Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car in Mississippi in 2025

Mississippi law mandates motor vehicle liability insurance for all vehicles operated on public roadways. Under the Mississippi Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Law, codified in Mississippi Code Title 63, Chapter 15, financial responsibility must be established before a vehicle may be registered or operated in the state. The requirement applies to both initial registration and annual registration renewal.

Legal Requirement for Insurance Coverage

Section 63-15-4 of the Mississippi Code establishes that no person shall operate or permit the operation of an uninsured motor vehicle upon the highways of Mississippi. Motor vehicle liability insurance represents the most common method of establishing financial responsibility. The requirement applies to all motor vehicles operated on public roadways, with limited exceptions for specific vehicle categories.

The Mississippi Department of Revenue administers vehicle registration throughout the state. The department maintains offices in all 82 counties through local tax collector offices and processes registration applications, renewals, and transfers. Insurance verification occurs as part of the registration process to ensure compliance with financial responsibility requirements.

Drivers of vehicles are required to maintain continuous insurance coverage for the entire period of registration. Driving without established financial responsibility is a misdemeanor under Mississippi law and can result in a one-year license suspension and fines of up to $100.

Mississippi Department of Revenue
500 Clinton Center Drive, Clinton, MS 39056
Phone: (601) 923-7700
Official Website: Mississippi Department of Revenue

Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements

The Mississippi Insurance Department establishes minimum coverage amounts for motor vehicle liability insurance. The Department regulates insurance companies and provides guidance on coverage requirements. Mississippi requires drivers to maintain liability insurance coverage that meets or exceeds statutory minimum amounts.

The minimum coverage requirements apply to liability insurance only. Mississippi law does not mandate collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, or medical payments coverage, though lenders typically require comprehensive and collision coverage for financed vehicles. Uninsured motorist coverage is required under Mississippi law at the same minimum limits as liability coverage, unless the insured rejects such coverage in writing.

Mississippi Insurance Department
1001 Woolfolk State Office Building, 501 North West Street, Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: (601) 359-3569
Official Website: Mississippi Insurance Department

Proof of Insurance Documents

Mississippi law requires motor vehicle operators to carry proof of motor vehicle liability insurance at all times while operating a motor vehicle. The following formats are accepted:

• Insurance identification card issued by the insurance company showing policy information and coverage details
• Electronic or digital proof of insurance displayed on a wireless telecommunications device or portable electronic device
• Copy of the insurance policy
• Binder or other document issued by an insurance company as temporary proof of insurance pending issuance of the policy

Mississippi law specifically authorizes the presentation of electronic proof of insurance. A law enforcement officer, court, or other authorized entity must accept electronic proof of insurance displayed on a wireless device in the same manner as a physical insurance card.

Exceptions to Insurance Requirements

Limited exceptions to the financial responsibility requirement exist under Mississippi law:

• Vehicles owned by the United States government, the State of Mississippi, or political subdivisions thereof
• Vehicles operated on private property not open to public use
• All-terrain vehicles and off-road vehicles operated exclusively on private property or designated off-road trails
• Farm tractors and implements of husbandry operated primarily for agricultural purposes

Persons who self-insure by depositing securities with the Mississippi Department of Revenue or obtaining a certificate of self-insurance may establish financial responsibility without purchasing liability insurance, though this option is limited to fleet owners and entities meeting specific financial requirements.

Insurance Requirements for Vehicle Registration

The Department of Revenue verifies insurance coverage before processing vehicle registration applications and renewals. County tax collectors access the Mississippi Insurance Verification System to confirm active insurance coverage at the time of registration. Applicants must provide insurance policy information, including the insurance company name, policy number, and effective dates.

New Mississippi residents registering vehicles from other states must establish Mississippi insurance coverage before registration. Out-of-state insurance policies do not satisfy Mississippi registration requirements except during the initial 30-day period after establishing residency. New residents must obtain Mississippi insurance and complete vehicle registration within 30 days of establishing residency.

Registration renewals require verification of active insurance coverage. County tax collectors confirm insurance status through the electronic verification system before processing renewal transactions. Vehicle owners whose insurance information is not current in the verification system must contact their insurance company to ensure proper reporting or provide proof of current coverage to the tax collector.