How to Apply for a Salvage Title in Mississippi
The Mississippi salvage title certificates issued by the state’s Department of Revenue (DOR) are important titling documents that catalog vehicles that have become inoperable due to extensive damages. However, in order to be issued a car salvage title, a vehicle will have to meet the criteria to be classified as salvage. On the other hand, if your damaged vehicle is an older and/or cheaper model, it may be exempted from the salvage titling requirements.
The DOR also offers a rebuilt title in MS, provided that your motor vehicle was repaired after obtaining a salvage certificate. In such cases, however, the car will have to undergo an inspection procedure once it is restored. It is important to note that, unlike the state-issued salvage titles, rebuilt certificates will allow you to relicense your vehicle and resume driving it on public roads. Read the sections below to learn more about the state salvage and rebuilt salvage title credentials in Mississippi.
What is a Mississippi salvage title?
If you would like to know more about the Mississippi salvage certificate, note that it is a special type of DOR title issued for vehicles declared a total loss by their original owners or insurance companies. In general, the purpose of a vehicle salvage title is to monitor motor vehicles that cannot be safely operated within the state due to the damages that they have sustained, which disqualifies them from having a valid car registration. Furthermore, salvage titles are permanently branded to record a vehicle’s history.
Similar to an MS salvage car title is the junk title certificate, which is issued to vehicles that have been scrapped or dismantled for spare parts and that can never be retitled again. On the other hand, if you are issued a salvage certificate, you have the option of later converting it into a rebuilt certificate, which will indicate that the vehicle has previously sustained heavy damages that were repaired.
Mississippi Salvage Title Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Mississippi DMV salvage title, a vehicle must meet certain eligibility criteria. By definition, salvage vehicles are those that have been damaged by flood, fire, accident, collision, theft or other occurrences. Moreover, these vehicles have been paid off after their owners submit a total loss claim. Note that the state provisions regarding salvage certificates do not apply for cars older than nine model years and valued at less than $1,501. In addition, motor vehicles will not qualify as salvage if they can be restored by replacing or repairing five or less minor parts.
Note: In order to obtain a salvage title, your motor vehicle must be repairable. Otherwise, the state DOR will issue a junk certificate of title, which will indicate that your car can only be used for spare parts and will never qualify for a car registration again.
How to Get a Salvage Title in Mississippi
If you are wondering how to get a salvage title in Mississippi, note that this application process will vary depending on whether you are the owner of the vehicle or its insurer. In most cases, insurance companies will apply for a vehicle salvage certificate on behalf of their clients. To apply for an MS salvage title, insurance companies will be required to undergo the following steps:
- Obtain the reassigned original vehicle title from its owner.
- Deliver the title within 72 hours of obtaining it to a nearby tax collector’s office.
- Fill out the corresponding titling application and odometer disclosure statement.
- Provide a signed statement on the company letterhead with details about the vehicle’s damages and expected repairs.
- Pay the applicable titling fees.
Note: If the insurer is unable to obtain a properly-endorsed title from a car owner, it will need to fill out the Application for a Salvage Certificate of Title – Insurance Company (Form 78-032) document.
Vehicle owners will be responsible for applying for a salvage car title if they are self-insured, meaning that no insurance company is involved in the process. Under such circumstances, the owner will be required to surrender the existing title certificate to the state DOR within 30 days of his or her motor vehicle being classified as salvage. To learn more about the details of the application process for an MS salvage certificate after retaining the motor vehicle, you may contact the DOR.
Salvage Car Inspections in Mississippi
To obtain a salvage title in Mississippi, applicants will not have to submit their motor vehicle to an inspection. However, completing a salvage vehicle inspection is a mandatory step if and when the vehicle owner applies for a rebuilt title after repairing the salvage car. To finalize the inspection process, the owner or the rebuilder of the vehicle will be required to follow these steps:
- Take four color pictures of the motor vehicle.
- Collect the notarized bills of sale for the major parts used to rebuild the vehicle, as well as invoices for the minor parts used during reconstruction. These bills of sale must include information about the seller of the part and the vehicle from which it was removed.
- Obtain the previous salvage title certificate.
- Fill out the Application for Inspection of a Salvage/Rebuilt Vehicle (Form 78-021).
- Arrange to have the vehicle inspected with the state Department of Public Safety (DPS).
- Submit the necessary documentation and pay the inspection fee.
You can proceed with the application process for an MS rebuilt salvage title once your vehicle passes inspection. In such cases, you will be required to submit the above documentation along with the DPS Certification of Vehicle Inspection (Form 78-022) and the title fee to the state DOR.
Mississippi Salvage Title Fees
When applying for a Mississippi salvage title or a rebuilt certificate, applicants will be required to arrange payment for certain types of fees. For example, the standard titling fee is currently set at $9. However, if you are getting a salvage certificate via the DOR Fast Track Title Program, you will have to pay an additional $30 for an expedited title.
Certain authorized agents may also add a minor service fee of $1. On the other hand, if you are applying for a restored salvage title in MS, you will have to pay an inspection fee of $75 as well.
Salvage Title Forms
- Application for Inspection of a Salvage/Rebuilt Vehicle (Form 78-021)
- Application for a Salvage Certificate of Title u2013 Insurance Company (Form 78-032)
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Titles Rules and Regulations from MS.gov
- Fast Track Title Program from MS.gov