any pre-sale inspection requirements. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, Carvana will give competitive offers if you have a newer car, and you can compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor before deciding.
Best for Newer Cars
Buys newer, low-mileage cars
Offers pickup or free drop-off
Competitive trade-in value
Best for Used Cars
Instant offer in 2 minutes
Instant offer and free pickup
Get paid on the spot
Best for Junk Cars
Sell your car in 30 minutes
Easy-to-use
Buys non-running cars
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Mississippi Title Transfer
On the back of your title, find the “Assignment of Title by Registered Owner” section. Print the buyer’s full legal name and address exactly as shown on their ID, then fill in the odometer reading, sale price, and date of sale.
Mississippi requires your signature on the title to be notarized. Bring a valid photo ID to the notary appointment, and have the buyer present when you sign. Notaries are available at most banks, courthouses, and pack-and-ship stores.
Use black or blue ink only. If you make a mistake anywhere on the title, don’t try to fix it with white-out or cross-outs. A corrected title becomes void in Mississippi. Apply for a duplicate using Form 78-006 for $9.00 and start fresh.
If both spouses are listed on the title with “AND,” both must sign and both signatures must be notarized. If the title uses “OR,” only one signature is needed.
Mississippi requires odometer information on the title for vehicles under 10 years old. In most private sales, recording the mileage in the title assignment section is enough. A separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 78-015) may be required in some cases, such as when the title doesn’t have a proper odometer disclosure space or when registering an out-of-state vehicle.
Your buyer has 7 working days after the sale to register the vehicle at their county tax collector’s office. If they miss that window, they’ll face penalty fees. Let them know upfront so they plan ahead.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Mississippi. The only time one is needed is when the title assignment section doesn’t have enough space to record the purchase price. It’s still smart protection for you.
The bill of sale doesn’t need to be notarized in Mississippi. You can use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Mississippi License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Mississippi, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer your plates to another car you own or destroy them. Your plates cannot be passed on to the buyer and cannot be used on another person’s vehicle.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car at their county tax collector’s office.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
Mississippi doesn’t require a separate release of liability form. The signed, notarized title assignment is the official record showing the ownership has changed.
Contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue if you want to confirm the transfer is on file. This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Mississippi DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Mississippi Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division
- County tax collector offices handle all vehicle titling, registration, and license plates. Find your local office through the DOR website.
- For a full list of state DMV websites, see our List of 50 States DMV Websites.
Phone Support:
- Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau: (601) 923-7100
- Title Bureau: (601) 923-7200
Mississippi Fees and Costs
| What You Pay | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (standard) | $9.00 | Before sale, if original is lost |
| Duplicate title (Fast Track) | $39.00 | Before sale, if you need it within 72 hours |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
Compare Instant Offers
Compare Instant Offers
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 7 working days after the purchase date to register the vehicle at their county tax collector’s office. If the deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, the next working day counts.
If the buyer purchased the car outside the county where they live, they get an extra 48 hours to transport the vehicle home before the 7-day clock starts. Missing the deadline means penalty fees on top of the normal registration costs. Let your buyer know about this window before you hand over the title.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Mississippi?
Yes, Mississippi requires your signature on the title to be notarized. The title assignment section must be completed and notarized before the transfer is legally valid.
Bring a valid photo ID to the notary. The buyer should be present during signing. You can find a notary at most banks, county courthouses, or pack-and-ship stores.
When is a bill of sale required in Mississippi?
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Mississippi for most titled vehicle sales. The exception is when the title assignment section doesn’t have enough space to record the purchase price.
Even when it’s not required, creating one is smart. It gives both you and the buyer a written record of the transaction. It doesn’t need to be notarized in Mississippi.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Mississippi?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first. In Mississippi, the lender typically holds the title until the loan is paid off. Your lender will either send the title directly to the county tax collector after payoff or provide a lien release letter for you to submit with the title.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket before the transfer can be completed.
My car was inherited. What additional Mississippi forms do I need?
For small estates (generally under $50,000), heirs in Mississippi can often use an Affidavit of Heirship to establish ownership without going through full probate. You’ll need the original title, the deceased’s death certificate, the affidavit, and a completed title application (Form 78-002) to submit at the county tax collector’s office.
For larger estates that go through probate, the executor uses Letters Testamentary to sign the title on behalf of the estate. Check with your county tax collector or an attorney if you’re unsure which process applies to your situation.
Both my spouse and I are on the Mississippi title. Do we both need to sign?
If your names are connected with “AND” (like “John Doe AND Jane Doe”), both spouses must sign the title and both signatures must be notarized. If the title uses “OR” (like “John Doe OR Jane Doe”), only one signature is needed.
What if I make a mistake on the Mississippi title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. In Mississippi, any correction voids the title completely. You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form 78-006 and pay the $9.00 fee before you can complete the sale.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Mississippi require anything special?
From your side as the seller, your obligations are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. Sign and notarize the title, remove your plates, and hand over the keys.
The buyer may need to handle extra steps when registering in their home state, such as a VIN inspection. That’s their responsibility to research. You don’t need to do anything differently.
Do Mississippi license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Mississippi license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer your plates to another car you own or destroy them.
The buyer will get new plates when they register the vehicle. Your old plates cannot be reused on anyone else’s car.
Will the buyer owe taxes when they register the car in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi charges a 5% casual sales tax on private vehicle sales, collected at the time of registration. On a $10,000 car, that’s $500 the buyer owes the state before they can get their plates.
This is worth knowing during price negotiations. If a buyer tries to talk you down, they may be factoring in this extra 5% they’ll owe on top of your asking price. It’s their cost, not yours, but it affects what they’re willing to pay.
Article Update History
All legal requirements in this guide were verified against Mississippi Department of Revenue records.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.