Liability insurance is required in Mississippi. You’ll face fines, possible license suspension, and potential criminal charges if you drive uninsured.

Written by Jason Tushinski

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

Minimum requirements
Liability insurance
State limits
Is minimum enough?
No insurance penalties
Add-ons
Why follow rules?
Affordable insurance
FAQs

Load full table of contents

In Mississippi, all drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance and must be able to show

proof of insurance

upon request.

Mississippi car insurance

also has mandatory minimums in regards to how much insurance you must carry in order to legally drive in the state.

Protect yourself and other drivers by knowing Mississippi’s car insurance laws before you set off for a leisurely drive along the Gulf Coast, or cruising past where Elvis grew up, or anywhere else in The Magnolia State.

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Mississippi auto insurance requirements

Mississippi’s mandated minimum coverage is typically listed as a split, in this case, 25/50/25. This includes:

$25,000 for

bodily injury

for one person

$50,000 for bodily injury for one accident

$25,000 for

property damage

for one accident

Remember, you may be required to purchase more insurance than the mandated minimum coverage if you are leasing or financing a car. Why? Because the owners of the vehicle want to protect their investment.

Check with the lienholder about additional auto insurance requirements. Most lenders and leasers will require you to also carry comprehensive and collision coverage.

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Types of insurance

Liability insurance in Mississippi

You are bound by law to carry

liability insurance

if you want to drive in Mississippi. If you cause an accident, your liability insurance will cover medical bills, pain and suffering, and any lost income suffered by those injured (drivers or passengers) in an accident.

Your liability insurance will also cover any property damage caused by you in an at-fault accident.

Mississippi’s splits are 25/50/25. Here’s what those mean.

Bodily injury per person

This liability insurance limit indicates an insurer’s maximum payout of $25,000 per person for injuries caused by you in an accident.

Bodily injury per accident

This limit indicates your insurer’s max payout of $50,000 for one accident, applying to all injuries suffered by those hurt in an accident caused by you.

Property damage

This $25,000 limit is the most your insurer will issue for any property damage you cause in an at-fault accident.

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State-mandated insurance limits, in-depth

Mississippi’s state-mandated minimums are the least amount of insurance you must buy in order to drive in the state. However much insurance you buy (whether the minimums or more) will act as the limit your insurer will payout in the case of an at-fault accident.

These minimums should be taken as guidelines—they almost certainly won’t be enough coverage if you are found to be at fault in a serious accident.

Is the minimum insurance requirement in Mississippi enough?

If you cause a serious accident that injures one or more people, the state’s minimums of $25,000 per injury for one person, and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, can disappear quickly if those injured require significant medical care.

The same goes for the property damage limit. $25,000 may seem like a lot of money, but if you total another driver’s car, that might not even cover the car’s replacement costs, especially if it is new. If your limits are reached in any of these scenarios, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket to cover any remaining costs.

This means you should buy more than Mississippi’s minimum insurance laws require. True, you may be forking over more money right now, but driving around with more robust protection will protect other drivers and yourself.

Key Takeaway It is smart to pay a slightly higher premium in Mississippi in order to have excellent liability coverage, as opposed to the bare minimum.

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Penalties for driving without proof of insurance

Thinking about taking a chance and not buying liability insurance? Not a good idea. If a Mississippi officer pull you over and discovers that you’re

driving uninsured

, you’re liable to face a fine of up to $1000 and your license may be suspended up to a year. You might also be convicted of a misdemeanor.

Key Takeaway You could face a misdemeanor charge for driving without liability insurance in Mississippi.

Optional car insurance in Mississippi

Liability may be the only required insurance in Mississippi, but there are several options that are commonly added to drivers’ policies. Here’s a breakdown of them all.

Collision insurance

covers your car for damages if you’re involved in a collision with another car or a fixed object, like a concrete pillar.

Comprehensive insurance

covers your car for damages from non-collision incidents, such as vandalism, theft, animal damage, or extreme weather damage.

Gap insurance

coverage comes in handy if your car is totaled while it is owned by a lienholder. Gap insurance covers the difference between your car’s actual cash value (pre-accident) and what you still owe on your lease or loan.

Medical Payments

Medical payments

funds can be used to pay medical bills for yourself, or those in your car, who sustained injuries in an accident—no matter who was at fault.

Rental car reimbursement

If your car is damaged in an accident and undrivable,

rental reimbursement coverage

can be put towards paying for a rental car while your own car is being fixed.

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Roadside assistance

Also known as

towing & labor coverage

, this add-on can help you if your car breaks down, if a flat tire needs fixing, or if you need a tow.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Uninsured motorist coverage

will come in handy if you’re injured in a collision by a driver without insurance, or with very little coverage. Uninsured/underinsured coverage will pay for your medical bills in such circumstances.

Key Takeaway Adding optional insurance to your overall insurance policy will better protect you on the road—and down the road.

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Why follow Mississippi car insurance laws?

First of all, it's the law.

If you fail to carry insurance with you at all times, you’re putting yourself in danger of fines (up to $1000), license suspension, and even criminal charges.

And even if you think you can get away with driving without liability coverage, you won't have any financial protection if you wind up in an accident—especially if you're at fault.

Key Takeaway If you’re a Mississippi driver and you don’t carry the mandated minimum liability insurance, you’re breaking the law.

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FAQs

Does Mississippi require car insurance?

Mississippi requires drivers to carry liability insurance. Other forms of insurance, such as collision and comprehensive insurance, are not required but can be added to your policy.

What are the minimum requirements for auto insurance in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, you are required to carry liability insurance consisting of $25,000 worth of coverage for bodily injury per person, $50,000 worth of coverage for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 worth of coverage for property damage.

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