How to Transfer a Car Title After Divorce in Mississippi

What the Divorce Decree Does and Doesn't Do

Your divorce decree may specify who keeps each vehicle, but it doesn't transfer the title. Until you complete the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) title transfer process, the old owner's name stays on the title — and their lienholder, if any, still has a claim.

Both spouses need to cooperate for a clean transfer. If your ex-spouse is refusing to sign, you'll need to file a Motion for Contempt in Chancery Court to enforce the decree.

Forms You Need

The Mississippi DOR requires two forms for a divorce-related title transfer:

Form 78-002 (Application for Title). This is the primary application. Fill in the new owner's information, the vehicle identification number, make, model, year, and the current odometer reading. Check the box for "court order" as the transfer method and attach a certified copy of the divorce decree.

Form 78-015 (Odometer Disclosure Statement). Required for vehicles less than 20 years old that aren't exempt from federal odometer requirements. Both the transferor and transferee must sign this form.

You can download both forms from dor.ms.gov under the Motor Vehicle section.

The Transfer Process

1. Get the current title. The transferring spouse must sign the assignment section on the back of the existing title. The signature must match the name exactly as it appears on the front of the title — not a nickname, not an abbreviated version.

2. Complete the forms. Fill out Form 78-002 and Form 78-015. Attach a certified copy of the divorce decree that specifies the vehicle award.

3. Visit the county tax collector's office. Title transfers in Mississippi are processed at the county tax collector in the county where the new owner resides, not the DOR itself.

4. Pay the title fee. The standard title fee is $9. If you're also updating license plates, there may be additional registration fees.

5. Surrender old plates if the decree requires the departing spouse to relinquish them.

If There's a Loan on the Vehicle

A title transfer doesn't affect the loan. If the vehicle still has a lien, the person keeping the car needs to refinance the auto loan in their name alone before the lender will release the title for transfer. Until refinancing is complete, the departing spouse remains liable for the debt regardless of what the divorce decree says.

This is one of the most common post-divorce financial traps: signing a quitclaim-style assignment on a vehicle while the loan remains joint. If the person keeping the car misses payments, both credit scores take the hit.

Insurance Updates

Once the title transfer is complete, update your auto insurance to reflect sole ownership. Remove your ex-spouse from the policy and adjust coverage as needed. If you're the departing spouse, make sure you have your own separate policy in place before the transfer is finalized — driving without insurance coverage during the transition creates liability exposure.

The Mississippi After-Divorce Checklist includes the vehicle transfer process alongside every other post-decree update, organized in the order that prevents wasted trips and missed dependencies.

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