How to Sell a Car in Mississippi

The steps and process for selling a vehicle online are different in every state. Learn how to sell your used car or truck privately in Mississippi.

Whether you live in the Black Prairie, the Appalachian Foothills, the Red Clay Hills, the Piney Woods, the Gulf Coast, or the Mississippi Delta, if you are thinking about privately selling your used car or truck, you’ve come to the right place. With an estimated 1.1 million registered trucks and cars in the state of Mississippi, it’s no wonder that thousands of private vehicle sellers from the Magnolia State have used Autotrader to sell their car. Below, we’ve outlined the four steps and forms required for how to sell a car in the state of Mississippi so you can sell your car quickly for the most cash.

Remember, most states consider the vehicle title a legal document, so the legal names (no nicknames) of both parties involved should be used, along with legible handwriting using black or blue ink. Mistakes, errors, and using White-Out may void the document so be careful and take your time filling it out.

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party
Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation
Step 3: Transfer the title
Step 4: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party

Autotrader advises vehicle shoppers who buy a car privately pay for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection conducted by a qualified and licensed auto mechanic of their choosing. Although the buyer pays for this inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on when and where the inspection is to be held. If the inspection does find any issues with the car, it is a good idea for you as the seller to keep the report for your records. Mississippi does not require this inspection and doesn’t have any forms that need to be filled out, but it’s a good idea for the buyer to have the inspection performed prior to the purchase.

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Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation

Find all maintenance records (either hard copy or electronic), the owner’s manual and other paperwork related to the vehicle. If you can provide the buyer with extensive and detailed maintenance records, this will help provide the buyer with confidence that you’ve maintained the car in a proper and regular manner. You may even want to consider including a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax or AutoCheck.

The most important document when selling a car is the certificate of title. If there is a lien on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before the car is sold. This can be achieved either by the seller paying off the car or by the lienholder providing a letter of lien release. If you can’t pay off the car, then a lien release statement from your lienholder must be submitted to the DMV. If you’re selling a car that still has a lien on it at the time of the sale, you’ll need to file the Affidavit of Sale Under Lien which is form 78010178.

Some states require a bill of sale for a private vehicle transaction, but Mississippi is not one of them unless there isn’t a spot on the title to record the purchase price. While a bill of sale usually isn’t required, it’s always a good idea to have one. The official Mississippi bill of sale document is form 78013188.

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Step 3: Transfer the title

If the vehicle’s title has been lost, stolen or badly damaged, you can get a replacement/duplicate Mississippi title by filling out form 78006178. With that form filled out plus a $9 fee you can get a duplicate title by filing the form by mail or in person at your local county tax collector’s office. If you’re in a hurry, there’s a special “Fast Track” application (form 78026178) with an increased fee of $39. For the extra $30, you’re paying to get the new title within about 72 hours of the state receiving the form as opposed to the usual 10-14 days.

When selling a car privately in Mississippi, the buyer and the seller both need to fill out the relevant sections on the back of the title. This information includes the legal name, address, and signature of the buyer and the seller(s) along with the date of the sale, the odometer reading, and the purchase price. When this is filled out accurately and legibly, it makes it easy for the buyer to transfer registration and acquire a new plate.

If there is more than one owner showing on the title, the following number of signatures will be required based on the connection between the names: And – All persons listed must sign. Or – Either seller can sign, only one signature required. And/Or - Both sellers must sign. If no connection listed, it will default to ‘and’ and all owners (sellers) must sign.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) odometer disclosure requirements were updated in December 2020 impacting certain private vehicle sales in Mississippi: For a vehicle transfer that occurs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2030, any vehicle of model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) will require an odometer disclosure. Starting on January 1, 2031, any vehicle that is less than 20 model years old will require an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA required disclosure was for only the first 10 years. Cars older than 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures. Mississippi provides Odometer Disclosure Statement form 78015 on their website

If you’re wondering about gifting a car to a relative, you can mostly follow the same process that is outlined here to transfer the title, but you’ll also need to fill out an Affidavit of Relationship which you can get at your local county office. For inheriting a car, it’s mostly the same process, but you’ll need to file documentation of the inheritance with the county along with the title of the vehicle in question. If you’re inheriting a car from a relative who died without a will, then you can file form 78014178 along with a $9 transfer fee.

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Step 4: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

The seller must remove their license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer. If you do not do so, you may be liable for any violations after the buyer has taken possession of the vehicle. After the sale is complete, you need to return the plates to your local county tax collector’s office. When the plates are returned, your name is removed from the record as the owner of the car in question. Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after you’ve removed your plates so you don’t continue paying to insure a car that you no longer own.

For more information, visit the Tags and Titles section of the Mississippi Department of Revenue website.

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Questions about selling your car in Mississippi? We have answers.

What paperwork do I need to privately sell a car in Mississippi?

Is a Bill of Sale required for selling a car in Mississippi?

Do I remove my license plate when I sell a car in Mississippi?

Does a vehicle title have to be notarized in Mississippi?

Does a bill of sale have to be notarized in Mississippi?