Mississippi Car Insurance Laws: Minimum Coverage, Penalties and SR-22
Mississippi car insurance law: minimum liability limits, fault or no-fault, uninsured motorist coverage, proof of insurance, penalties for driving uninsured, SR-22, title and registration.
Quick answers for Mississippi
- Minimum coverage required
- Mississippi requires 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance
- At-fault or no-fault
- Mississippi uses a fault-based system: the at-fault driver's liability coverage pays for damage the driver causes to other people and their property, up to the policy limits, and the driver is responsible for damages above those limits. Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance
- Driving without insurance
- According to the Mississippi Insurance Department, the initial penalty for failing to maintain an insurance card is a $1,000 fine and suspension of driving privileges for one year or until the vehicle owner shows proof of insurance. Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance
- SR-22 filing
- After a first-offense DUI conviction, the Driver Service Bureau requires completion of the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program along with proof of insurance for three years before driving privileges are restored. Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau Frequently Asked Questions (Aug. 2025)
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Required coverage
| Minimum coverage required | Mississippi requires 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. Instead of an insurance policy, a driver can meet the requirement by posting a bond for the same amounts or making a cash or security deposit equal to the minimum requirements. |
|---|---|
| At-fault or no-fault | Mississippi uses a fault-based system: the at-fault driver's liability coverage pays for damage the driver causes to other people and their property, up to the policy limits, and the driver is responsible for damages above those limits. Coverage for your own medical bills and vehicle repairs requires purchasing other coverages. |
| Proof of insurance | Since January 1, 2001, all drivers must maintain liability insurance and carry an insurance card in the vehicle at all times. Since July 1, 2013, the card may be shown on paper or electronically, including as an image on a cell phone or other electronic device. A law enforcement officer cannot stop a driver solely to check for an insurance card, but may ask for proof of insurance during a stop for another violation. |
Driving without insurance and SR-22
| Driving without insurance | According to the Mississippi Insurance Department, the initial penalty for failing to maintain an insurance card is a $1,000 fine and suspension of driving privileges for one year or until the vehicle owner shows proof of insurance. The compulsory liability law is enforced by the Department of Public Safety's Safety Responsibility Division (601-987-1255). |
|---|---|
| SR-22 filing | After a first-offense DUI conviction, the Driver Service Bureau requires completion of the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program along with proof of insurance for three years before driving privileges are restored. The page reviewed does not use the term "SR-22" and does not describe proof-of-insurance requirements for other violations. |
Your rights with insurers
| What insurers can use to set rates | The Mississippi Insurance Department lists the factors insurers consider for auto insurance as driving record and claims history, where you live and garage your car, age, gender and marital status, the cost to replace the car, type of car, coverage limits and deductibles, annual mileage, and credit score. |
|---|---|
| Total loss rules | A salvage vehicle is a motor vehicle that an insurance company obtains from the owner by paying a total loss claim from collision, fire, flood, accident, hail, trespass, unrecovered theft or another occurrence. Vehicles 10 years old or older worth $1,500 or less, and vehicles needing repair or replacement of five or fewer minor component parts, are not salvage vehicles. A vehicle with a salvage title cannot be driven on Mississippi roads, cannot get a license tag, and cannot be sold by a licensed dealer until retitled as "Rebuilt." The page reviewed does not state a percentage-of-value threshold for declaring a total loss. |
| Complaints about an insurer | File a complaint against an insurance company with the Mississippi Insurance Department using its online Consumer Complaint Form, or print the Company Complaint Form and mail it to Mississippi Insurance Department, Attn: Consumer Services Division, P.O. Box 79, Jackson, MS 39205, fax it to 601-359-1077, or email consumer@mid.ms.gov. Supporting documents must be sent within two working days of filing online. To request a form by phone: (800) 562-2957 or (601) 359-2453. The department allows 20 working days to contact the company. |
Title and registration
| Transferring a car title | Titles are issued by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. To transfer ownership, the title must be assigned to the new owner, with the seller completing every section of the assignment except the buyer's printed name and signature; never leave the buyer's name blank. If buyer and seller are close relatives, an Affidavit of Relationship should be completed. The seller removes the license plate when the vehicle is handed over. The title application fee is $9 ($39 for Fast Track, issued within 72 hours); standard titles are typically issued within six weeks. A buyer must register the vehicle within 30 business days of the purchase date. Registration deadline: https://www.dor.ms.gov/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-frequently-asked-questions |
|---|---|
| Registering after you move | New residents have 30 days after moving to Mississippi to register their vehicles if they have a current registration or valid plate from their previous state. Missing the 30-day deadline results in standard late penalties plus a $250 penalty, and the Legislative Tag Credit is not available if the out-of-state plate is expired or the vehicle was never registered in the previous state. The out-of-state title (or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) and an odometer disclosure are needed to title the vehicle. The page reviewed does not address the deadline for a new resident's driver's license. |
Car Insurance & Vehicle Laws FAQ
What is the minimum car insurance required in Mississippi?
Mississippi requires 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. Instead of an insurance policy, a driver can meet the requirement by posting a bond for the same amounts or making a cash or security deposit equal to the minimum requirements.
Is Mississippi a no-fault car insurance state?
Mississippi uses a fault-based system: the at-fault driver's liability coverage pays for damage the driver causes to other people and their property, up to the policy limits, and the driver is responsible for damages above those limits. Coverage for your own medical bills and vehicle repairs requires purchasing other coverages.
Can you show proof of car insurance on your phone in Mississippi?
Since January 1, 2001, all drivers must maintain liability insurance and carry an insurance card in the vehicle at all times. Since July 1, 2013, the card may be shown on paper or electronically, including as an image on a cell phone or other electronic device. A law enforcement officer cannot stop a driver solely to check for an insurance card, but may ask for proof of insurance during a stop for another violation.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Mississippi?
According to the Mississippi Insurance Department, the initial penalty for failing to maintain an insurance card is a $1,000 fine and suspension of driving privileges for one year or until the vehicle owner shows proof of insurance. The compulsory liability law is enforced by the Department of Public Safety's Safety Responsibility Division (601-987-1255).
When do you need an SR-22 in Mississippi, and for how long?
After a first-offense DUI conviction, the Driver Service Bureau requires completion of the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program along with proof of insurance for three years before driving privileges are restored.
Can car insurance companies use your credit score in Mississippi?
The Mississippi Insurance Department lists the factors insurers consider for auto insurance as driving record and claims history, where you live and garage your car, age, gender and marital status, the cost to replace the car, type of car, coverage limits and deductibles, annual mileage, and credit score.
When is a car a total loss in Mississippi?
A salvage vehicle is a motor vehicle that an insurance company obtains from the owner by paying a total loss claim from collision, fire, flood, accident, hail, trespass, unrecovered theft or another occurrence. Vehicles 10 years old or older worth $1,500 or less, and vehicles needing repair or replacement of five or fewer minor component parts, are not salvage vehicles. A vehicle with a salvage title cannot be driven on Mississippi roads, cannot get a license tag, and cannot be sold by a licensed dealer until retitled as "Rebuilt."
How do you transfer a car title in Mississippi?
Titles are issued by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. To transfer ownership, the title must be assigned to the new owner, with the seller completing every section of the assignment except the buyer's printed name and signature; never leave the buyer's name blank. If buyer and seller are close relatives, an Affidavit of Relationship should be completed. The seller removes the license plate when the vehicle is handed over. The title application fee is $9 ($39 for Fast Track, issued within 72 hours); standard titles are typically issued within six weeks. A buyer must register the vehicle within 30 business days of the purchase date.
How long do you have to register your car after moving to Mississippi?
New residents have 30 days after moving to Mississippi to register their vehicles if they have a current registration or valid plate from their previous state. Missing the 30-day deadline results in standard late penalties plus a $250 penalty, and the Legislative Tag Credit is not available if the out-of-state plate is expired or the vehicle was never registered in the previous state. The out-of-state title (or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) and an odometer disclosure are needed to title the vehicle.
How do you file a complaint against a car insurance company in Mississippi?
File a complaint against an insurance company with the Mississippi Insurance Department using its online Consumer Complaint Form, or print the Company Complaint Form and mail it to Mississippi Insurance Department, Attn: Consumer Services Division, P.O. Box 79, Jackson, MS 39205, fax it to 601-359-1077, or email consumer@mid.ms.gov. Supporting documents must be sent within two working days of filing online. To request a form by phone: (800) 562-2957 or (601) 359-2453. The department allows 20 working days to contact the company.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.