Eligibility for Mississippi License Plates
New residents have 30 days to register their vehicles after moving to Mississippi, provided they have valid registration from another state. The County Tax Assessor’s office processes all registrations for vehicles with a maximum weight of up to 10,000 pounds (Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-43).
- Residence: Bring state-issued photo identification, proof of insurance, and the current title or registration from another state. Newly purchased vehicles must be registered within 30 business days from the date of purchase. A $250 penalty applies for late registration.
- Vehicle: Mississippi requires one rear plate with up to two decals (Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-31). Vehicles with “salvage” status must pass an inspection by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety before receiving a title. Vehicles from before 1969 can be titled voluntarily.
- Applicant: The owner listed on the title signs the title application in person at the County Tax Assessor’s office. A power of attorney form is required if someone else appears on behalf of the owner.
- Plate Categories: Standard, special, and personalized plates are available for all applicants. Plates for 100% disabled veterans cost $1 according to Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-53. Plates for former prisoners of war, Medal of Honor recipients, killed-in-action, and active reserve members have no additional fee. Most special plates for organizations and charitable purposes add $33 annually; university plates add $53.
How to Get a License Plate in Mississippi?
Registration is done through County Tax Assessor’s offices, not through a centralized state DMV. Payments described in the cost section below are collected on-site in a single transaction.
- To obtain your first plate, bring the assigned title (or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin for new vehicles), odometer statement, bill of sale, proof of insurance, and state-issued photo identification to your County Tax Assessor.
- Mississippi does not require safety or emissions inspections for standard passenger vehicles. Vehicles with “salvage” status must pass a DPS inspection ($25 to $75) before a rebuilt title is issued.
- The Tax Assessor completes the title application, collects all taxes and fees, and issues the plate, decals, and Privilege Road and Bridge Receipt on-site. The title application is then forwarded to the Mississippi Department of Revenue for processing.
- Registration is renewed annually. County offices send renewal notices one month before expiration. For renewal, only the renewal notice (or plate number or VIN), proof of insurance, and payment are required. According to compliance rules stated above, a 15-day grace period applies after expiration, although tickets may be issued during this period.
How Much Does a License Plate Cost in Mississippi?
The fixed privilege tax is moderate, but the ad valorem layer is where the total amount increases, as it depends on your vehicle’s depreciated value and your county’s millage rate.
- Privilege Tax: $15 per year for passenger vehicles, $8 for motorcycles (Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-5). Trucks follow a weight-based schedule, starting at $7.20 for vehicles up to 6,000 pounds (Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-11).
- Registration fees are $14 for the first plate or $12.75 for renewals, plus $4 to the Trauma Care Systems Fund and $5 registration fee per set of plates (Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-43).
- Ad Valorem Tax is calculated as 30% of MSRP (depreciated over 10 years), multiplied by local county millage rates. A legislative plate credit of about 5% of the assessed value offsets part of this cost. The minimum assessed value for passenger vehicles is $100.
- Electric vehicles add a $150 annual surcharge; hybrids pay $75. Special plates cost from $30 to $53 over standard fees, as noted on the MDOR Special Tag Fee Distribution page.
- Title transfer costs 9(39 for expedited processing. Late registration penalties accrue at 5% of the privilege tax for each 15-day period overdue (Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-63).
Can I Get a License Plate Online in Mississippi?
Online tag renewal is available in about 45 out of 82 Mississippi counties. The MDOR Online Tag Renewal page lists participating counties. Three counties (Franklin, Coahoma, Clay) use the state’s MV e-Services portal; the rest have their own renewal websites.
Initial registrations and title transfers cannot be completed online. These transactions require an in-person visit to your County Tax Assessor’s office, where the title application must be signed by the owner.
For title-only questions by mail, send the completed application and $9 fee to:
- Mississippi Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Services, P.O. Box 1383, Jackson, MS 39215-1383. Standard titles are processed within three to four weeks; expedited titles ($39) are issued within 72 hours of receipt.
If your county offers online renewal, use it; otherwise, the County Tax Assessor’s office handles everything in one visit.