RV titling in Mississippi follows the same county tax collector route as cars — Form 78-002, 5% sales tax, $10 title fee, annual privilege tax — but the stakes per transaction are far higher. A used Class A motorhome can be a $100,000+ deal where a single bad roof or slide-out repair runs $8,000-$20,000. Mississippi's no-inspection rule means the buyer carries 100% of the inspection burden. Your bill of sale documents purchase price (which sets the 5% sales tax basis) and any "as-is" disclosure, while the title and Form 78-002 do the legal transfer at the county tax collector within 7 working days.
Motorhomes title like motor vehicles; towable trailers title like trailers — and the paperwork differs for each. Our guide covers lien holder procedures, what to do with an active loan balance, and how RV registration deadlines work. Read: Car Bill of Sale: Complete Guide →
Mississippi RV Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary Form
78-002
Application for Title (used for RVs and motorhomes)
Motorhomes (Class A, B, C) and travel trailers over 1,500 lbs are titled in Mississippi using Form 78-002 at the county tax collector. Pop-up campers and very small trailers under 1,500 lbs may be exempt from titling but still need a tag. Slide-in truck campers are not titled — they go with the truck.
Inspection
Not required
Sales Tax Details
5% Mississippi state sales tax on the purchase price of motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth-wheels. Paid at the county tax collector at title transfer. Some counties add small local discretionary tax.
Exemption: Family transfers (spouse, parent-child, grandparent-grandchild) qualify for full sales-tax exemption with a notarized affidavit of relationship. Otherwise, no general casual-sale exemption — all private RV sales pay 5%.
Inspection Requirements
No Mississippi safety inspection (program ended 2015). RVs especially benefit from a private pre-purchase inspection by an NRVIA-certified inspector — roof condition, slide-out seals, water damage, propane system, and chassis underbody often have hidden problems that a 30-minute walkthrough misses. Mississippi's humid climate accelerates roof-membrane and rubber-seal failure.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by County Tax Collector — not the same agency that handles cars in Mississippi. Plan for separate filings.
Mississippi RV Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
Full VIN, year, make, model, length, slide count, GVWR, dry weight, and chassis (Ford F-53, Freightliner XCS, etc., for motorhomes)
Buyer and seller full legal names, addresses, and driver's license numbers
Sale price, date, deposit history, and any trade-in offset
Odometer reading for motorhomes (federally required for under-20-year units); hour-meter reading on the generator
Disclose any roof repairs, water damage, slide-out service, accidents, or insurance claims
Confirm that the title is clean (no salvage/flood brand) and lien-free; obtain written lien release if there was a loan
For travel trailers, record the VIN stamped on the frame tongue (not just the data sticker, which can be replaced)
Title at the county tax collector within 7 working days; pay 5% sales tax + title + privilege tax + tag
Common Pitfalls
Skipping a roof inspection — Mississippi humidity destroys old EPDM roofs, and replacement is $5,000-$10,000
Trusting the seller's statement that "the slide works fine" without operating it on shore power before sale
Buying without verifying the holding tanks (fresh, gray, black) actually drain — frozen sensors and clogged tanks are common
Underdeclaring price to dodge sales tax — MS tax collectors compare against NADA RV value and can reassess
Forgetting that travel trailers need a separate tag and pay annual privilege tax in Mississippi
Missing the 7-working-day titling deadline ($250 penalty)
Buying an older RV with propane appliances that no longer pass a basic leak test — DOT and many campgrounds reject expired propane tanks
Pro Tip
Mississippi RV sales hinge on the buyer doing what the state will not — inspecting thoroughly. Combine a third-party RV inspection, a notarized bill of sale with full disclosure, and timely titling at the county tax collector, and you avoid the expensive surprises that ambush most private RV buyers.
Mississippi RV Bill of Sale — FAQs
Does Mississippi require an RV inspection before titling?
No. Mississippi has no state-mandated safety or emissions inspection for RVs (or any vehicle) since the inspection program ended in 2015. The county tax collector will issue a title on Form 78-002 based on the assigned title and bill of sale alone, without seeing the rig. That makes a private pre-purchase inspection essential, especially for motorhomes and used travel trailers. Hire an NRVIA-certified RV inspector ($300-$700 depending on size and depth) to evaluate roof, slide-outs, plumbing, electrical, propane, chassis, generator, and tires. The cost is a fraction of a single major repair and routinely saves buyers from buying a unit with hidden water damage — the single most expensive RV problem.
What sales tax do I pay on a used RV purchased privately in Mississippi?
5% Mississippi state sales tax on the purchase price, paid by the buyer at the county tax collector when titling on Form 78-002. On a $40,000 used Class C, that is $2,000 plus the $10 title fee, the first year's privilege tax (annual ad valorem of roughly 7% of the depreciated value, billed yearly with tags), and tag fees. Some counties add a small discretionary local tax. Plan to pay at the time of titling — Mississippi tax collectors do not let you "settle up later." Family transfers (spouse, parent-child, grandparent-grandchild) qualify for full sales-tax exemption with a notarized affidavit of relationship; otherwise, every private RV buyer pays the 5%.
Are travel trailers titled the same way as motorhomes in Mississippi?
Mostly yes — both go through Form 78-002 at the county tax collector and are subject to the 5% sales tax — but with two differences. First, the VIN on a travel trailer is stamped on the frame tongue, and Mississippi tax collectors will accept that stamp; on a motorhome it is on the chassis frame and dash plate. Second, travel trailers have no odometer disclosure (no engine), but they do have GVWR and length on the title — verify these match what you actually have, because lengths get fudged in private sales. Pop-up tent campers and small utility trailers under 1,500 lbs may be exempt from titling but still need a Mississippi tag for road use. Slide-in truck campers are not titled separately — they ride on the truck's title.
Should I get a Mississippi RV bill of sale notarized?
Strongly yes for any RV transaction over about $10,000, and effectively required for high-value motorhomes. Mississippi notaries are cheap and widely available (banks, UPS Store, courthouse). A notarized signature gives you three benefits: (1) it makes the document much harder to challenge in court if the seller later claims the deal terms were different; (2) it proves the date of sale, which controls the 7-working-day titling deadline and the 5% sales tax basis; (3) it documents the seller's "as-is" disclosure, which limits post-sale warranty claims. For motorhomes specifically, also include a separate written disclosure of any known mechanical or structural issues — Mississippi private-sale "as-is" rules are favorable to sellers, but active misrepresentation is still actionable as fraud regardless.