The Affidavit of Ownership (Form 78-013) is a sworn statement issued by the Mississippi Department of Revenue, printed on the form as Affidavit of Ownership of Motor Vehicle. A buyer uses it to state that they are the legal owner of a vehicle by virtue of an attached bill of sale and to explain why the current Certificate of Title cannot be surrendered. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the Department of Revenue, and the affidavit must be sworn before a notary public.
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What is 78-013-18-8-1-000?
Affidavit of Ownership (Form 78-013) is the Mississippi Department of Revenue sworn statement in which a vehicle buyer declares legal ownership under an attached bill of sale and states why the current Certificate of Title cannot be surrendered.
The form is headed Affidavit of Ownership of Motor Vehicle and carries the contact details of Motor Vehicle Services. It is completed before a notary public, who records the date on which the statement was subscribed and sworn.
It collects four kinds of information:
- The buyer's name and address, and the county where the oath is taken.
- The vehicle: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year and make.
- The seller: name, address and a telephone number, plus the state where the vehicle was last registered. The form marks the seller's telephone number and the last-registration state as required.
- An odometer statement, with the reading in whole miles (no tenths) and two boxes for readings that exceed the mechanical limits or are not the actual mileage.
The form also asks, in your own words, why you cannot surrender the current Certificate of Title, and whether a license tag was on the vehicle when you acquired it. It is not the application for a certificate of title: the form refers to making that application as a later step.
Who needs to file 78-013-18-8-1-000?
The buyer of a motor vehicle who is the legal owner by virtue of a bill of sale, and who cannot surrender the current Certificate of Title of that vehicle, completes this affidavit. The form asks that person to explain the reason in their own words.
Points that apply to specific situations:
- If the vehicle is ten (10) model years or less, the instructions printed on the form say it must go to the nearest Mississippi Department of Public Safety substation for inspection and issuance of Form MVCT-59 by the inspecting officer before you apply for a certificate of title.
- The person signing is the buyer, whose printed name and signature appear at the bottom, and the signature is sworn before a notary public.
- The odometer statement is required by federal and state law in connection with the transfer of ownership, according to the form. Failing to complete it, or giving a false statement, may result in fines and/or imprisonment.
The form does not describe any exception for vehicles acquired without a bill of sale, and it does not say that anyone may sign for the buyer.
When to file 78-013-18-8-1-000
Complete the affidavit when you have acquired a vehicle by bill of sale, cannot surrender its current Certificate of Title and need to apply for a certificate of title. The form sets no separate due date.
Timing matters in one case printed on the form: a vehicle that is ten (10) model years or less must be taken to the nearest Mississippi Department of Public Safety substation for inspection and issuance of Form MVCT-59 before you make application for the certificate of title. Plan that visit before the title application.
The affidavit must be signed in front of a notary public, who completes the day, month and year of the oath, so allow time to meet one after you have gathered the bill of sale and the seller's details.
Documents you need
- Bill of sale for the vehicle: the form states that you are the legal owner by virtue of the attached bill of sale and tells you to attach it.
- Form MVCT-59, issued by the inspecting officer at a Mississippi Department of Public Safety substation: needed only when the vehicle is ten (10) model years or less, and before you apply for a certificate of title.
How to fill out 78-013-18-8-1-000
Enter the county and your details
At the top, write the county for THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, COUNTY OF line. Then enter your name, street address, city, state and ZIP code as the person appearing before the notary.
Describe the vehicle
Enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the year and the make exactly as they appear for the vehicle you acquired by bill of sale.
Identify the seller
Enter the name of the person you acquired the vehicle from, with their address, city, state and ZIP code. Attach the bill of sale.
Add seller phone and last state
Enter the telephone number at which the seller may be reached and the state in which the vehicle was last registered. The form marks both as Required.
Explain why you cannot surrender the title
In your own words, state the reason you are unable to surrender the current Certificate of Title of the vehicle.
Answer the license tag question
Say whether there was a license tag on the vehicle when you acquired it. If so, give the state and the tag number.
Check the inspection instruction
If the vehicle is ten (10) model years or less, plan to take it to the nearest Mississippi Department of Public Safety substation for inspection and Form MVCT-59 before you apply for a certificate of title.
Complete the odometer statement
Write your name and the odometer reading in miles, with no tenths. Check statement (1) if the reading exceeds the mechanical limits, or (2) if it is not the actual mileage; leave both blank if neither applies.
Print the buyer's name and sign
Enter the printed name of the buyer and sign on the signature line, to be sworn before a notary public.
Have the notary complete the jurat
The notary fills in the day, month and year in the SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE line and signs the Notary Public line.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the VIN, names, addresses and odometer reading, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and take it to the notary and onward with the bill of sale as described under How to submit.
How to submit 78-013-18-8-1-000
The form prints no filing instruction of its own: it does not name a mailing address, portal or office to which the completed affidavit is delivered. It refers to making application for a certificate of title, so the affidavit goes with that application as the Department of Revenue directs.
The footer of the form gives the contact details for Motor Vehicle Services of the Mississippi Department of Revenue:
- Mail: Motor Vehicle Services, P.O. Box 1383, Jackson, MS 39215
- Phone: 601-923-7200
- Fax: 601-923-7224
- Website: www.dor.ms.gov
Contact Motor Vehicle Services to confirm where to deliver the notarized affidavit and the attached bill of sale for your situation. For a vehicle that is ten model years or less, you need Form MVCT-59 from the inspecting officer before you apply for a certificate of title.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the bill of sale; the form states ownership by virtue of the attached bill of sale and says to attach it.
- Leaving blank the seller's telephone number or the state where the vehicle was last registered, both marked Required on the form.
- Skipping the Department of Public Safety inspection and Form MVCT-59 for a vehicle that is ten (10) model years or less before applying for a certificate of title.
- Leaving the reason you cannot surrender the current Certificate of Title unexplained; the form asks you to state it in your own words.
- Entering tenths in the odometer reading; the form asks for miles with NO TENTHS.
- Omitting the odometer statement or giving a false one; the form warns of fines and/or imprisonment.
- Not checking box (1) or (2) when the odometer reading exceeds mechanical limits or is not the actual mileage.
- Signing without a notary public present, or leaving the day, month and year of the oath and the notary line empty.
Frequently asked questions
What is an affidavit of ownership for a vehicle in Mississippi?
It is a sworn statement, Form 78-013 from the Mississippi Department of Revenue, in which the buyer declares legal ownership of a vehicle by virtue of an attached bill of sale and explains why the current Certificate of Title cannot be surrendered. It is signed before a notary public.
Does the Affidavit of Ownership have to be notarized?
Yes. The form is an oath: it states that the buyer appeared before the undersigned and was duly sworn, and it ends with a SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE line and a Notary Public signature line, so the notary completes that section.
What do I attach to the Affidavit of Ownership?
Attach the bill of sale, since the form states ownership by virtue of the attached bill of sale. For a vehicle ten (10) model years or less, you also need Form MVCT-59 from the inspecting officer before applying for a title.
Do I need an inspection before applying for a title?
If the vehicle is ten (10) model years or less, yes. The form says to take it to the nearest Mississippi Department of Public Safety substation for inspection and issuance of Form MVCT-59 by the inspecting officer before making application for a certificate of title.
What happens if I give a wrong odometer reading?
The form warns that federal and state law require the mileage statement for the transfer of ownership, and that failing to complete it or giving a false statement may result in fines and/or imprisonment. Check box (1) or (2) if the reading is over mechanical limits or not actual.
Where do I send the Affidavit of Ownership in Mississippi?
The form names no delivery address. Its footer lists Motor Vehicle Services, P.O. Box 1383, Jackson, MS 39215, phone 601-923-7200, fax 601-923-7224, so call to confirm where to deliver it with your certificate of title application.
Can I fill out the Mississippi Affidavit of Ownership online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the affidavit or notarize it: you must still sign before a notary and submit it through the Department of Revenue's channels.
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