Last Update: September 16, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Mississippi

Vehicle registration records in Mississippi must be updated after a change of address, a legal name change, an error on an existing document, a vehicle purchase, or a move into the state. The Mississippi Department of Revenue oversees motor vehicle titling, registration, license plates, and related tax collection, while day-to-day issuance is carried out by county tax collector offices. Because a Mississippi tag is registered to both the vehicle and its owner, most record changes begin at the county level, with title matters flowing through state systems.

Mississippi Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

Records fall out of date in recurring situations. The following events typically call for action at a county tax collector's office or with the Department of Revenue:

• A change of address, which is handled by the county tax collector's office serving the registrant.
• A legal name change, processed at the county tax collector's office with the certificate of title, and, for marriage or court-ordered changes, a copy of the marriage license or court order.
• The purchase of a vehicle, which must be registered within 30 business days of the purchase date.
• A move into Mississippi, which allows 30 days to register a vehicle arriving with a current registration from another state.
• Incorrect information appearing on the certificate of title or on registration materials.
• The sale or disposal of a vehicle, which requires removing the license plate and surrendering it to the county tax collector's office. Mississippi plates cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner; unused portions of a surrendered registration may instead be credited toward a new Mississippi registration, with the credit issued from the first day of the month following surrender.

Where to File a Mississippi Vehicle Registration Change

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 10,000 pounds or less are registered at the local county Tax Collector office in the county where the vehicle is domiciled or parked overnight. Vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds used only for in-state travel register at the same county office, while vehicles engaged in interstate travel register at the Department of Revenue offices in Biloxi, Clinton, Hattiesburg, Hernando, or Meridian. Registration fees are $12.75 for renewals and $14.00 for first-time registrations, with privilege tax, ad valorem taxes, and applicable sales or use tax also collected. Some counties offer online tag renewal.

Title issuance is a state-level function: the Department of Revenue processes title applications, and filings are submitted through the county office serving the registrant. Registration and title procedures are governed by the Motor Vehicle Registration and Title Regulations, Title 35, Part VII of the Mississippi Administrative Code.

Mississippi Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

An address update on a vehicle record is completed through the local county tax collector's office, which maintains the registration file and issues the annual courtesy renewal notice. Registrants who change residence should notify the county office serving the new location, because the renewal notice is only a courtesy, and delivery depends on the address of record.

Mississippi Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change is treated as a title transaction because the name on the registration flows from the title record. The registrant must visit the county tax collector's office with the certificate of title; for changes arising from marriage or a court order, a copy of the marriage license or court order is also submitted. Assignment irregularities are a separate concern: buyers and sellers may not accept or deliver a certificate of title that is incomplete or improperly assigned, and leaving the purchaser's name blank for later completion violates state law.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Mississippi Registration Record

Mississippi separates the correction of the title record from the replacement of registration credentials.

When the certificate of title is incorrect, the holder submits it to the county tax collector's office and requests a corrected title. The Department of Revenue investigates the error: no fee is charged when the county or the state made the mistake, whereas an error in the submitted paperwork carries a $10 corrected-title fee.

When the original title has been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the owner applies for a replacement certificate of title using Form 78-006 for a $9.00 fee and mails it to Motor Vehicle Services at P.O. Box 1383, Jackson, MS 39215-1383. A fast-track replacement is available through Form 78-026 with a $39.00 fee, either by mail or in person at the department's Clinton office.

Registration credentials follow a separate path: a lost or stolen tag and decal are replaced through Form 76-903, obtained from the county tax collector's office, with a $10.00 fee for a tag and decal or $2.50 for the decal alone.

Mississippi Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

Several official deadlines apply to registration activity in Mississippi:

• A vehicle purchased inside or outside the state must be registered within 30 business days of the purchase date.
• A vehicle bought outside the home county may be transported to the residence or place of business within 48 hours, after which the 30-business-day registration window begins.
• New residents have 30 days to register vehicles that arrive with a current registration and valid license plate from another state. Late registration brings standard late penalties plus a $250 penalty.
• Registration renews annually, and the late penalty begins on the 16th day of the month following expiration: 5% is added for the next 15 days, with an additional 5% for every 30 days the tag remains overdue, capped at 25%. Once the maximum is reached, the Legislative Tag Credit is no longer available.
• Mississippi does not verify liability insurance as part of registration, but state law requires every motor vehicle to carry liability insurance meeting state limits, with an insurance card maintained in the vehicle at all times.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Mississippi?

The Mississippi Department of Revenue administers vehicle titles and registration, while many registration transactions are handled through local county Tax Collector offices. The table below shows the statewide fees Mississippi publishes for common registration-detail changes and related title or registration transactions.

Contact Information

Mississippi Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Services
500 Clinton Center Drive, Clinton, MS 39056
Phone: (601) 923-7200
Official Website: Mississippi Department of Revenue