How To Sell a Car in Mississippi

Mississippi remains home to some of the most wonderful cars and people, which means you can often find amazing deals on new and pre-owned vehicles. Selling your existing vehicle can be a rewarding experience, but it’s important to follow the requirements for officially transferring ownership. This guide can help you learn everything you need to know about selling your vehicle for a private sale or a trade-in at your trusted dealership.

What To Research When Selling a Car in Mississippi

“Natchez, Mississippi” by James Case is licensed with CC BY 2.0

When preparing to sell your vehicle, you should do some basic research about ways to ensure a smooth sale. This is especially important if you’re selling or buying a vehicle that the previous owner has registered outside the state of Mississippi. You may also consider doing some research about possible regulations that exist outside of this state.

Where To Start When Selling Your Vehicle: The Title

Your vehicle’s title is incredibly important because it proves that you own your vehicle. This means it’s also important to transfer the title to your buyer after selling the car. If you’re buying a car from a seller in Mississippi, you’ll need to transfer the title to your own name. If you’re selling a vehicle in Mississippi, you’ll need to transfer the title to the buyer’s name. Read below to learn more about the titles that exist in Mississippi:

What Exactly Is a Title?

The Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) explains that a title is “a secure, negotiable document issued by the DOR that represents ownership of a motor vehicle, trailer, or a manufactured housing unit.” The state requires all vehicles with a motor to possess a title. If you register a vehicle that once belonged to another state, you’ll need to provide the title from that state and an odometer disclosure statement. If your vehicle once belonged to another state and doesn’t have a title, you can provide the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin.

What Is a Salvage Title?

A salvage title is a title for a vehicle that has been deemed a “total loss.” If a vehicle gets into an accident and the repairs cost more than the current value of the car, the insurance company typically brands it as “salvaged.” These vehicles often lose value, and owners may sell or donate them to junkyards to be stripped for parts. Owners can sometimes still repair them and return them to a “rebuilt” status. If you need a specific title form, such as a salvage title, you can view this list on the DOR website.

What To Do After Selling Your Vehicle

Here are the tasks that you typically have to complete after selling your vehicle:

Fill Out the Title

After a sale, fill out the assignment sections on the back of your title. If you’ve damaged or misplaced the title, you’ll need to buy a duplicate. These typically cost around $9. Mississippi doesn’t allow valid sales without the proper assignment of a title. You can apply for a duplicate car title by filling out Form 78-006 from the DOR. These often take around 10-14 days to receive after submitting an application.

To receive your duplicate title in around 72 hours, consider filling out a Fast Track Title. This requires filling out Form 78-026 online or at your local tax collector’s office and submitting a $30 fee on top of any regular title fees. You can receive a fast Track Title for either an original or duplicate title. This program doesn’t change any paperwork requirements, so you’ll still need to fill out all the required documents. If you receive a title that contains errors, visit your county Tax Collector’s office and apply for a title correction.

Fill Out a Bill of Sale

If your title doesn’t provide an area for you to write the buyer’s name and the odometer reading, fill out a bill of sale. After completing this form, give it to the buyer. Most sales and transactions don’t require a bill of sale, and instead, you can perform a title transfer to the buyer. However, Mississippi does require a bill of sale for transactions where the title doesn’t offer areas to include the sale price or similar information.

If you fill out a bill of sale, make sure you include this information:

• The buyer’s name and address.
• The sale date.
• The vehicle’s price.
• The buyer and seller’s signatures.
• The car’s odometer reading at the time of the sale.
• A detailed description of the car, including the vehicle identification number, make, model, and year.

Fill Out an Affidavit of Relationship

If you’re selling your car to a family member, fill out an Affidavit of Relationship. You can find these forms at your local Mississippi DOR office. These forms provide evidence that family members have transferred ownership of a vehicle, including a gifted, inherited, or purchased car.

Remove Your License Plates

One of the final steps is removing your license plate from the vehicle. After you’ve done this, take the license plate to the County Tax Collector’s office. After turning in your tag, they will dissolve your name from the vehicle record. When you transfer ownership of the vehicle, your license plate is no longer valid. The buyer will buy and install a new license plate on their new vehicle. Consider making a copy of the front and back of the title before completing your sale and keeping it in your personal records.

How To Create a Fast Sale for Your Vehicle

After preparing the necessary paperwork for a sale, you can increase the sale time of your vehicle by following some of these tips:

• Get an assessment of the car from a mechanic to learn more about the vehicle’s condition so you can provide this information to the buyer.
• Clean the interior and exterior of the car to improve its overall appearance, including waxing the exterior, vacuuming the inside, and removing trash.
• Remove your personal items from the vehicle, including money.
• Review prices of similar cars on the market and price your vehicle accordingly to earn maximum profits

We hope this guide will help you make a safe and knowledgeable vehicle sale. For an even easier selling experience, consider trading in your old vehicle for credit

Here at Herrin-Gear INFINITI, we want to help you make the best decision for your vehicle, whether you’re buying or selling. Visit us today or view our online inventory to find a new or pre-owned vehicle that matches your style and budget needs. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us today to speak with any of our sales experts.