Federal & State Regulations | Vehicle license or registration - Mississippi

All motor vehicles and trailers used upon the highways of Mississippi are subject to registration except highway construction equipment, federally owned vehicles, and farm trailers of 8,000 pounds or less gross weight. License tags for private carriers of property, private commercial carriers of property, of 10,000 pounds or less, are sold and issued by the tax collectors of the several counties. Motor vehicle dealer tags are sold and issued through the State Tax Commission. All other general supervision and enforcement of motor vehicle privilege taxes are in the hands of the Mississippi State Tax Commissioner through local tax collectors.

The due date for payment of registration fees and highway privilege tax is during the anniversary month of the motor vehicle registration. An additional 15 days will be allowed after the end of the anniversary month.

Mississippi uses a staggered registration period for vehicles 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and over.

License plate display

One license tag and up to two license decals will be furnished for all vehicles and must be fastened at the rear of the vehicle under or over the rear light.

In the case of tractors or other motor vehicles drawing or pulling trailers, semitrailers, or farm implements, the tag must be fastened on the front or back of such vehicle.

Reciprocity

Mississippi is a party to the Multistate Reciprocity Agreement, as well as other bilateral agreements granting full interstate reciprocity on license and registration fees to carriers from all non-IRP states except Alaska.

International Registration Plan

Mississippi is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees, allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

The International Registration Plan (IRP) provides for proportional registration of vehicles to carriers from the member states and provinces who operate as a fleet. A fleet is defined as one or more vehicles having a gross weight or registered gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds, or having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

Temporary Permit: A temporary permit may be issued for a period of 45-days to carriers with established accounts. The state requires an issuance fee.

Hunter's Permit: A hunter's permit enables an owner-operator to travel in all jurisdictions for the purpose of finding a job. This type of permit is issued to owner-operators who terminate a lease and who must surrender the apportioned license plate and cab card to the lessor. The hunter’s permit is valid for a period of 72 hours from the time of issue.

Agency: Applications for intrastate carriers are made through the local tax collector or State Tax Commission; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es). Interstate applications (IRP) are made to the State Tax Commission only.

Fees

The fee schedule is to be used on all power units for a twelve month period. The fee reduces ¹/₁₂ each month. Schedule 2 is to be used in addition to schedule 1.

Apportioned license plate is base fee plus proration percent of registration fees.

['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']

['Registration', 'Vehicle Registration Permits']

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Vehicle license or registration - Mississippi

License plate display

Reciprocity

International Registration Plan

Fees