Titling and registering a vehicle in Mississippi: new residents, purchases and renewals

How car tags and titles work in Mississippi: registering at your county Tax Collector after a purchase or a move, title transfers, the taxes you pay, annual renewal, insurance and plates, from the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

Guide · Mississippi · Vehicle registration · Titles · updated October 29, 2026

In Mississippi, vehicle titles and registration are overseen by the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Vehicle Services. You register a vehicle and buy your tag at your county Tax Collector's office. Driver's licenses are a separate matter, handled by the Department of Public Safety (see the Mississippi driver's license and ID guide). This guide covers buying a vehicle, moving to Mississippi with one, the taxes you pay, and renewing your tag.

Where to register

The DOR says where you register depends on the vehicle's weight and use:

• 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or less: your local county Tax Collector's office, in the county where the vehicle is kept or parked overnight.
• Over 10,000 pounds, in-state travel only: also the county Tax Collector.
• Over 10,000 pounds, interstate travel: a DOR office in Biloxi, Clinton, Hattiesburg, Hernando or Meridian.

The DOR publishes a list of county Tax Collectors on its Motor Vehicle Services contact page. For other questions, you can call Motor Vehicle Services at (601) 923-7200.

Titles

The DOR says Mississippi has required all motor vehicles to be titled since 1969. Since 1999, trailers over 5,000 pounds and manufactured homes must also be titled. Titling a pre-1969 vehicle is voluntary. A title costs $9.00. A Fast Track title costs $39.00 and is issued within 72 hours of the DOR receiving the application.

To transfer ownership, the title must be assigned to the new owner:

• The seller completes every part of the title assignment except the buyer's printed name and signature.
• If the buyer and seller are related (spouse, child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, brother or sister), complete an Affidavit of Relationship.
• The seller must remove the license plate once the title is assigned and the vehicle is handed over.

The DOR warns never to accept or hand over an incomplete or improperly assigned title. Leaving the buyer's name blank to fill in later violates Mississippi law.

To replace a lost, stolen or damaged title, complete Form 78-006, the Application for Replacement Certificate of Title. Mail it with the $9.00 fee to the DOR, Motor Vehicle Services, P.O. Box 1383, Jackson, MS 39215-1383. A Fast Track replacement is also available, by mail or at the DOR office in Clinton.

After buying a vehicle

You must register the vehicle within 30 business days of the purchase date. If you bought it outside your home county, you have 48 hours to take it to your home or place of business. You then still have 30 business days to register it before penalties apply.

To register a vehicle bought in another state, the DOR asks for the title from that state and an odometer disclosure statement. If the vehicle was not titled there, bring the manufacturer's certificate of origin instead.

A dealer can give you a temporary drive-out tag, valid for 7 days from the date of purchase. You cannot move your old plate to a new vehicle. In Mississippi the tag belongs to both the vehicle and the owner. When either changes, the old tag must be removed and surrendered to your county Tax Collector.

There are no refunds of unused registration fees and taxes. However, you can transfer the unused portion to a new Mississippi registration once the old tag is turned in.

What you pay

The DOR says the cost of a tag depends on the type and value of the vehicle and where you live. Your county Tax Collector can tell you the amount. The DOR also has an online tag renewal calculator. You pay:

• Privilege tax
• Registration fees: $14.00 for a first-time registration and $12.75 for a renewal
• Ad valorem tax: based on the vehicle's assessed value multiplied by the millage rate set by your county
• Sales or use tax, if it applies

Sales tax on cars, vans, buses and trucks under 10,000 pounds is generally 5% of the net purchase price. The DOR notes that sales tax paid to another state is not credited toward Mississippi tax.

The Legislative Tag Credit reduces the ad valorem tax for registered owners. You lose it if your late penalty reaches the 25% maximum. New residents also lose it if their out-of-state plate is expired or the vehicle was never registered in their previous state.

Moving to Mississippi with a vehicle

If you have a current registration or a valid plate from your previous state, you have 30 days after moving to register your vehicle. If you miss that, you pay the standard late penalties plus an additional $250 penalty. The DOR lists these steps:

1. Visit your county Tax Collector's office.
2. Complete the Application for Mississippi Title and Registration for each vehicle.
3. Provide your current vehicle registration (license plate receipt) from your previous state.
4. Pay all taxes and fees.

If a lienholder or another state holds your title, the DOR holds your title application until the title arrives. If the title is never surrendered, the application is not processed and you cannot renew your plate. The DOR also reminds new residents that they must get a Mississippi driver's license.

Renewing your tag

You must renew your registration every year. Your county Tax Collector sends a courtesy renewal notice, but you must renew on time even if it never arrives. Late penalties start on the 16th day of the month after expiration: 5% for the next 15 days, then another 5% for every 30 days overdue, up to a maximum of 25%.

Some counties let you renew online, through the DOR's MV e-Services or their own websites. The DOR's online tag renewal page lists them. If your county is not listed, contact your Tax Collector for your options.

Insurance, emissions and plates

The DOR says Mississippi requires motor vehicle liability insurance, but this is not enforced through registration. You must keep an insurance card in the vehicle as proof. Mississippi does not require emissions testing as a condition of registration.

You can order specialty or personalized plates through your county Tax Collector when you register. Personalized plates cost an extra $33 to $53. If your plate is stolen, get the Lost or Stolen Tag Form (Form 76-903) from your Tax Collector. Have local law enforcement complete it; the Tax Collector then issues a substitute tag and decal for $10.00.

To visit a driver license station, see the Mississippi driver license station visit guide. For a list of offices, see the Mississippi office list.