How to Get a Replacement Car Title in Mississippi

To get a replacement car title in Mississippi, file Form 78-006 (Application for Replacement Certificate of Title) with the Department of Revenue and pay a $9.00 fee.¹ Standard processing runs about three to four weeks. If you need the title faster, Mississippi’s Fast Track program will issue one within 72 hours for a total of $39.00.²

Who Is Allowed to Apply

Mississippi only accepts replacement requests from people with a recorded legal interest in the vehicle. Under Mississippi Code § 63-21-27, that is the first lienholder on record or, if no lien exists, the owner or the owner’s legal representative as shown in Department of Revenue files.³

If a bank or finance company holds an active lien, that lienholder controls the title and generally has to be the one to apply. You can apply as the owner only after the lienholder gives you a formal lien release.

Someone acting on the owner’s behalf needs a notarized power of attorney on Form 78-003. The grantor’s name has to match the certificate of title exactly, and the form has to list the vehicle’s make, VIN, year, body type, and title number, with both the owner’s signature and a notary’s seal.⁴ Everyone applying needs valid identification.

Filling Out Form 78-006

Form 78-006 is available on the Department of Revenue’s website and at county tax collector offices. Fill it out in blue or black ink, with no cross-outs or corrections. The form is a sworn statement, so bad information about the vehicle or your identity causes delays and legal exposure.

Before you start, pull together:

The full 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number, usually on a plate in the driver’s door jamb or at the base of the windshield.
The previous title number if you have it. The application can proceed without it.
Your full legal name and mailing address, exactly as they appear in state records.
The current odometer reading, which will be printed on the replacement.

If the original title was damaged rather than lost, attach whatever remains of it to the application. The form has a section for the mailing address where the replacement should be sent. If you’ve moved, put the current address there. If the title should go to someone other than the owner, submit a power of attorney authorizing that delivery.⁵

Where to Send It and What It Costs

The standard fee is $9.00. Pay by check or money order and mail the completed form to:

Mississippi Department of Revenue
Motor Vehicle Services
P.O. Box 1383
Jackson, MS 39215-1383

There is no online filing option for individual replacement title applications. The process is paper only. Standard titles are issued within three to four weeks of the Department of Revenue receiving your application, assuming nothing is missing or mismatched.¹

You can also hand your application in at your county tax collector’s office, where staff can review the paperwork before forwarding it to Jackson. County offices sometimes accept debit or credit cards in addition to checks, though small transaction surcharges may apply.⁶

Fast Track: 72-Hour Processing for $39

If three to four weeks is too long, Mississippi’s Fast Track program under Mississippi Code § 63-21-15 cuts processing to 72 hours. Fast Track uses a different form, Form 78-026, and costs $39.00 total: the $9.00 base fee plus $30.00 for expedited processing. The 72-hour clock excludes weekends and holidays.²

Two ways to submit:

By mail to the Department of Revenue. The 72-hour clock starts when the envelope arrives, not when you drop it in the mailbox, so mailing time is on top.
In person at the Title Bureau, 500 Clinton Center Drive, Clinton, MS 39056. Replacement titles handed in over the counter at Clinton can be printed on-site at the same $39.00 total.²

County tax collector offices cannot print titles on-site. If time really matters, the Clinton walk-in is your best option. The $30.00 Fast Track surcharge is non-refundable even if your application has errors that force a resubmission.

What the Replacement Looks Like, and the Resale Delay

The replacement will carry a printed legend saying it is a replacement certificate and may be subject to the rights of anyone holding the original.³ That language is there because the original could still be out in the world. In practice, this rarely causes problems, but a buyer may ask about it.

If you plan to sell the vehicle using the replacement, know about a built-in wait. The Department of Revenue will not issue a new title to your buyer until 15 days after it receives the transfer application based on a replacement certificate.³ That window gives the state time to catch fraud. Tell your buyer so the extra wait doesn’t surprise them.

If the original turns up after the replacement has been issued, you are legally required to surrender it to the Department of Revenue right away.³ Keeping both leaves two valid-looking documents circulating, which is exactly what the replacement legend is designed to guard against.

If You Never Had a Title in the First Place

Form 78-006 is for people who once held a title in their name and lost, damaged, or had it stolen. If you bought a vehicle and never received a title, replacement is not the right path. Mississippi handles those cases through a bonded title under Mississippi Code § 63-21-23, which requires you to buy a surety bond before the Department of Revenue will issue a certificate.⁷ That is a separate process with its own costs.

Don’t Skip the Title Before Selling

Some sellers try to transfer a vehicle without replacing a missing title. Mississippi treats that as a misdemeanor. Under Mississippi Code § 63-17-74, selling a motor vehicle that is not titled and registered in your name carries a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 per violation.⁸ Limited exceptions exist for licensed dealers, heirs, and sales to licensed parts dealers. For a typical private seller, pay the $9.00 and file the form.

1
Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Titles
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Mississippi Department of Revenue. Fast Track Title Procedure
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Justia. Mississippi Code 63-21-27 – Replacement of Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Certificates
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Mississippi Department of Revenue. Power of Attorney to Transfer Motor Vehicle
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Mississippi Department of Revenue. Application for Replacement Certificate of Title
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Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Services Contact Information
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Mississippi Department of Revenue. Certificate of Title Bond
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Justia. Mississippi Code 63-17-74 – Sale of Motor Vehicle Not Titled and Registered in Name of Seller Prohibited; Exceptions; Penalty for Violation