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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Mississippi allows a beneficiary designation on a vehicle title.Miss. Code Ann. 63-21-261 (Title 63, Ch. 21, Art. 4, 63-21-251 to 63-21-261)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.
Mississippi allows a beneficiary designation on motor vehicle (automobile, motorcycle, truck, truck tractor), trailer, semitrailer, or mobile trailer, and all-terrain vehicle. Only property within the chapter's "motor vehicle" definition may carry a beneficiary designation. Manufactured homes and mobile homes are defined separately throughout Chapter 21 (63-21-5(h), (m), (n), (o)) and are not "motor vehicles," so the Article 4 designation does not reach them. 63-21-5(l) also excludes vehicles moved by animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, electric bicycles, and personal delivery devices.Miss. Code Ann. 63-21-261 (Title 63, Ch. 21, Art. 4, 63-21-251 to 63-21-261)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source
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.Miss. Code Ann. 63-21-261 (Title 63, Ch. 21, Art. 4, 63-21-251 to 63-21-261)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source
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))..Miss. Code Ann. 63-21-261 (Title 63, Ch. 21, Art. 4, 63-21-251 to 63-21-261)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source
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.
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