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Mississippi Minimum Car Insurance and the Penalty for Driving Without It
The short answer
Mississippi requires liability insurance of at least 25/50/25: $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor. The state's two agencies list different fines: the Mississippi Insurance Department lists $1,000 and the Department of Public Safety lists $100. Both say driving privileges are suspended for one year or until you show proof of insurance, and you must also pay all fines and reinstatement fees. Mississippi also has the highest uninsured driver rate in the nation, 28.2% in 2023, which means more than 1 in 4 drivers around you has no coverage.
Required minimums
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury, per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury, per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage, per accident | $25,000 |
What happens if you are caught without insurance
| Consequence | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fine | Misdemeanor; the Insurance Department lists $1,000 and the Department of Public Safety lists $100. Your citation shows your amount. |
| License suspension | 1 year, or until proof of insurance plus fines and fees are provided |
| Reinstatement fee | $100 (certified check or money order to DPS) |
| After an accident with no proof | 60 days to send proof of coverage to the Driver Service Bureau to avoid suspension |
| Follow-on cost | High risk classification; a DUI or implied-consent reinstatement requires SR-22 style proof for at least 3 years |
How to get legal again
- Buy a 25/50/25 policy from an insurer licensed in Mississippi.
- Pay the fine on your citation and the $100 DPS reinstatement fee.
- If your case involved DUI or implied consent, ask the insurer for an SR-22 filing and keep it 3 years.
FAQ
Is there a grace period?
If you actually had insurance at the time of an accident but could not show proof, you have 60 days to send proof to the Driver Service Bureau.
How much is the fine?
The two state agencies publish different amounts ($1,000 from the Insurance Department, $100 from the Department of Public Safety), and court assessments are added on top. The amount on your citation is the one that applies to you.
What percentage of Mississippi drivers are uninsured?
28.2% in 2023, the highest in the US, per the Insurance Research Council.