Can I name a beneficiary on my Mississippi vehicle title?

Yes. Mississippi allows a beneficiary designation on a vehicle title under Miss. Code Ann. 63-21-261 (Title 63, Ch. 21, Art. 4, 63-21-251 to 63-21-261). It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.

Do I Need a Vehicle Transfer on Death Designation in Mississippi?

Answer a few questions about how your vehicle is titled to see whether a transfer-on-death designation applies for avoiding probate on a vehicle.

State where the vehicle is titled

Find out if a vehicle TOD fits your situation

Select your state to see whether you can name a beneficiary on your vehicle title and what vehicles qualify.

This tool provides general information about vehicle transfer-on-death designations and is not legal advice. Availability and requirements vary by state. Consult your state titling agency or a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Mississippi allows a beneficiary designation on a vehicle title. It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.

Mississippi allows a beneficiary designation on motor vehicle.

Add the designation through the Mississippi Department of Revenue (applications made to a designated agent / county Tax Collector) using the standard title application. Notarization is not required.

Yes. The designation can be changed or cancelled at any time during your lifetime. In Mississippi: Submit a new application for title changing or revoking the beneficiary designation (63-21-261(4))., For a vehicle held by joint owners with right of survivorship, revocation or change must be made by all joint owners, or by the last surviving joint owner (63-21-255(2))..

The beneficiary retitles the vehicle with the Mississippi Department of Revenue (applications made to a designated agent / county Tax Collector) by submitting: Application for title submitted not later than the 180th day after the date of the owner's death (or the last surviving joint owner's death) (63-21-261(3)(a)), Satisfactory proof of the death of the owner or owners (63-21-261(3)(b)). A vehicle designation covers only that vehicle — to keep a home, accounts, and everything else out of probate in one document, SimplyTrust sets up a revocable trust online.

Vehicle TOD in Mississippi

A vehicle transfer-on-death designation in Mississippi lets you name a beneficiary who receives your vehicle at death, bypassing probate for that vehicle (available in Mississippi: Yes). The designation has no effect during your lifetime: you remain the sole owner and can revoke it whenever you choose.

In Mississippi, the designation is made through the Mississippi Department of Revenue (applications made to a designated agent / county Tax Collector) using the standard title application. Notarization is not required. A new certificate of title is issued showing the beneficiary.

In Mississippi, the designation covers motor vehicle.

This designation is a focused tool — one vehicle at a time. For families with assets beyond a vehicle, a revocable living trust handles everything in one place and adds incapacity planning. The trust vs. will comparison shows the trade-offs.

SimplyTrust Editorial

Legal Sources

Miss. Code Ann. 63-21-261 (Title 63, Ch. 21, Art. 4, 63-21-251 to 63-21-261)

Data sourced from Mississippi statutes and official state code. How we research.

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