Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 59 - PORTS, HARBORS, LANDINGS AND WATERCRAFT (§§ 59-1-1 — 59-25-17) › Chapter 25 - CERTIFICATES OF TITLE FOR BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS (§§ 59-25-1 — 59-25-17) › Section 59-25-3 - Application for certificate of title; application requirements; contents of certificate of title

(1)
Any owner of a vessel principally operated on the waters of the state and required to be numbered may apply to the department for a certificate of title for the vessel or the motor.
(2)
(a)
The application shall contain the name and mailing address of the owner, and the names and addresses of all persons having any liens or encumbrances upon the vessel or motor in the order of their priority. The application shall contain the signatures of all owners certifying that statements made are true and correct to the best of the applicant's knowledge, information and belief, under penalty of perjury.
(b)
Every application for a certificate of title shall contain a description of the vessel or motor to be titled, including the state certificate of number (if previously assigned), hull length, type and principal material of construction, model year, the date of purchase, hull identification number, manufacturer, horse power, serial number and the name and address of the person from whom the vessel or motor was purchased. The application shall contain the date of sale and gross purchase price of the vessel or motor, or the fair market value if no sale immediately preceded the transfer and any additional information the department requires. If the application is made for a vessel or motor previously registered or titled in another state or foreign country, it shall contain this information. The application shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the department and shall contain any other information required by the department.
(3)
If a dealer buys or acquires a used numbered vessel or motor for resale, he shall report the acquisition to the department on forms the department provides, or he may apply for and obtain a certificate of title as provided in this chapter. If a dealer acquires a new vessel or motor requiring titling for resale, he may apply for and obtain a certificate of title as provided in this chapter.
Every dealer transferring a vessel or motor requiring titling, as determined by the department, shall assign the title to the new owner, or in the case of a new vessel or motor assign either the certificate of origin or, if titled, the title.
(4)
No person may sell, assign or transfer a vessel or motor titled by the department without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title with an assignment on it showing title in the purchaser or transferee's name. No person may purchase or otherwise acquire a vessel or motor titled by the department without obtaining a certificate of title for it in his name.
(5)
Every certificate of title shall contain the owner's name; the address of the principal place of residence of an individual owner and the address of the principal place of business of an owner that is not an individual, including zip code; date of title issuance; vessel or motor description, including the vessel or motor identification number as described in
33 CFR 187.05
, name of manufacturer or model, year built or the model year, vessel length, vessel type, drive or propulsion type, motor horsepower, vessel use, hull material and fuel type; each lienholder's name and address; recording or perfection date of new liens and original recording date of any liens outstanding; and other items as required by the department. Space must also be provided for assignment of interest, with a certification that statements provided on the title assignment are true and correct to the best of the owner's knowledge, under penalty of perjury.
(6)
The department shall retain the evidence used to establish the accuracy of the information required for titling purposes, and shall maintain a record of any certificate of title it issues.
Laws, 1997, ch. 393, § 2, eff. 7/1/1998.