The short answer
| Item | Mississippi answer |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $9. Fast Track title $39. |
| Deadline | 30 business days to register. |
| Late cost | No flat late-title fee. A late registration penalty of 5%, rising to 25%. |
| Tax | A special 5% vehicle rate, not the 7% sales tax. |
| Ad valorem | A county tax on the car, paid at the same visit. Not in our calculator's total. |
| Plates | Can't move to another car. The seller turns them in. |
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Mississippi?
The title is the document that proves who owns the car. In Mississippi it costs $9. A replacement title is also $9.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title | $9 |
| Fast Track (rush) title | $39 total ($9 + $30) |
| Replacement title | $9 |
| First registration, passenger car | $14 |
| Registration renewal | $12.75 |
| Highway privilege tax, passenger car | $15 a year |
A corrected title is free if the county or state made the error. If the mistake was in your own paperwork, the state's fee schedule says $9 and the Department of Revenue's FAQ says $10.
Worked example: $30,000 car from a Mississippi dealer
- Vehicle tax: 5% of $30,000 = $1,500.00
- Title: $9.00
- First registration: $14.00
- Highway privilege tax: $15.00
State charges: $1,538.00.
Plus the county ad valorem tax. At an assumed 100 mills it adds about $855, for about $2,393 all in. Your county's real millage sets the real figure.
The Mississippi calculator below starts from the same $1,538.00. Its total is the state charges only, not the full bill at the counter.
What is Mississippi's ad valorem tax?
This is the line most buyers miss. Ad valorem means "by value". It's a yearly county tax on the car, like a property tax, and it's collected at the same visit as your first registration.
- It starts from 30% of the car's MSRP (its original sticker price).
- That value goes down over 10 years, with a $100 minimum.
- It's multiplied by your local millage (the tax rate set where you live).
- The Legislative Tag Credit, a state credit, is then taken off.
Because millage differs by county and city, there is no single statewide amount. Our calculator keeps it out of the total. You can enter your millage in the calculator to see an estimate.
How many days do you have to transfer a title in Mississippi?
You must register the car within 30 business days of buying it. That's the Department of Revenue's rule. The title law doesn't set a separate day count for buyers, so the registration deadline is the one that counts.
There is no flat late-title penalty. The cost of being late is the registration penalty:
- 5% from the 16th day of the month after the month you were due.
- Another 5% for each extra 30 days.
- Capped at 25%. At the cap you also lose the Legislative Tag Credit.
New residents who register late pay a flat $250.
Mississippi tax on a car: 5%
Cars are taxed at a special 5% rate, not the general 7% sales tax.
- From a dealer: 5% of the net price, after discounts and your trade-in. Manufacturer rebates are not taken off.
- Private sale: 5% of the car's "true value" on the Department of Revenue's assessment schedule. This isn't always the price you paid. A cheap private deal can still be taxed on a higher value.
- Trade-ins: the full trade-in value comes off, in dealer and private trades alike.
- Bought out of state: you owe the 5% as use tax, with no credit for tax paid to the other state.
Family transfers and gifts
These transfers are tax-free with an Affidavit of Relationship (a signed statement). For family transfers, the car must be registered in the giver's name:
- Spouses
- Parent and child
- Grandparent and grandchild
- Brothers and sisters (unlike some states, Mississippi includes siblings)
- Cars passing by will or inheritance
- Cars 10 or more years old
- Trustee to beneficiary, and certain business-entity transfers
Two warnings. If the transfer goes through a dealer, the exemption is lost. And a "gift" to anyone outside this list is fully taxed.
Plates and registration
First registration is $14, then $12.75 a year on renewal, plus the $15 yearly highway privilege tax for a passenger car.
A Mississippi plate can't be moved to another car. The seller removes it and turns it in. Instead of a plate transfer, you get credit for the unused part of the registration.
Electric and hybrid cars
Mississippi has charged a yearly tax on electric and hybrid cars since 2018. The law sets $150 a year for electric cars and $75 for hybrids (regular and plug-in), adjusted for inflation every July 1 since 2021. The Department of Revenue doesn't publish the current adjusted amounts, so we show the base amounts only. Expect to pay somewhat more.
New residents
- Deadline: 30 days to title and register.
- Late: a flat $250.
- The title, registration, privilege tax and county ad valorem tax apply as usual.
What this guide doesn't cover
Your county's millage rate, the current inflation-adjusted EV and hybrid amounts, motorcycles and trucks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Mississippi?
The title is $9. With the 5% tax, $14 registration and $15 privilege tax, a $30,000 dealer car comes to $1,538 in state charges. The county ad valorem tax comes on top.
How long do I have to register a car after buying it in Mississippi?
30 business days. After that a penalty of 5% applies, growing to 25%.
Do I pay sales tax on a private car sale in Mississippi?
Yes, 5%, but on the car's value in the state's schedule, which may not be the price you paid.
Is a car from a family member taxed in Mississippi?
Not between spouses, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or brothers and sisters, with an affidavit. The exemption is lost if a dealer handles the transfer.
Why is my Mississippi tag so expensive?
Mostly the county ad valorem tax. It's based on the car's sticker price and your local millage, and it's paid each year with the tag.
See title transfer fees for all 50 states
Calculate your Mississippi fees
Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.
- Title fee$9.00
- Registration$14.00
- Privilege taxPassenger vehicle$15.00
- Ad valorem taxEnter your local millagenot available
- Sales tax5% of price$1,500.00
Total excludes items marked "not available".
What you'll pay later
Renewal at today's rates: $27.75/yr + items not available
5-year total: not shown, because the ad valorem tax follows your local millage and the car's depreciation.
Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.
Rates and sources for every fee are on the Mississippi car registration fee calculator page.
- Mississippi Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions (title $9, Fast Track $39, 30 business days, 5% vehicle tax, exemptions, plates, new residents $250)
- Mississippi Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Taxes (30% of MSRP, 10-year depreciation, $100 minimum, millage, Legislative Tag Credit)
- Mississippi Code §§ 63-21-63 (title fees), 27-19-43 (registration fees), 27-19-21 (privilege tax), 27-19-31 (delinquency penalty), 27-65-17 (5% vehicle rate), 27-19-21.1 (EV and hybrid tax) (cited by name, not linked)
General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.
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