Selling or buying a vehicle in Mississippi? The seller must notarize the title assignment — and the buyer has just 7 business days to register the vehicle at the county tax collector’s office.
This free template is formatted for Mississippi’s requirements and works alongside the notarized Certificate of Title at your county tax collector’s office.
Click Get This Template below to open it in Google Docs, then click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive.
For templates for all 50 states, visit the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Templates →
On this page:
- What Is a Mississippi Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
- Is a Bill of Sale Required in Mississippi?
- Mississippi-Specific Requirements
- Free Mississippi Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
- How to Fill Out the Template
- How to Transfer a Car Title in Mississippi
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Mississippi Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
A Mississippi motor vehicle bill of sale is a written record of a private vehicle sale.
Mississippi’s official form is Form 78013188. The bill of sale is required when applying for a title and must be submitted to the county tax collector’s office along with the notarized Certificate of Title. Mississippi does not have a traditional DMV — vehicle services are handled by the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) and county tax collectors.
Is a Bill of Sale Required in Mississippi?
Yes. A bill of sale is required when applying for a title in Mississippi. It is submitted to the county tax collector’s office along with the notarized title assignment. A bill of sale is also required when there is no space on the title to record the purchase price.
Mississippi-Specific Requirements
1. 7-Business-Day Deadline
The buyer has 7 business days from the date of purchase to register the vehicle at the county tax collector’s office. This is one of the shortest registration deadlines in the country.
2. ⚠️ Notarized Title Assignment Required
Mississippi requires the title assignment section to be completed and notarized by the seller. The bill of sale itself does not always require notarization — but the title assignment does.
Do not pre-sign the title before visiting the notary. The seller must sign in the notary’s presence.
3. Where to Transfer
Title transfers are handled at the county tax collector’s office in the buyer’s county of residence. Mississippi does not have a central DMV — all vehicle titling and registration is done through county tax collectors.
4. Sales Tax
Mississippi charges sales tax on the purchase price of a privately sold vehicle. Tax is paid at the county tax collector’s office at the time of registration. The purchase price on the bill of sale must be accurate.
5. Title Fee
The Mississippi title fee is $9. An expedited title service is available for an additional $30 fee. Contact your county tax collector for current fee schedules.
6. License Plates
Mississippi plates stay with the seller. Remove your plates when transferring the vehicle to the buyer. Contact your county tax collector about proper procedures — some plates may need to be returned, while others can be kept for potential transfer to another vehicle.
7. Odometer Disclosure
An Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 78-015) is required for vehicles under 16,000 lbs and less than 10 years old. Both buyer and seller must complete and sign this form.
Free Mississippi Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
This template opens in Google Docs. Click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive, fill it out digitally, or print and complete by hand.
How to Fill Out the Template
Enter the seller’s name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Title. Enter the buyer’s name exactly as they want it on the new title.
In Section 3, copy the VIN character by character from the dashboard plate and the title. Enter the full agreed purchase price in Section 4 — Mississippi calculates sales tax on this figure.
Both parties sign Section 11. The seller must also complete the title assignment section and have it notarized. Do not pre-sign — bring the unsigned title to the notary and sign there.
For a complete field-by-field walkthrough of every section, see: How to Fill Out a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale →
How to Transfer a Car Title in Mississippi
For the Seller
Complete and notarize the title assignment section. Remove your license plates before handing over the vehicle. Contact your county tax collector about plate procedures.
For the Buyer
Within 7 business days of purchase, visit your county tax collector’s office with the notarized title, this bill of sale, Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 78-015 if required), proof of insurance, valid Mississippi ID, and payment for the $9 title fee and applicable sales tax.
Lost Title
Complete Form 78-006 and pay a $9 fee at your county tax collector’s office to obtain a replacement title before the sale can proceed. Contact the Mississippi DOR Title Bureau at (601) 923-7640.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The title assignment section must be completed and notarized by the seller. The bill of sale itself does not always require notarization, but the title assignment does. The seller must sign in the notary’s presence — do not pre-sign.
7 business days from the date of purchase. This is one of the shortest registration deadlines in the country. The transfer is completed at the county tax collector’s office in the buyer’s county of residence.
No. Mississippi does not have a traditional DMV. Vehicle titling and registration is handled by the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) and county tax collectors. The buyer applies for a new title at their county tax collector’s office.
The Mississippi title fee is $9. An expedited title service is available for an additional $30. Sales tax on the purchase price is also due at the time of registration.
Mississippi plates stay with the seller. Remove your plates before handing over the vehicle. Contact your county tax collector for specific plate procedures — some may need to be returned, while others can be kept for transfer to another vehicle.
Yes. Mississippi’s official form is 78013188, but any bill of sale that includes the buyer and seller names and addresses, vehicle description, VIN, purchase price, date of sale, and signatures of both parties is acceptable alongside the notarized title assignment.
This template and all information on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Contact your county tax collector or the Mississippi Department of Revenue at dor.ms.gov to confirm current requirements before completing your transaction.