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Mississippi Minimum Car Insurance Requirements, Penalties and Other Auto Insurance Laws
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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Mississippi?
Mississippi car insurance laws specify certain minimum coverages that you must have to drive legally in the state. How much car insurance do you need in Mississippi to meet the state’s car insurance requirements?
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 for property damage
Legally, 25/50/25 is the basic minimum you need to drive in Mississippi. However, liability coverage does not cover your injuries or damage to your car, so Mississippi drivers can choose to get additional coverage to protect themselves in case of an accident.
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What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?
Mississippi only requires drivers to have mandatory liability insurance. Liability insurance covers you for any injuries or damage you may cause to the other party in the event of an accident. This means that your liability insurance should cover a minimum of $25,000 per person for any third-party bodily injury, with a limit per accident of $50,000. Your liability insurance should also have a minimum of $25,000 to cover property damage.
While Mississippi regulations only require liability insurance, drivers can also choose to get coverage for their own medical expenses and property damage, regardless of who is at fault. In Mississippi, drivers can get optional add-ons like medical payments coverage, which will cover you for medical expenses incurred due to an accident. You can also get uninsured motorist coverage in Mississippi to protect yourself if you get into an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in Mississippi?
Several factors will determine your car insurance premiums in Mississippi. These include your age, driving record, credit score and other factors. Different insurers also charge different rates, so the insurer you choose will impact your car insurance premiums.
The cheapest car insurance provider in Mississippi is USAA at an average of $296 yearly, but this provider is only available to current and former military members and their families. For those not eligible for a USAA policy, the most affordable car insurance in Mississippi is GEICO, which costs $382 yearly on average.
These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average Mississippi driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.
MoneyGeek obtained car insurance costs based on the minimum 25/50/25 coverage limits set by the state of Mississippi. For this analysis, the base profile used is for a 40-year-old male Mississippi resident with a clean driving record and good credit score who drives a 2010 Toyota Camry.
MoneyGeek also ranked the best car insurance companies in Mississippi for those who want strong service and affordable rates.
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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Mississippi While Leasing a Car?
Leasing companies in Mississippi may have their own minimum car insurance requirements that differ from those of the state. This means that you may have to check with your leasing company to find out their requirements for minimum coverages before leasing. In most cases, leasing companies require drivers to have a full coverage car insurance policy with 100/300/50 minimum limits.
Mississippi car insurance laws only mandate liability insurance to drive legally in the state. However, this type of coverage leaves the driver without protection since it only covers injuries and property damage to third parties. In 2019, Mississippi had the highest percentage of uninsured motorists in the nation at 29.4%. This means that the risk of getting into a collision with an uninsured driver in the state is higher than in every other state, and drivers need to have collision and comprehensive insurance to protect themselves fully. MoneyGeek recommends at least 50/100/50 full coverage insurance in Mississippi.
Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Mississippi
Driving without valid car insurance that meets the state’s minimum liability requirements in Mississippi is illegal and attracts penalties and fines. Driving without proof of insurance in Mississippi could lead to a misdemeanor conviction, imposition of a $500 fine and suspension of driving privileges.
- Fines: Driving without car insurance in Mississippi will attract a fine of $500. This fine can be reduced to $100 if you produce proof of insurance or an SR-22 certificate before the date of the hearing.
- License suspension: If you are unable to produce proof of valid car insurance, your driver’s license may be suspended for a period of up to one year or until you are able to provide proof of insurance.
- SR-22 requirement: If you have had your license suspended for driving without insurance, you will be required to produce an SR-22 certificate as proof that you have car insurance before your driving license is reinstated. You will be required to hold SR-22 car insurance for three years.
- Reinstatement fees: Drivers who want to get their licenses reinstated will have to pay a $25 reinstatement fee and the applicable license renewal fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Mississippi
The state regulations in Mississippi do not require drivers to have coverages like personal injury protection and uninsured motorist. To help you familiarize yourself with Mississippi’s car insurance laws, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Yes, car insurance is required to drive a car in Mississippi legally. Mississippi car insurance laws require all drivers to have liability insurance of 25/50/25. This means your insurance must have a minimum of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
No, you do not need car insurance to register a vehicle in Mississippi. Mississippi state regulations do not require you to provide proof of car insurance when registering a car. However, you cannot legally drive a car in Mississippi without proof of car insurance.
Basic car insurance in Mississippi is a 25/50/25 liability insurance policy. This means that the policy meets the minimum requirements set by Mississippi insurance laws.
Car insurance in Mississippi follows the car, not the driver. This means that your liability insurance will compensate the other driver for their injuries and property damage in an at-fault accident regardless of who is driving your car.
Yes. You can get car insurance in Mississippi if you do not have a driver’s license, but you may need to provide details of someone with a valid license and list them as the primary driver. For people who want to register a car but do not have a license or those too old to drive but still have a car, it is possible to apply for car insurance without a driving license.
No, Mississippi is not a no-fault state. In a no-fault state, your insurer covers the injuries and damages incurred after an accident regardless of whether you are at fault. However, in at-fault states like Mississippi, the liability falls on the driver responsible for the crash and their insurance company.
PIP coverage is not a legal requirement in Mississippi. PIP refers to personal injury protection, and it covers any medical expenses that a driver incurs after an accident. PIP also reimburses the driver for any lost wages due to the accident. In Mississippi, the state only requires drivers to carry mandatory liability insurance, and other coverages are optional.
No, Mississippi does not require uninsured motorist insurance. However, since Mississippi has the highest percentage of uninsured motorists in America, drivers in the state are strongly advised to get UM coverage.
Mississippi is a diminished value state which means that if you are not at fault for an accident, you are eligible to file a claim for compensation for the diminished value of your car. The statute of limitation on diminished value compensation in Mississippi is three years.
Car insurance requirements change after a DUI in Mississippi to require SR-22 insurance as proof that the driver has the required car insurance to meet the state’s laws. Your car insurance premiums will also significantly increase after a DUI conviction in Mississippi.
A CARCO inspection is a pre-insurance inspection that documents the physical state of the vehicle. The state of Mississippi does not require drivers to get a CARCO inspection before getting car insurance.
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sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "2020 Insurance Factbook." Accessed July 14, 2021.
- Insurance Information Institute. "Background on Compulsory Auto Uninsured Motorists." Accessed July 14, 2021.
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists." Accessed July 11, 2021.
- Kelley Blue Book. "Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance by State." Accessed July 13, 2021.
- Mississippi Insurance Department. "Auto Insurance." Accessed July 13, 2021.