Insurance requirements for registering a car in Mississippi
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Mississippi laws state that you do not need vehicle insurance to register a vehicle, but you must have insurance to legally drive a vehicle.
The minimum financial liability requirements for Mississippi drivers are as follows:
Minimum $25,000 per person for personal injury or death. This means you need to have at least $50,000 with you to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in an accident (two drivers).
$25,000 minimum for property damage liability
This means that the total minimum financial liability you will require is $75,000 for bodily injury and property damage.
Other types of financial responsibility
While most drivers in Mississippi pay for insurance plans to cover driving liability claims, there are two other methods of securing financial liability that are acceptable in the state:
You can place a bond worth at least $75,000 or
You can make a cash or security deposit with the Mississippi Department of Revenue for at least $75,000.
High risk driver insurance
Mississippi insurance companies may refuse to insure drivers who are considered high-risk. To ensure that all drivers have the necessary liability coverage, the State of Mississippi maintains the Mississippi Motor Insurance Program, or MSAIP. To qualify for the MSAIP program, you must have:
A valid Mississippi driver's license and
Vehicle currently registered in Mississippi.
Any authorized insurance provider in Mississippi can sell insurance to high-risk drivers through the MSAIP program.
proof of insurance
At the scene of an accident or at a bus stop, a law enforcement officer may ask for an insurance policy. Failure to provide this document may result in penalties. Acceptable proof of insurance coverage includes:
Insurance ID-card from an authorized insurance company
Insurance certificate from an authorized insurance company
Proof of collateral placement in the minimum required amount of liability
A certificate of deposit made to the Treasurer of State for an amount of cash or bond equal to the amount of the obligation required.
Penalties for Violation
The state of Mississippi has severe penalties for those who violate insurance laws. If you drive without the required minimum amount of liability insurance, you may face the following fines:
$1,000 fine
Loss of driving license for one year
If you do not present your insurance certificate at the request of a law enforcement officer at a stop or at the scene of an accident, you may be prosecuted and fined.
Restoration of driver's license
If your license has been suspended due to an insurance violation, you can restore it in one of the following ways:
Present your insurance certificate at or after the court hearing after you have been cited.
Submit the SR-22 Proof of Financial Responsibility, which ensures that you have the minimum required insurance.
For more information, contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue through their website.
