What is a License Plate Replacement in Mississippi?
Mississippi refers to the replacement of a license plate as a “substitute tag.” The county tax assessor’s office issues it after the owner reports the loss, theft, damage, or defacement of the plate to law enforcement and submits a copy of this report to the county office. Mississippi Code § 27-19-37 governs this process.
- Trigger conditions include loss, theft, destruction, and defacement to illegibility. Transitioning from registration in another state or changing the vehicle class also requires a new Mississippi plate, though these processes go through the title and registration path, not the substitute tag path.
- The substitute tag has its own fee ($10.00 for the plate and sticker, $2.50 for the sticker only) and is separate from the annual renewal. Mississippi does not include replacement in the renewal channel.
- The substitute tag receives a new plate number. The original number is canceled; using the old plate if found later results in a fine equal to the annual privilege tax plus 100%.
- Mississippi is a single-plate state. Each vehicle receives one rear-mounted plate according to § 27-19-31, so replacement always means one plate.
When Do You Need to Replace Your Mississippi License Plate?
Operating without a legible, properly mounted plate is a registration violation under § 27-19-31. The statute provides a narrow 5-day window for damaged plates but has no published grace period for lost or stolen plates.
- A lost or stolen plate must be reported to local law enforcement. The owner submits a copy of this report to the county tax assessor, who then issues a substitute plate. § 27-19-37 makes a police report mandatory for both lost and stolen plates.
- Plates damaged beyond recognition may be confiscated by a law enforcement officer on the spot. The officer issues a 5-day plate permit; the owner must purchase a substitute plate within these 5 days for the fee set in § 27-19-37.
- Plates deteriorating solely from age may be surrendered to the issuing authority for a new plate and stickers free of charge.
- New residents have 30 days after establishing residency in Mississippi to register, provided the out-of-state plate is still valid. Missing this window results in standard late fees plus an additional $250 penalty. The MDOR registration page outlines the required documents.
How to Get a Replacement License Plate in Mississippi
Before visiting the county office, gather your current registration information, valid photo ID, and the law enforcement report mentioned in the trigger conditions discussion above. If the damaged plate is still in your possession, bring it for surrender.
- In person: Visit your county tax assessor’s office. Submit Form 76-903 (Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal) with the law enforcement section completed. The tax assessor issues the substitute plate and sticker on the spot. The vehicle must be registered in the county where it is located or parked overnight.
- By mail: Mississippi does not publish a standard mail-in path for substitute plates. The law enforcement report requirement and in-person form completion direct this transaction to the county office.
- Online: County online portals only handle tag renewals, not the issuance of substitute plates. The replacement transaction requires a completed Form 76-903 with law enforcement verification, which cannot be processed through the renewal portal.
The county tax assessor retains 5% of the substitute plate fee and deposits it into the county’s general fund.
Can You Replace Mississippi License Plate Online?
No. The issuance of a substitute plate is only done in person at the county tax assessor’s office. The tag renewal online portals offered by many Mississippi counties cover annual renewals and sticker purchases, but not substitute plates.
The hurdle is procedural: § 27-19-37 requires the owner to submit a law enforcement report to the tax assessor before issuing a substitute plate. Form 76-903 contains a section that must be completed by law enforcement. No online portal currently accepts this form or verifies the report electronically.
Vehicles over 10,000 pounds traveling interstate are registered through MDOR offices in Biloxi, Clinton, Hattiesburg, Hernando, or Meridian. Substitute plates for these vehicles follow the same law enforcement report requirement at the MDOR office, not the county tax assessor’s office.
Plan for an in-person visit. The county office issues the substitute plate the same day.
How Much is License Plate Replacement in Mississippi?
The fee for a substitute plate is set by statute, not county discretion, so the base cost is the same statewide. The county’s retention of 5% of the plate fee and any applicable property or privilege taxes upon concurrent registration change are the only variables that may affect the receipt.
- Plate and sticker together cost $10.00. The county tax assessor retains $0.50 of this amount (5%) for the county’s general fund; the remainder is distributed by the same formula as regular tag revenue.
- Sticker only (if the plate itself is intact but the proof is lost or damaged) costs $2.50.
- Plates deteriorated from age may be surrendered for replacement free of charge under § 27-19-31(2)(a). The free replacement applies only to age-related deterioration, not loss, theft, or damage.
- No county surcharge applies to the substitute plate transaction itself. Mississippi does not add an automation or technology fee to this item.
- Personalized and distinctive plate replacements have their own statutory fees. The replacement fee for a distinctive plate is $10.00 according to the individual special plate statutes (e.g., § 27-19-56.509).