Mississippi Car Insurance Laws And Requirements 2025
Mississippi state minimum car insurance has liability limits of $25,000 for property damage liability per accident, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident and $25,000 per person.
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In Mississippi, car insurance is mandatory, yet 29% of drivers are still uninsured. Every driver is required to have a minimum level of coverage, and you must carry proof of this insurance with you at all times. The cost of minimum car insurance in Mississippi is about $40 per month, while the average yearly cost for liability coverage is $540.
With 9 years of experience in auto insurance, I’m here to help you understand your state’s minimum requirements / laws and find the best coverage that fits your needs.
Key Takeaways
Mississippi is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who causes the accident is financially responsible for the damage.
The state does not require drivers to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage as part of the minimum insurance requirements.
Mississippi also has the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in the U.S.
Is Car Insurance Required In Mississippi?
Car insurance is required in Mississippi. All drivers must have at least the minimum level of liability insurance to legally drive on the road. This coverage helps pay for damages if you’re at fault in an accident. You also need to carry proof of insurance with you while driving.
What Is The Minimum Car Insurance Requirement In Mississippi?
In Mississippi, the minimum car insurance requirement includes liability coverage of 25/50/25. This means you must have at least $25,000 in coverage for injuries to one person, $50,000 for injuries to multiple people in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
These limits are designed to cover the costs of medical expenses and property repairs if you’re at fault in an accident. While this is the minimum required by law, it’s often recommended to consider higher coverage for added protection.
Is Minimum Coverage Enough?
Minimum coverage may not be enough to fully protect you in the event of a serious accident. While it meets the legal requirements, the limits may be too low to cover all the costs, especially if the damages exceed the minimum coverage amounts.
For example, medical bills or vehicle repairs can quickly add up, and if you’re at fault, you could be responsible for paying the difference out of pocket. To better protect yourself, many people choose higher coverage limits or additional options like uninsured motorist coverage, which can offer extra peace of mind.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance In Mississippi
Age plays a big role in determining car insurance rates, and it can have a major impact on the cost of your policy. In Mississippi, drivers between the ages of 22 and 29 tend to pay the highest premiums because they are considered higher risk. This is often due to having less driving experience and more risky driving behavior.
The cheapest rates are for those about fifty years of age for male drivers while female drivers see the lower rates in their forties.
| Age | Male | Female | ||
| Full | Minimum | Full | Minimum | |
| 18 | $6,786 | $1,875 | $6,091 | $1,646 |
| 25 | $3,068 | $706 | $2,787 | $665 |
| 40 | $2,289 | $537 | $2,245 | $526 |
| 50 | $2,104 | $494 | $1,985 | $498 |
| 70 | $2,168 | $568 | $2,101 | $536 |
Mississippi Car Insurance Laws
Mississippi is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for the accident is required to pay for the other party’s property damage and medical expenses. The state also follows pure comparative negligence laws.
This means if both you and the other driver share responsibility for the accident, you can divide the costs based on each person’s level of fault.
Under pure comparative negligence, you can still sue the other driver for damages, even if you’re mostly at fault. For example, if you’re 90% responsible for the accident, you can still recover 10% of the damages from the other driver.
Cancellation And Non-Renewal Notification Laws
Auto insurance companies in Mississippi cannot cancel a policy that has been active for more than 60 days, except in certain situations. These include failure to pay the premium, committing fraud or providing false information on your application, or having your driver’s license suspended or revoked.
If an insurance company needs to cancel your policy before the term ends, they must give you at least 30 days’ notice. However, if the cancellation is due to non-payment, they only need to give you 10 days’ notice.
DON’T FORGET: If you are caught without insurance in Mississippi, you may get a fine of $1000 along with other penalties.
Proof Of Insurance
In Mississippi, you are required to carry proof of insurance while driving. If you’re caught without it, you could face different penalties.
To make carrying proof more convenient, check if your insurance provider offers a digital version of your insurance card. Many companies have apps that let you add the card to your smartphone wallet or download a PDF. Of course, keeping the traditional paper insurance card in your glove compartment is always a reliable option.
Registration Information
To register your vehicle, you’ll need to gather a few documents and payments:
- A state-issued photo ID
- The vehicle title or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) if the car was purchased out of state
- An odometer reading if the vehicle was bought out of state
- The vehicle identification number (VIN), which helps determine taxes
- Registration fees:
- Passenger vehicles: $15
- Motorcycles: $8
- Trailers: $10
- Pickup trucks: $7.20
- Payment for the motor vehicle ad valorem tax, based on the vehicle’s assessed value. This is calculated as 30% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), minus depreciation for vehicles older than 10 years. The minimum assessed value for passenger vehicles is $100.
Uninsured Drivers In Mississippi
According to the Mississippi Department of Insurance, the uninsured rate in Mississippi is about 29%. This high rate is mainly due to the state’s relatively high insurance premiums, which are influenced by factors like the number of car accidents and the state’s at-fault insurance laws.
Drivers who are at fault in an accident are responsible for paying for damages, which can drive up insurance costs for everyone.
Is Car Insurance Required In Mississippi If You Don’t Own A Vehicle?
Car insurance is required in Mississippi even if you don’t own a vehicle, but only if you plan to drive someone else’s car. In this case, you’ll need to have your own insurance coverage, or the vehicle owner’s insurance must cover you as a driver.
If you regularly drive other people’s cars, it’s a good idea to get a non-owner car insurance policy, which provides liability coverage in case of an accident. This policy can protect you if you’re responsible for damages while driving a vehicle you don’t own.
Legal Penalties for Driving Without Insurance
Mississippi enforces strict car insurance laws. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could face serious penalties, including:
- A fine of up to $1,000
- Suspension of your driver’s license for one year, or until you provide proof of insurance
- An SR-22 insurance requirement for three years if your license is suspended
- A $100 reinstatement fee and renewal fees to get your license back
It’s important to stay insured to avoid these costly consequences.
Other Types Of Optional Coverage
Mississippi law only requires liability insurance to legally drive, but there are other options to enhance your coverage and better protect yourself. Here are some common types of coverage:
- Comprehensive: This protects your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, or weather-related damage.
- Collision: This covers damages to your car if you’re in a crash with another vehicle or a stationary object. Note that hitting an animal is covered under comprehensive, not collision.
- Loan/Lease Payoff (Gap Coverage): If your car is totaled, this covers the gap between your vehicle’s actual cash value and what you still owe on your loan or lease.
- Medical Payments: This helps pay medical expenses for you and your passengers, no matter who was at fault in the accident.
- Rental Car Reimbursement: If your car is damaged and you need a rental, this coverage helps pay for the cost of the rental vehicle.
- Roadside Assistance: This is useful if your car breaks down. It typically covers services like towing, flat tire repair, and sometimes even overnight accommodations.
Tip: Distracted driving, in particular, is a growing concern, and accidents involving phone use or other distractions are common on Mississippi roads. These violations stay on your record and can lead to higher insurance costs.
FAQs
Can you go to jail for driving uninsured in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, you can face serious penalties for driving without insurance, but jail time is not typically one of them. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could be fined up to $1,000 and have your license suspended for up to a year.
However, if you show proof of insurance before your hearing, the fine may be reduced, and your license may be reinstated.
Why is it illegal to drive without insurance?
Driving without insurance is illegal because it protects everyone on the road. If you cause an accident, insurance helps cover the costs of damages, medical bills, and other expenses.
Without insurance, the person who caused the accident might not be able to pay for the damages, leaving the victim responsible. Insurance ensures that people who are injured or have their property damaged can get compensation, regardless of who is at fault.
What is the minimum car insurance in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, the minimum car insurance required by law is liability insurance with coverage of 25/50/25. This means you must have at least: $25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 for injury or death to multiple people in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
