How to Complete a VIN Inspection in Mississippi

Titling an ordinary out-of-state vehicle in Mississippi doesn't require a physical VIN inspection. If you're moving to Mississippi or bought a vehicle from an out-of-state dealer, the Department of Revenue only asks for the title from your previous state (or a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin if the vehicle was never titled) along with an odometer disclosure statement. A physical VIN verification or inspection instead comes up in a narrower set of circumstances: branded titles (salvage, rebuilt, flood-damaged, or hail-damaged vehicles), bonded titles, and requests for a standalone VIN verification.

When is a Mississippi VIN Inspection Required?

You do not need a VIN inspection to register and title a vehicle you're simply bringing in from another state with a clean title in hand — that's handled at your county Tax Collector's office using your existing title and an odometer disclosure.

A physical inspection is required, however, before a vehicle branded "salvage," "rebuilt," "flood-damaged," or "hail-damaged" on its title can be re-titled, and before a bonded title can be issued. A separate, standalone Vehicle Identification Number Verification service is also available for situations that call for confirming a VIN independent of a branded-title inspection.

Who Performs a Mississippi VIN Inspection, and Where

These inspections are not handled by the county Tax Collector or the Department of Revenue. They are performed by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Investigation, through its Salvage Inspection Division — a law-enforcement unit, not a general vehicle-inspection station. Contact the division through DPS at (601) 987-1212 to arrange an appointment.

What to Bring to a Mississippi VIN Inspection

For a salvage, rebuilt, flood-damaged, or hail-damaged vehicle:

• A completed Application for Inspection of a Salvage/Rebuilt vehicle (Form 78-021(1))
• The original salvage title or an insurance retention letter
• Original invoices for all parts used in the repair, including the VIN of the vehicle any used parts came from
• A notarized work order describing the work performed
• Four color photographs of all four sides of the vehicle, taken before any repairs began
• The original documents plus two copies
• The $75 inspection fee, payable by certified check or money order

For a standalone VIN verification or a bonded title, bring the original title (or, for a bonded title, an affidavit of ownership and a signed, notarized bill of sale), a valid driver's license, and the original plus two copies of all requested documents. This inspection carries a $25 fee, also payable by certified check or money order.

What Happens After the Inspection

If a salvage, rebuilt, flood, or hail-damaged vehicle passes inspection, the Salvage Inspection Division signs off on the paperwork so the vehicle can move forward for a rebuilt (or otherwise re-branded) title through the Department of Revenue. If the inspection instead turns up a VIN or part that's stolen, missing, or altered, the vehicle can be impounded and held as evidence rather than cleared for titling.