Motor Vehicle Licensing FAQs

For a motor vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 10,000 pounds or less, register the vehicle and receive your license plate from your local county Tax Collector's office. You will need to register the vehicle in the county where the vehicle is domiciled, or where it is parked (garaged) overnight.

For a motor vehicle with a GVW over 10,000 pounds and which travels only in Mississippi, you will register the vehicle at your local county Tax Collector's office.

For a motor vehicle with a GVW over 10,000 pounds and which travels across state boundaries, you will register the vehicle at the Department of Revenue office in Clinton, Mississippi.​

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The penalty for late renewal of your license plate begins on the 16th day of the month following expiration at the rate of 5 percent. Then for each additional 30 days that the tag is overdue an additional 5 percent will be charged. The maximum penalty is 25 percent. Once you reach the 25 percent penalty, you will not be allowed any Legislative Tag Credit.

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The penalty for late renewal of your license plate begins on the 16th day of the month following expiration at the rate of 5 percent for the next 15 days. Then for each​ additional 30 days that the tag is over due an additional 5 percent will be charged. The maximum penalty is 25 percent. Once you reach the 25 percent penalty, you will not be allowed any Legislative Tag Credit.

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The vehicle must be registered within 30 working days of the date you purchased the vehicle. If you purchased the vehicle outside of your home county, you have 48 hours to transport vehicle to residence or place of business and then 30 business days to register the vehicle before penalties apply.​

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You have 30 days to register your vehicle(s) in Mississippi if you have a current registration (license plate) in your prior state of residence. If you do not register within 30 days of moving into this state, you will be charged the standard late fees and a $250 penalty. You will not be allowed the Legislative Tag Credit if your previous license plate has expired, or, if you never registered the vehicle in your prior state of residence.​

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​Military personnel (and their dependents) who are stationed in Mississippi, but claim another state as their home, are not required to obtain a Mississippi registration or tag. Military personnel who are residents of this state are required to register their vehicle in Mississippi.

Full time students in Mississippi who are not residents of this state are not required to register their vehicle in this state.​

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To determine how much your tag will cost, you will need to contact your local county Tax Collector.

In Mississippi, you pay privilege tax, registration fees, ad valorem taxes and possibly sales or use tax when you tag your vehicle. Registration fees are $12.75 for renewals and $14.00 for first time registrations. All the other taxes are based on the type of vehicle, the value of that vehicle, and where you live (city, county).​

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Mississippi has a temporary drive out tag which can be purchased from the dealer who sold the car. The tag is valid for 7 working days from the date of purchase.​

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No. In Mississippi, the tag is registered to both the vehicle and the owner. If one or the other changes, the tag must be removed and surrendered to your county Tax Collector.​

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To apply for a disabled tag and/or placard, you need to submit to your county Tax Collector a Mississippi Disabled Parking Application, Form 76-104. The application must be completed by your licensed physician or nurse practitioner. There is no additional fee required to obtain a Disabled License Plate or Placard. (All regular taxes and registration fees must be paid.)

You may obtain the application from your Tax Collector. You must submit a new application when the image of the standard plate is changed, which is every 5 years. The statement must be dated within 90 days of your renewal application.

The Disabled Placard is a removable windshield placard that is hung from the rearview mirror of a vehicle when you park in a disabled parking space. The placard must be used only when a physically disabled person is the driver or passenger of the motor vehicle at the time of its parking.

It is illegal to park in a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities if you do not have the correct vehicle plates or parking permit. You can use the vehicle plates or placard in Mississippi and other states.​

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An eligible person may be issued 2 license plates and 2 placards.​

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Disabled American Veteran license plates are issued to veterans (or surviving spouse) who have verification from the Veterans Affairs Board certifying that they have a 100% service related disability.

One (1) vehicle that is owned by a qualified veteran is exempt from all ad valorem and privilege taxes; however, there is a $1.00 fee for this plate.

An eligible veteran may have more than one tag for other vehicles that he or she owns; but, all taxes and fees are due on the additional plates.​

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Unauthorized use of a disability space should be reported to the local police department in the town or city where the violation occurs.​

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Mississippi law does not allow for a refund of registration fees or taxes. However, when the vehicle is sold or ownership changes, the owner may apply the unused portion of a registration to a new Mississippi registration. The tag from the vehicle that was sold must be turned in to the county Tax Collector. Credit is given from the first day of the next month following the date of the tag’s surrender. A credit certificate will be given to you if you are not purchasing a new tag the same month. Credit can only be given from the time the tag is turned in, not from the time the vehicle was sold. You may use the credit certificate in any county of this state.

Mississippi law does not provide for refunds when an individual moves out of state and cannot use the credit.​

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Yes, but this is not enforced through vehicle registration. Every motor vehicle operated in this state is required to have an insurance card maintained in the vehicle as proof of liability insurance that is in compliance with the liability limits required.​

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You may order your plate with the county Tax Collector at the time you register your vehicle. Standard personalized plates require an additional annual fee of $33. There are various rates for specialty plates. A listing of all specialty license plates is available on the Department of Revenue website.​

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When registering the vehicle in Mississippi, you will need to provide the title from the other state and an odometer disclosure statement. If the vehicle was not titled in the other state, you will need to provide the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin.​

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The sales tax rate is 5% applied to the net purchase price of your vehicle (price after dealer’s discounts and trade-ins.) The taxable selling price is not reduced​ by manufacturer’s rebates. 

The 5% rate applies to cars, vans, buses and other private carriers of passengers and trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less. Carriers of property and trucks with a vehicle weight exceeding 10,000 pounds are taxed at 3%.

If you bought your vehicle out-of-state, paid sales taxes on the vehicle to that state, and first tagged the vehicle in Mississippi, the other state’s sales tax will NOT be credited toward the amount of tax due in Mississippi.​ 

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To change your address, contact your local county Tax Collector’s office.

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Any vehicle 25 years old or older is considered an antique vehicle.​

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A motorized bicycle manufactured 1980 and following must have a seventeen (17) digit VIN conforming to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration requirements. There must be a decal or plate attached with a statement that the motorized bicycle meets the Federal Safety Standards. If the motorized bicycle does not meet these requirements, it is considered a “toy vehicle.” A toy vehicle may not be titled or registered in Mississippi and may not be operated on public roadways within this state.​

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Please contact the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (phone 601-432-2400) for information on boat and watercraft registration requirements in Mississippi.

Boat trailers are tagged as private trailers. When you register the trailer, you will need to provide proof of ownership such as the bill of sale, Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) or title.​

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The Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) protects personal information included in motor vehicle records. Information may only be released to applicants that meet an exemption noted on the Records Request form. 

The DPPA keeps your personal information private by restricting who has access to the information. The law limits access to your social security number, driver license or identification card number, name, address, telephone number, medical or disability information, and emergency contact information contained in your motor vehicle or driver license records.​

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You will need to get the lost or stolen tag form (76-903) from your county Tax Collector and have local law enforcement complete this form.

The Tax Collector will issue you a substitute tag and decal. There is a $10.00 fee; or $2.50 for only the decal.​

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You should report this violation to your county Tax Collector’s office.​

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No. Mississippi law does not provide for emissions testing of motor vehicles.​

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You may download​ the dealer packet. Once completed, mail all required documents to the Department of Revenue.

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You may contact the Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau (601) 923-7100.​

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