How to Transfer a Car Title in Mississippi?

A certificate of title is a legal document that proves that you are the owner of a vehicle. If you are buying or selling a used vehicle in Mississippi, transferring ownership is one of the most important steps in the entire car-buying process.

Private-party car sales need a safe, legal title transfer process. Our Mississippi car title transfer guide will teach you everything you need to know about signing over a vehicle title in Mississippi.

A vehicle title transfer establishes the buyer of a vehicle as the new owner. There are two phases to a title transfer:

1. The buyer and the seller have a face-to-face meeting. They agree on the purchase price and the buyer approves of the vehicle. The buyer pays the seller. Both the seller and buyer must fill out and sign the title certificate. The buyer is now the legal owner of the vehicle.
2. The buyer registers the vehicle and formally transfers the title into their name with the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR). When they do this, they pay sales tax, apply for new license plates, and handle other details.
The first step (the seller and buyer meeting) is the most important. The second step is a required formality.

The front of the title includes sections for lien holders (green) and witnesses (purple). Here are the steps for filling out the front of a Mississippi title.

In the red area labeled "1," the seller enters the exact odometer reading, their signature, written name, and date of sale.

1. The buyer signs and prints their name in the blue "2" column.
2. The buyer fills out the teal box labeled "4" with the lienholder's name and address, which will appear on the new title, as well as the lien date, if one exists.
You've now accomplished a Mississippi title transfer.

Once you’ve filled out the certificate, you are officially the owner. But your work is not done. There are still steps you need to take to finalize the car title transfer. Also, you will need to register the car and get new license plates from the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR). You’ll also need to pay car sales tax on your vehicle purchase.

You will need to submit the following documents to your local MS DOR office:


Used car sales tax in Mississippi is based on the type of car, its value, and where the owner lives. Contact the county tax collector if you need assistance computing these taxes.

When you file for MS vehicle registration, you will be able to choose what type of license plate you want. Standard license plates cost $10 in Mississippi.

To avoid fines or other penalties, you should register your new car as soon as you get the title.

In Mississippi, a bill of sale is required when transferring title. A bill of sale is a legal document that acts as a receipt for the sale

Here are the necessary elements in a bill of sale:


As part of our standard in-app transaction process, PrivateAuto gives you an official bill of sale for the state of Mississippi. At the right time in the deal, the buyer and seller will be asked to use the PrivateAuto app to sign the Mississippi bill of sale electronically.

When you meet to test drive the car and decide to buy it, the whole deal, including filling out the bill of sale, can be done in a few minutes. It’s fast, easy, and convenient. You won't have to keep track of all of your paperwork; you will always have the electronic bill of sale accessible in your PrivateAuto account to prove that the transaction was legitimate.

When buying a car from a private seller, the buyer will have to do the title transfer at their local Mississippi Department of Revenue.

To apply for a vehicle title transfer in Mississippi, you need:

Selling your used car is simple and hassle-free with PrivateAuto. There are only a few easy steps in the sales process:

1. Gather necessary paperwork
2. Make an account on PrivateAuto and get verified
3. List the car
4. Set your own terms
5. Vet the incoming offers
6. Choose the buyer
7. Schedule a test drive
8. E-sign paperwork
9. Get paid, instantaneously
10. Perform a title transfer
11. Remove license plates
12. Cancel car insurance

Browse our selection of used cars in Mississippi if you're looking to purchase one. Whether you’re looking for a Ford F-105, a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, a Chevrolet Silverado 1500, or a Tesla Model Y, you’re sure to find a great deal on the car of your dreams.