Mississippi boat
registration summary presents an overview of boat titling, registration,
loan perfection, and operational requirements for the State of
Mississippi. More detailed information, forms, guidelines, and other
resources are obtainable by downloading a
Boat Registration Kit
for this state. You will also find an extensive listing of general
purpose boat and trailer registration forms on our Forms
page.
Please visit our
State page for additional
articles and information about registering or titling boats and
trailers.
The information presented here is subject to change and should be
confirmed with the respective state agency.
Please
read our
terms of use before proceeding.
|
Boat Registration Statistics |
There are
approximately 156,743 boats registered in
Mississippi. This state ranks 28th among nationwide boat
registrations. |
|
Registration Numbering |
The boat
numbering prefix for Mississippi is "MI". |
|
Registration Agency |
Department of
Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks. |
|
Registration Requirements |
Registration
is required on all motorized boats and sailboats. Coast
Guard documented boats are exempt from registration. Boat
registration certificates renew every three years. |
|
Title Requirements |
Boat titling
is optional in Mississippi except for Coast Guard documented
vessels which may
not be titled. |
|
Conditional Registrations |
Mississippi
does not have provisions for bonded boat titles or conditional
boat registrations where sufficient proof of ownership is not
otherwise available. In these cases, an award of ownership from
a court of proper jurisdiction will be required. |
|
Boat Registration Records |
Boat
registration records are maintained for eight years. Detailed
information on how to obtain verbal and written reports can be
found in our
boat registration
kit for this state. |
|
State Tax Requirements |
Sales tax is
levied on boat transactions in Mississippi. |
|
Loan Perfection |
Security
interests on non-documented boats that are state titled must be
recorded on the state title which is then sent to the secured
party. On
Coast Guard documented vessels, a preferred mortgage must be
recorded on the vessel's abstract of title. A UCC financing
statement must be filed if the boat is neither titled or
documented. |
|
Ownership Designations |
Mississippi
does not list joint ownership methods on boat registration
records. |
|
Residency Requirements |
Non-residents
may acquire Mississippi titles and registrations if the boat is
moored, housed, or garaged within the state. |
|
Hull Inspection |
Boats must be
inspected by a Mississippi law enforcement officer if there is a discrepancy
with the hull identification number. |
|
Reporting Requirements |
Ownership
transfers, abandonments, destructions, and thefts must be
reported to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks
within 15 days. |
|
Outboard Motors |
Mississippi
issues titles as an option for outboard motors. |
|
Boat Trailers |
Registration
is required for boat trailers in Mississippi. Titling is
optional. |
|
Notary Regulations |
Notaries
serve 4 year terms, must post a $5,000 bond, and must affix an
embossed or inked seal to all notarized documents. |
| Visitation
Period |
A visitation
period of 60 days is allowed for boats that are registered in another state,
Coast Guard documented, or registered in a foreign country. |
