To get a car tag in Mississippi, take the following to your county tax collector’s office: proof you own the vehicle (a title, a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, or an assigned title with bill of sale), a valid Mississippi photo ID, proof you live in that county, proof of liability insurance, a completed Application for Mississippi Title and License (Form 78-002), and enough money to cover the registration fee, title fee, annual ad valorem tax, and, on a first-time registration, 5% sales or use tax on the purchase price.1Cornell Law School. 35 Miss. Code. R. 7-05-10-101 First-time registrations must be done in person; many counties allow later renewals online.
Proof That You Own the Vehicle
What you carry into the office depends on how you got the car.
- Bought new from a dealer: the dealer gives you a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) showing the VIN, make, model, year, and your name.
- Bought used from a dealer: the dealer assigns the existing title to you. Check that every field in the assignment section is filled in before you leave the lot, except your printed name and signature.
- Bought from a private seller: bring the assigned title. If the title doesn’t show a sales price, add a separate bill of sale. For a vehicle less than ten years old, you also need an odometer disclosure on the title or on a separate form.
- Received as a gift from a family member: bring the assigned title and an Affidavit of Relationship confirming the donor is a spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling. That affidavit can change whether sales tax is owed on the transfer.2Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Titles
If you lease, the leasing company holds the title. You’ll usually need a limited power of attorney from them authorizing you to register the vehicle. The Department of Revenue publishes a Power of Attorney form (Form 78-011) for this.3Mississippi Department of Revenue. Power of Attorney
ID and Proof of Residency
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A Mississippi driver’s license or state ID card is easiest because it also helps prove you live in the county doing the registration. Some offices ask for additional address proof anyway: a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement. Call ahead so you don’t get sent home for a piece of paper.
The Application Form
You’ll fill out the Application for Mississippi Title and License (Form 78-002). Some counties post it online to fill in beforehand; others hand it to you at the counter. If more than one person will be on the title, every listed owner has to sign.
Insurance
Mississippi requires liability coverage on every vehicle driven on public roads: $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, commonly written as 25/50/25.4Justia. Mississippi Code 63-15-43 – Motor Vehicle Liability Policy Bring your insurance card or a declarations page showing coverage at or above those limits. Not every tax collector checks it at the counter, but law enforcement can pull your coverage status electronically on any stop.
What You’ll Pay
Expect several charges stacked together. Budget for all of them before you go.
Registration and Title Fees
The state registration fee is $14.00 for a first-time registration and $12.75 for annual renewals.5Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions If a new title has to be issued, add $9.00.2Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Titles A Road and Bridge Privilege Tax is bundled into the total.
Ad Valorem Tax
This is usually the biggest recurring line item. Mississippi taxes vehicles as personal property every year at registration or renewal. Assessed value starts at 30% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price and drops on a depreciation schedule over ten years, with a $100 minimum assessed value for passenger vehicles.6Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Your county and any local taxing districts each apply their own millage, so the same vehicle can cost meaningfully different amounts in neighboring counties.
A Legislative Tag Credit reduces the ad valorem bill. The Department of Revenue resets it each year based on sales tax revenue from vehicle sales; for 2025 it was set at 6.5% of assessed value. You get it automatically if you register on time, and you lose it if delinquency pushes you past the maximum penalty.
Sales or Use Tax on a First-Time Registration
The first time you register a vehicle in Mississippi, you owe 5% sales tax (bought from an in-state dealer) or 5% use tax (bought out of state or from a private seller). The rate drops to 3% on trucks over 10,000 pounds used to haul property. The taxable amount reflects dealer discounts and trade-in value, but manufacturer rebates are not subtracted.5Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions This one is a one-time charge, not annual.
Where You Go and How You Pay
First-time registration happens in person at the county tax collector’s office where you live. Bring your documents, finish any forms at the counter, and pay. Most offices accept cash, checks, money orders, and cards, though credit card payments often carry a convenience fee. You’ll leave with a plate, a decal, and a receipt.
If you buy from a dealer and can’t get to the tax collector immediately, the dealer can issue a temporary tag good for seven full working days after the purchase date, not counting the purchase date itself.7Cornell Law School. 35 Miss. Code. R. 7-04-03-101
Online Renewal Later On
Renewals often don’t require another counter visit. More than 40 counties, including DeSoto, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Lee, Madison, and Rankin, participate in online renewal through the Department of Revenue’s MV e-Services portal or their own county sites.8Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Online Tag Renewal If your county isn’t on the DOR list, ask your tax collector about mail-in options. Counties send courtesy renewal notices, but not receiving one doesn’t excuse a late renewal.9Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Registration and Renewal
Moving to Mississippi From Another State
If you’ve just moved in, you have 30 days from establishing residency to register. Bring your out-of-state title and current out-of-state registration on top of the standard documents. You’ll owe use tax on the vehicle’s value, ad valorem tax, and the first-time registration fee, so this visit costs more than a plain renewal.
Miss the 30-day window and you pay standard late penalties plus a flat $250 penalty, and you lose eligibility for the Legislative Tag Credit.5Mississippi Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions The 30-day rule assumes the vehicle carried a current, valid registration from your prior state; if it was already expired or never registered, different rules apply and the credit won’t be available.
Penalties If You Register Late
Mississippi’s penalty structure climbs quickly. If you don’t renew by the 15th day of the month after your registration expires, a 5% penalty attaches to the privilege tax owed. Every additional 30 days adds another 5%, up to a 25% cap.10Justia. Mississippi Code 27-19-63 – Payment of Tax; Penalties, Etc Once you hit the cap, you also forfeit the Legislative Tag Credit, which pushes the real cost higher.
A separate $250 penalty applies to anyone displaying an out-of-state tag while owing Mississippi registration, or moving plates from one vehicle onto another.10Justia. Mississippi Code 27-19-63 – Payment of Tax; Penalties, Etc The Department of Revenue can waive penalties for good cause, but that’s a fallback, not a plan.
One Thing That Isn’t a Tag Requirement: Window Tint
Mississippi doesn’t make you pass a general safety inspection to get a tag. Aftermarket window tint is the exception people miss. If any window has been tinted after the vehicle left the factory, a certification label on the windshield must show the tint allows at least 28% light transmittance.11Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally Authorized inspection stations test the tint and affix the label for $5.00. Without it, you can be cited on a traffic stop. A medical exemption is available at no charge through county tax collector offices when a physician certifies a qualifying condition.