Mississippi Rebuilt Title

Fist of all, Mississippi does recognize branded titles issued by other states and continues those brands.

What one should know about MS rebuilt vehicles:

The state of Mississippi has very distinct requirements to vehicles and damage types that make the vehicle liable to branding as Salvage and Rebuilt. In all states, a Salvage title vehicle is generally a total loss vehicle, the one written off by the unsurance company due to damage or theft because repairing it is not cost-effective. However, this vehicle is rebuildable and that's how it differs from a Junk title which is only good for parts due to the damage extent.

The DMV states that the vehicle is subject to rebuilt branding even if one of the component combinations listed below is restored or replaced and other requirements are met:

• The vehicle must be reconstructed in the state of Mississippi

• The vehicle is not older than 10 years and its value is not less than $1,500

• In the process of reconsrtuction any the following component combinations was repaired / replaced:

  • the cowl or firewall;
  • 1 major or 5 minor parts
  • 6 minor component parts;
  • 2 or more major component parts
  • as a result of collision damage, both the rear clip and the front end assembly .

• Minor component parts: transmission/transaxle (replacement), both t-tops, deck lid or hatchback, each bumper, each door, hood, each fender, each bumper, each quarter panel

• Major component parts include: front-end assembly ( radiator supports, fenders, hood, bumper and their supporting parts, including frame support segments in case of a unibody), cowl or firewall, rear clip (roof, quarter panels, trunk lid, floor pan and their supporting parts), roof panel when installed separately, air bags, motor or engine (replacement), frame, or any portion thereof, or in the case of a unitized body, the supporting structure which serves as the frame, any combination of five (5) minor component parts (as can be concluded from the above passage)

As in other states, in MS vehicles are inspected at state facilities prior to getting a rebuilt title.

Inpection steps:

1. Prepare all the necessary paper work and arrive at the inpsection spot at the assigned by the officer time at the Department of Public Safety. The papers your will have to present include:

• Current Salvage title or certificate
• Application for Inspection of Salvage Vehicle
• Department form (78-021) listing the parts used in repairing the vehicle
• Proof of legal origin of components used in in the process of repairing or reconstructing the vehicle. The documents must include the seller's name, address and phone number. Specifically:
  • invoices for minor parts
  • notarized (!!) bills of sale for major parts
• Additionally, if the parts were dismantled from a used vehicle, the make, model, year and the VIN of the vehicle should be included in the above listed proof papers.

2. The officer will endorse your application and inspect the vehicle. If he / she finds that retitling the vehicle with a rebuilt title is impossible a note decribing the reason will be added to your application.

3. If the vehicle passes the application successfully the inspector will issue a Completion of Vehicle Inspection form (78- 022) for you. With that form you can surrender your current Salvage title and receive a new, Rebuilt title. You will have to provide all of the above listed papers as supporting documents when your apply at the MS Department of Public Safety for the new title.

What checks are done in Mississippi in the course of the mandadory inspection before a rebuilt title can be issued?

Please keep in mind that according to MS Department of Public Safety inspection rules, only the parts reported as replaced or repaired are the the subject of inspecton. The main purpose is to certify that the parts are genuine and match those listed in the paperwork.

Keep this is mind when buying a MS used or rebuilt vehicle:

• Safety or roadworthyness of the vehicle are not assessed in the cource of this inspection.. You should take that into considereation if you are considering buying a MS rebuilt vehicle.
• In Mississippi, however, not every write-off gets a Salvage title and is then eligible for repairing and the new roadworthy title. Vehciles older than 10 years, valued less than $1,500 or those requiring repair or replacement of five (5) or less minor parts do not get a salvage title and cannot be reconstructed with a roadworty title later.

More detail available at: https://www.dor.ms.gov/tagstitles/titles-rules-and-regulations