The epitome of southern charm, Mississippi has rightfully earned the nickname “The Hospitality State”. With a colorful history of cotton plantations and riverboats, Mississippi now produces the majority of catfish consumed in the U.S. The state varies between swamplands, river deltas, coastal plains and rolling hills, and its winters are short and mild. The warm, humid summers keep much of the state covered with lush foliage. Mississippi’s byways can give drivers a fascinating view of America’s true South, and CheapCarInsurance.net has provided this list of all the necessary information to keep Mississippi’s drivers rolling.
Average Costs for Car Insurance in Mississippi
The average costs you can expect to pay for a car insurance policy in Mississippi is around $522 per year for minimum coverage and $1,862 for full coverage. To dive further into average costs data we’ve provided a table below based on your current city and vehicle you plan to insure below:
Auto Insurance Costs by County:
Sedan:
SUV:
Coupe:
Truck:
Hybrid:
Adams
$1,218
$1,008
$1,272
$1,050
$1,206
Alcorn
$913
$762
$955
$794
$904
Amite
$1,026
$835
$1,070
$869
$1,016
Attala
$1,049
$858
$1,072
$892
$1,039
Benton
$969
$802
$1,012
$835
$959
Bolivar
$974
$815
$1,018
$848
$964
Calhoun
$927
$760
$970
$793
$917
Carroll
$983
$804
$1,026
$837
$973
Chickasaw
$893
$731
$934
$763
$884
Choctaw
$980
$799
$1,020
$831
$971
Claiborne
$1,233
$1,014
$1,287
$1,056
$1,221
Clarke
$1,035
$846
$1,047
$883
$1,025
Clay
$889
$727
$930
$759
$880
Coahoma
$1,190
$987
$1,239
$1,024
$1,180
Copiah
$1,074
$886
$1,121
$922
$1,064
Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in Mississippi
To operate a vehicle in Mississippi, a driver must carry liability insurance.
Liability Coverage minimums:
$25,000 per individual to cover bodily injury or death.
$50,000 per accident involving bodily injuries or deaths.
$25,000 for property damage.
According to the Mississippi Insurance Department, failure to maintain proper insurance and provide proof of insurance results in a $1,000 fine and a license suspension.
New Driver Licensing Requirements:
All drivers in Mississippi must have a valid drivers license to operate a vehicle in the state, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Drivers new to Mississippi who are holding an out-of-state license must pass the vision test but not the knowledge or driving tests.
If a new driver is under the age of 18, he/she must first apply for a Learner’s Permit and hold that permit for 1 year. A student enrolled in a driver education course may obtain a Learner’s Permit at 14 years of age. This permit only allows the driver to:
drive while enrolled in the driver education course
drive a driver education vehicle while accompanied by a driving instructor
Drivers who hold their permit for 6 months and are 16 years, 6 months of age may apply for the Regular Drivers License by:
passing the written test and the road skills test
paying the appropriate fees
Vision Exam. Applicants must pass the vision test to receive a permit and/or a license. The minimum required for an unrestricted license is a visual acuity of at least 20/40 and a field of vision of at least 140 degrees. Visual acuity between 20/50 and 20/70 may receive a daylight driving restriction. The test may be taken with corrective lenses; however, the lenses must be worn at all times while driving
Knowledge Test. Based on the Mississippi Driver’s Manual, the knowledge test evaluates the applicant’s understanding of basic traffic-related concepts. The test is computer-based and consists of multiple choice questions.
Road Skills Test. The road test is designed for the administrator to evaluate each applicant’s driving skills and knowledge. The applicant must provide a properly equipped, licensed, insured and registered vehicle for the exam. The vehicle will undergo a pre-test inspection of the vehicle’s lights, horn and brakes. Once the vehicle passes inspection, the test administrator will test the applicant’s ability in the following areas:
Making right and left turns
Stopping
Backing
Grade parking
Parallel parking
Posture
Use of signals
Vehicle control
Approach and obey warning signs, traffic lights and stop signs
Lane management
Fees. The following fees apply to a new Mississippi drivers license:
Regular License, $21
Regular License (Under 18), $6
Learner’s Permit, $4
DUI & DWI Laws in MS
BAC limit: .08 Mississippi’s Department of Public Safety provides the following minimum penalties for DUI convictions in the state:
First Offense – misdemeanor:
Fine: $250 – $1,000
Jail: maximum 48 hours
License suspension: 90 days to 1 year
Driver education: 10 hours
SR22 Insurance required
Second Offense – misdemeanor:
Fine: $600 – $1,500
Jail: 5 days to 1 year
License suspension: 2 years
Ignition Interlock Device (IID): minimum 6 months
Community service: 10 days to 1 year
Possible vehicle forfeiture
Alcohol or substance abuse treatment/program
SR22 Insurance required
Third or Subsequent Offense(s) – felony:
Fine: $2,000 – $5,000
Jail: 1 – 5 years
License suspension: 1 – 5 years
IID for minimum 6 months
Possible vehicle forfeiture
SR22 Insurance required
Aggravated factors and higher BAC levels can increase DUI conviction penalties.
Driver State Resources
State Department of Insurance
Mississippi Insurance Department 1001 Woolfolk State Office Building 501 N. West St. Jackson, MS 39201 (601) 359-3569 800-562-2957 Get Directions
Department of Transportation
Mississippi Department of Transportation 401 N. West St. Jackson, Mississippi 39201 (601) 359-7001 Get Directions
Department of Motor Vehicles
Mississippi Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau 500 Clinton Center Drive Clinton, MS 39056 (601) 923-7000 www.dor.ms.gov Get Directions