If you drive a car, truck, van, or motorcycle in Mississippi, you’re required to register your vehicle and obtain license plates from the Department of Revenue.

When applying for your license plates, you can go with the standard MS plates or choose specialty plates or personalize your plates with a unique registration number.

Sample Mississippi License Plate

Types of License Plates in Mississippi

When you register your vehicle with the Department of Revenue in Mississippi, you can apply for the following types of license plates:

Standard License Plates
Specialty License Plates
Personalized License Plates
Disability License Plates

Some license plates may have fees in addition to the standard registration costs.

After your application has been approved and you have received your plates, you must:

Attach your license plate to the back of your vehicle
Apply a valid registration sticker in the lower right corner

With your registered plates on your vehicle, you’re able to drive legally on the roads in Mississippi until the expiration date on the decals.

Applying for License Plates in Mississippi

When you purchase a new vehicle or bring your out-of-state vehicle into Mississippi, you must register it with the DOR.

You may have to visit the DOR in advance to pick up temporary license plates for your vehicle. Temporary license plates are valid for 7 days, and they allow you to pick up your vehicle from the dealership or private seller and drive legally until your vehicle’s registration is completed.

To apply for license plates in Mississippi, simply visit a DOR office and file the appropriate application forms. If you’re a new resident, you have 30 days to register your out-of-state vehicle. If you recently purchased a new vehicle, you have 7 days.

Personalized License Plates in Mississippi

If you want to personalize your license plate with a custom plate number, you must follow these guidelines provided by the Mississippi DOR:

You can use up to 7 characters
You can use letters, numbers, and 1 space
You cannot use profanity or inappropriate suggestions
Your plate number cannot already be in use

The cost for personalized plates is $31 in addition to standard registration fees. You should always look up available license plates before applying.

Specialty License Plates in Mississippi

The following is a list of available specialty plates provided by the Mississippi DOR:

Charity Plates: Allow you to support a local charity with an annual donation
- Soil conservation, Autism awareness, etc.
Collegiate Plates: Show your support as an alumnus or past student
- University of Mississippi, Louisiana State University, etc.
Sorority & Fraternity Plates: For those who participated in their college social organizations
- Alpha Kappa Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma, etc.
Occupational Plates: Custom emblems based on job type
- Fraternity Order of Police, Firefighters, etc.
Organizational Plates: For members of certain organizations
- Shriners, Knights of Columbus, etc.
NASCAR Plates: These plates feature drivers and teams
- Contact the Mississippi DOR for a complete list
Military Plates: For veterans and war survivors
- Ex-Prisoner of War, Pearl Harbor Survivor, etc.
Classic Car Plates: For vintage and vehicles 25+ years old
- Hot rod, antique, etc.

Each plate has different fees in addition to the standard plate registration fees required. Contact the nearest DOR office for more details and a complete list of all specialty plates available.

Transferring License Plates in Mississippi

In Mississippi, you cannot transfer standard license plates to a new vehicle or a new owner. The plate is registered to both the vehicle and the owner. If one or the other changes, for example, if you sell the vehicle, you must surrender the plates to the county tax collector. The exception is disability plates, specialty plates, and personalized plates which can be transferred to a new vehicle purchased by the same owner.

Surrender License Plates in Mississippi

You must surrender your license plates if:

You sell your car and no longer need them
You move to a new state
You cancel your vehicle’s insurance

When you no longer need your license plates, you can surrender them to the nearest office by mail or in person.

It is not possible to receive a refund for the unused portion of your registration. But you can apply the unused portion of a registration to a new Mississippi registration. Please visit the DOR office to apply.

Replacement License Plates in Mississippi

If your plates have been lost, damaged, or stolen, you should replace them immediately. If your plates were stolen, you must report this to the police and obtain the appropriate forms from your county’s tax collection office.

The costs for replacing license plates in Mississippi are:

New Plates & Decal: $10
Decal only: $2.50

It may take time to issue new license plates if you had personalized or custom plates and wish to replace these.

Renewing License Plates in Mississippi

Renewing your vehicle's registration can be done in person, online, or by mail.

Simply submit the required documents and pay the renewal fee to receive your new decals. You can place the new decals directly on top of the old ones.

Overview of Fees for License Plates in Mississippi

The following are just some of the fees you’ll be required to pay when registering your vehicle in Mississippi:

Standard Plate Registration Fee: $14
Standard Plate Renewal Fee: $12.75
Replacement
- Plate + Decal: $10
- Decal only: $2.50
Personalized Plate: $31
Specialty Plates (examples):
- Ex-POW: $0
- Disabled American Veteran: $1
- Antique Car Vanity: $28
- Bronze Star Disabled: $30
- Autism Awareness: $33
- Afghanistan Veteran: $33
- Alcorn State University: $53
- Fire Fighter: $53

For more specialty plate fees, contact the DOR

When you register your vehicle, you may also be expected to pay taxes and other state fees. You can find more information by contacting your local DOR office.

Looking Up License Plates in Mississippi

You can look up Mississippi license plates using FindByPlate. You can find available plate numbers for personalizing your license plate.

FindByPlate also lets you see additional background information about a vehicle that is registered to a particular plate number.

Look up a license plate in Mississippi here.

Car Ownership in Mississippi

Mississippi ranks 26 in the list of states with the highest rates of car ownership.
93.70% of households in Mississippi have at least one vehicle. Idaho and Wyoming are tied for the top rank with 96.20% of households having at least one vehicle in these two states. The District of Columbia has the lowest vehicle ownership rate at 64.30%.
Mississippi ranks 50 (tied with North Dakota) for electric vehicle ownership. Only 0.05% of all registered vehicles in Mississippi are electric vehicles. California has the most electric vehicles (1.61%), followed by Hawaii (1.32%).
Mississippi ranks 28 in the list of most expensive states to own a car in the US. Ohio is the least expensive state to own a car and California and Nevada are the most expensive.
The average cost of annual full coverage car insurance in Mississippi is $1,704.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in Mississippi is $394.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mississippi have two license plates?

Mississippi does not have two license plates. Only rear license plates are required in the State of Mississippi.

How much does a tag cost in Mississippi?

The cost of tags in Mississippi depends on the type of vehicle, the value of the vehicle, and the county where you live. In addition to the standard registration fee of $14 for first time registrations, there is a privilege tax, ad valorem tax, and sales tax.

How much is the sales tax on vehicles in Mississippi?

Sales tax on vehicles in Mississippi is 5% of the purchase price of the vehicle (before dealer discounts, rebates, or trade-ins). This sales tax is applicable to passenger cars, trucks, vans, buses, and other private vehicles that weigh 10,000 pounds or less. Heavier vehicles above 10,000 pounds are taxed at 3%.

If you purchase your vehicle out-of-state and pay sales tax there and register your vehicle for the first time in Mississippi, you won’t get credit for the sales tax paid in the other state.

What happens if you don’t renew Mississippi tags before they expire?

If you don’t renew your Mississippi tags before they expire, there will be a late fee for the renewal. This fee begins on the 16th day of the month following the expiration. It is 5% for the next 15 days. An additional 5% is charged for every additional 30 days that the tags are overdue. The maximum penalty on the renewal fee is 25%. You won’t be allowed legislative tag credit if you hit 25%.

How many disabled plates can you have in Mississippi?

Eligible persons can get 2 disabled license plates and 2 disabled placards in Mississippi.

What to do if my license plates in Mississippi were stolen?

You will need to obtain Form 76-903 from your County Tax Collector’s office and have your local law enforcement agency complete it. You will be issued a substitute (replacement) tag and decal for $10 ($2.50 for decal only).

Does Mississippi have emissions testing?

No, Mississippi does not have emissions testing.

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