Free Mississippi Trailer Bill of Sale
Mississippi requires all trailers to be registered, and trailers over 5,000 lbs gross weight must also be titled at the County Tax Collector. Like all Mississippi motor vehicle transactions, the 30-working-day deadline applies to titled trailers — late penalties apply if the buyer misses the window. Mississippi does not have a separate trailer bill of sale form; any written document with the VIN, GVWR, sale price, and both parties' signatures works as the bill of sale.
Free PDF includes a light diagonal watermark. Go Pro to remove it. Already subscribed? Sign in.
Mississippi Trailer Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Mississippi's 5% tax on trailer transfers is collected at the County Tax Collector at title transfer or registration. For private vehicle sales the DOR bases its casual sales tax on an assessment-schedule value, not the purchase price — confirm how your trailer is valued with the Tax Collector.
Inspection Requirements
Mississippi does not require a safety inspection for trailers at the time of sale or registration. No inspection certificate is needed at the County Tax Collector.
Mississippi Trailer Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Confirm the trailer's GVWR: trailers over 5,000 lbs need a title; lighter trailers need only registration — but both must be completed at the County Tax Collector.
- Prepare a written bill of sale with the trailer VIN (typically stamped on the tongue or frame), year, make, GVWR, trailer type (utility, flatbed, enclosed, etc.), sale price, sale date, and both parties' information.
- Seller signs the title over to the buyer if the trailer has a title (required over 5,000 lbs; lighter trailers may have one voluntarily). Provide any lien-release documentation if applicable.
- Buyer completes the title application (Form 78-002) at the County Tax Collector.
- Buyer visits the County Tax Collector within 30 working days of the sale for titled trailers.
- Buyer pays any applicable tax (for private vehicle sales, based on the DOR assessment value rather than the price) plus applicable title and registration fees.
- Seller removes the Mississippi license plate and surrenders it to the county Tax Collector — trailer plates do not go to the buyer.
- Buyer registers the trailer and obtains new plates. Utility trailers under 5,000 lbs go through registration-only, with no title fee.
Common Pitfalls
- Not knowing the GVWR threshold: Mississippi's 5,000 lbs GVWR line for required titling is higher than many other states (some require titles at 1,500 or 3,000 lbs). Sellers with utility trailers between 3,000 and 5,000 lbs often assume a title exists when it does not — confirm at the County Tax Collector before advertising the trailer.
- Applying the 30-working-day deadline only to cars: Mississippi's deadline applies to vehicles subject to titling, including titled trailers. Late penalties are not waived for trailers — buyers should treat a titled trailer purchase with the same urgency as a car purchase.
- Missing the VIN on the bill of sale: trailer VINs are sometimes stamped in obscure locations (on the tongue, under the frame, inside a rail). A bill of sale with only a description and no VIN is a weak record, and a titled trailer's paperwork must match the VIN on the title.
- Confusing a boat trailer with a boat registration: Mississippi boat trailers are registered and titled through the County Tax Collector and DOR, not MDWFP. If you buy a boat-and-trailer package, the trailer transfers through DOR while the boat transfers through MDWFP — two separate transactions.
Pro Tip
Trailer sales in Mississippi are governed by the same county-office process and 30-working-day clock as car sales. Confirm the GVWR upfront to know whether a title is required, locate the VIN on the frame before completing paperwork, and remove the plates at handoff. For buyers purchasing a boat-and-trailer package, remember: boat to MDWFP, trailer to County Tax Collector — two separate visits, two separate transactions.