Mississippi VIN Check
How to Perform a VIN Lookup in Mississippi?
A VIN lookup involves using a VIN serial to obtain information about a motor vehicle. In Mississippi, the Department of Public Safety maintains motor vehicle records. Although you can request motor vehicle records from the Mississippi DPS if you are eligible under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act, to perform a proper VIN check, you will need the services of an online third-party vehicle data provider.
GoodCar, a third-party vehicle data provider, allows users to search its database to access vehicle records by providing a VIN number on its website. On the VIN search page, type in the 17-character serial and click the search button. On the next page, you will get an information sheet revealing vehicle specifications and information on vehicle history.
How to Find Your Car's VIN Number?
You can find a VIN number in several locations off and on the vehicle. It can be printed on the engine block, rear tire well, spare tire, front car frame, or driver-side door. Also, you can find a VIN in your vehicle owner's manual, insurance document, vehicle title, and vehicle registration.
Although the VIN has 17 characters, it can be broken down into several sections with different interpretations. For instance, the first character represents the region or county where the vehicle manufacturer is located, while the second character stands for the vehicle manufacturer. Using a standard VIN decoder, you can understand which character or set of characters represent the vehicle's brand, body style, engine style, model series, model year, and production number.
Why Should I Run a ms VIN Check?
Since a VIN is like a digital fingerprint for a vehicle, carrying information such as manufacturer specifications and different vehicle reports, it is important to run a VIN check to uncover this information if you know more about a vehicle. From a Mississippi VIN check, you can get the following information:
Vehicle History
A vehicle history report available from a VIN check includes information that can help you determine the condition and status of a vehicle sold by any of the state’s 357 used car dealers.
Title Verification
If a vehicle has undergone major damage affecting its title label, you can determine that from the VIN check report. This information is available for the over 2.6 million registered in the state. An average of 2.1 vehicles are owned per household in Mississippi.
Accident History
About 700 motor crashes occur in Mississippi every year. If you are buying a used car in the state, you should conduct a VIN lookup. A VIN check will reveal accidents reported for a car.
Mileage Verification
Over 30,000 vehicles are reported to be operating on Mississippi roads with rolled-back odometer readings. To determine the actual mileage for a car, you can run a VIN check. The Consumer Protection Division of the attorney general’s offices oversees odometer fraud.
Recalls and Safety Standards
Up to 50,000 cars in Mississippi have unrepaired faults identified in manufacturer recalls since 2023. Driving a car with an open recall poses significant risks to the driver. To avoid purchasing a car with an open recall, run a VIN check.
Theft Check
6,150 motor vehicles were reported stolen in Mississippi in 2022 alone. Stolen alerts are readily available from a VIN report. Therefore, to avoid losing a car and your money, you should consider a VIN lookup when looking to buy a used vehicle in the state.
Natural Disaster-Related Reasons
Mississippi sometimes experiences natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding, both of which can severely damage vehicles. In order to ensure you do not purchase a flooded car or a vehicle with significant damage, consider conducting a VIN lookup prior to purchase.
Mississippi Lemon Laws
and How They Relate to VIN Checks
Dealing with a subpar vehicle can be a frustrating experience for a car buyer. This is why Mississippi adapted its Lemon Law to offer financial protection for persons who purchase motor vehicles in the state. The law covers any condition or default that seriously impairs the market value, use, or safety of a motor vehicle to the consumer. Hence, if a car is labeled a lemon vehicle, it has at least one serious problem or defect discovered within a period when the car is still under warranty.
A VIN check will save you from purchasing a car with a lemon label. If a vehicle has been tagged with a lemon title, you will find it in the vehicle history information. Hence, a VIN check can protect you from unknowingly buying a car with a checkered past.
The Title Transfer Process
Mississippi is a non-title-holding state. Therefore, if you purchase a vehicle in the state and there is a lien placed on the vehicle, the lienholder will hold the vehicle title until you pay all outstanding loans on the car. In title-holding states, when you buy a car, even if there is a lien placed on the car, the vehicle title will be issued in your name.
Upon paying off the lien on a car, a transfer of title becomes necessary in order to establish your ownership of the car. If you purchase from a dealership, the dealer will likely handle most of the paperwork in the title transfer process. However, for a private sale, both buyer and seller will work together to complete the title transfer.
To transfer the title in a private sale, the seller will complete the back side of the title, including the purchase price, current mileage, and the name of all owners. After, a bill of sale must be included by the seller if there is no space on the title for the purchase price. If the vehicle seller cannot find the current vehicle title, they can apply for a duplicate title with Form 78-006 or Form 78-026 for a 72-hour expedited title replacement.
Next, you (the buyer) must print your address and name under the assignment of title section, and then both you and the seller must sign the title. Subsequently, you can apply for a new vehicle title with your county tax collector.
You will need the following at your appointment with their county tax collector:
- Proof of identification
- Proof of Mississippi residency
- Proof of Mississippi auto insurance
- Payment for the applicable fee. The fee is typically $9.00. However, a "fast track" title is available for an additional $30.00 for persons who need expedited processing of their application. If you are using a Department of Revenue-designated agent, an additional $1.00 for services rendered may apply
Mississippi Insurance and Registration Requirements
Governor Ronnie Musgrove signed HB 621 in 2000 to establish a mandatory automobile liability insurance requirement in Mississippi. HB 621 requires that the insurance is held at the following minimum coverage limits:
- $25,000 for property damage caused in an accident
- $25,000 for bodily injury to, or the death of, one person in an accident
- $50,000 for property damage caused in an accident
According to the Mississippi Insurance Department, drivers must have paper or electronic proof of their liability insurance policy with them when driving.
Mississippi Titling Requirements and Sales Tax
When you buy a vehicle from a dealership in Mississippi, the dealer will complete the titling process for you. However, to register the vehicle, you must provide the following information and documentation at your county tax collector's office:
- Odometer reading
- Current vehicle title or MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin)
- Name and address of the vehicle owner
- Mississippi driver's license or ID card
- Vehicle Identification Number
- Bill of sale
- Payment evidence for all applicable fees, including title fee, registration fee, Road and Bridge Privilege tax, sales tax, and the Ad Valorem tax, if applicable. Mississippi places a 5% sales tax on the net purchase price of motor vehicle
If you are an out-of-state resident, you must register your vehicle with the Mississippi County tax collector's office within 30 days of establishing residency in Mississippi. You will need the following at the tax collector's office:
- Completed Application for Mississippi Title and License
- Payment for all applicable taxes and fees
- The title and current registration receipt obtained from the state in which the automobile was last registered
If the vehicle title is held by your lien holder or the car is under lease, you must provide documentation supporting the ownership. A registration receipt from another state or a duplicate vehicle title from another state will suffice as proof of ownership. If a lien exists on the vehicle, the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) will hold the title application until the out-of-state title is sent to the department.
If another state holds the vehicle title, the current registration receipt from the state where the vehicle was registered will serve as proof of ownership for accepting the application for vehicle title and registration. The Mississippi DOR will correspond with the lienholder or the other state to request that the title be surrendered to Mississippi.
A VIN check helps confirm the purchase price of the vehicle, which may be useful in verifying the sales tax. Discrepancies in the reported purchase price may lead to issues with tax authorities.
Mississippi-Assigned VINs
The Mississippi Department of Revenue may assign vehicle identification numbers to homemade trailers or vehicles that have had their VINs altered, omitted, removed, obliterated, missing, stolen, or defaced. To obtain a Mississippi-assigned VIN, complete and submit an Application for Mississippi Assigned Vehicle Identification Number to the DOR. Upon approval, a Mississippi-assigned VIN plate will be issued.
Why Choose GoodCar for Mississippi VIN Lookup?
GoodCar is the one-stop shop for comprehensive vehicle history reports and contains everything from ownership data, vehicle specifications, fire damage, and accident history to the title history of the vehicle. The data provided is of the highest industry standards, placing customers in the best position to make informed decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
about Mississippi VIN Checks
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Who Issues A Vehicle's Vin Number In Mississippi?
VINs are issued by vehicle manufacturers at production. However, the Mississippi Department of Revenue assigns VINs to homemade trailers or custom-built vehicles.
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How do I verify a VIN number in Mississippi?
To verify if a VIN number in Mississippi is actually assigned to a vehicle, you should perform a VIN check on a reliable VIN lookup service like GoodCar. Locate the VIN number on the car or request it from the individual who owns or plans to sell a car and enter the VIN serial in the search bar on GoodCar's website. After, click the search button and use the information provided on the next page to verify if it matches the vehicle with the VIN.
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Is it safe to check a Mississippi VIN online?
Yes, checking VIN online is safe for both the requester and the person who owns the vehicle with the VIN. Mississippi complies with the Driver Privacy and Protection Act to ensure personal information is not disclosed in a VIN check except to authorized persons in limited cases.
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Do I need a VIN inspection in Mississippi?
There are no mandatory VIN inspections in Mississippi. However, the Department of Public Safety may run a VIN check to ensure that the VIN matches the vehicle specifications when verifying the ownership of a vehicle during vehicle title and registration.
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Are Mississippi VIN checks necessary for out-of-state vehicles brought into Mississippi?
There are no state-mandated VIN checks for out-of-state vehicles brought into Mississippi.
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What does a Mississippi VIN check reveal?
A Mississippi VIN check will reveal vehicle accident history, recall information, stolen alert notifications, title history, number of owners, odometer readings, and vehicle specifications like model, color, engine size, trim, and year of manufacture.
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Can you ask for the VIN from a Mississippi seller?
Yes, you can ask for the VIN number of a vehicle from a Mississippi seller. Requesting a VIN is standard practice among persons looking to buy used vehicles; hence, legitimate vehicle sellers do not turn down VIN number requests from potential car buyers.