Residing in Mississippi? The state's Department of Revenue oversees all vehicle registration and license plate applications. In most cases, you'll need to visit the county Tax Collector's office to complete the registration/application process.
A Mississippi license plate lookup can help you find out the details of a used car if you plan on buying one. Information such as a vehicle's odometer readings, accident records, technical specifications, and so on will paint a complete picture of its overall condition.
Make use of our free license plate lookup tool to get up-to-date information on the vehicle of choice in a split second. Key in your license plate number in the search box, choose the state the vehicle was registered in, and the results will be displayed in a matter of moments.
Where Is My Mississippi License Plate Number?
Mississippi is one of the few states where you only need to display license plates at the rear of the vehicle. If you aren't currently with your car, you can refer to any documentation related to your registration. You can direct any questions you might have to the state Department of Revenue.
Acquiring a License Plate in Mississippi
For new residents of Mississippi, you have 30 days to complete the registration process if you have "a current registration (license plate)" in your previous state of residency. If you don't register within this period, you'll be charged the according late fees and a $250 penalty. You'll need to provide the following during the registration process:
- Personal identification
- Completed application form provided by the county tax collector or Department of Revenue office
- Certificate of title
- Lien and lien holder details (if applicable)
- Any out-of-state registration (if applicable)
- Payment of all relevant fees
When purchasing from a licensed car dealer, you’ll be able to purchase a temporary tag from the dealer. The tag is valid for a period of 7 business days. Purchases from dealerships will have all paperwork submitted by the dealer, but be sure to check with them beforehand to avoid problems in the future.
Vehicle purchases from a private party requires registration within 7 business days from the purchase date. Additional documentation may be required by the tax collector or Department of Revenue office.
Additional information can be obtained from the Department of Revenue's website.
What License Plates Can You Apply For?
Mississippi has a number of plates available for use, but the Department of Revenue website does not provide specifics as to who can apply for certain plate types.
Standard plates: These are 7 characters in length, with the general format being AAA0000. The bottom of the plate will indicate the county the car was registered in.
Vanity plates: These are personalized plates that are 7 characters (with at least one letter) in length. You may use letters, numbers, and up to one space. You are also not allowed to use any vulgar or offensive writing. There is a $33 fee for vanity plates, on top of all other relevant fees.
Military plates: These are issued to active-duty or retired military personnel of any US military outfit. Available plates include participants in various conflicts, as well as recipients of medals and honors such as the Silver Star.
Specialty plates: These plates exist for people who want to identify with or show support to certain organizations, groups, interests, and charities. Plate options include:
- State schools/colleges/universities
- National Rifle Association
- Baseball Championships
- Organ Donors
- Volunteer organizations/professions
- Awareness programs
- Conservation efforts
- Farming-related
You can view all the associated fees for these plates here.
What Do You Get from the License Plate Lookup Report?
A license plate lookup provides you with relevant data on the vehicle you intend to purchase or have already purchased. You'll be able to review the following information:
Accident reports: Lists any accidents the car may have been involved in at any time. If it was a significant accident, you should have an independent check performed on the vehicle. You might find damage that wasn't repaired which could affect the vehicle's performance.
Previous owners: Get some information on the vehicle's previous owners and the duration in which they owned the vehicle for. The report can give you up-to-date information for both of those queries, but doesn't disclose any private or personal information of these owners.
Market value: The license plate report will reveal the actual market price of the vehicle you're looking at. You'll be able to find out if you're being under- or overcharged for a used car.
Vehicle specifications: Provides you with all the information you need about the vehicle’s make, year of manufacture, its model and more. Having all the relevant information at hand will help you with making a more informed decision.
Flood records: Informs you of any history of damage from floods. If you find the vehicle was damaged by floods, you need to find out how much potential damage the vehicle may have undergone and what repairs were made to restore its condition.
Lien Records: Provides information on whether the car has been used in a lease, as collateral for a debt, as a rental car unit, etc. There have been cases where cars with an existing lien were sold to unknowing buyers. These buyers end up having to repay the lien, even if it wasn't their fault.
Odometer records: The report will provide detailed odometer records of a vehicle, allowing you to look for signs of odometer tampering. This fraudulent activity deceives buyers into thinking the vehicle has been driven for less than it actually has.
Junk/salvage title check: If a car is severely damaged in an accident or has been scrapped for parts, an insurance company might write it off as a ‘total loss.' It would mean repairing the car will be very costly, on top of it being in no condition to operate on the road.
Why Should You Get a Lookup Report?
With automotive fraud still an ongoing issue, buyers need to be highly aware of the dangers of going into a used car deal without doing some homework beforehand. The vehicle lookup report provides you with the means to make smart decisions and avoid getting conned. Knowing of any faults that the car might have will help inform your next course of action.
Most used car dealers will provide a free vehicle history report to entice buyers into purchasing any of their available used cars. While it's convenient, some shady dealers might use this as an opportunity to give away false reports and lull potential buyers into a false sense of security. In the end, they may end up buying a very problematic lemon vehicle, costing them significantly over time.
A license plate lookup could also come in handy in the event of a hit and run, or even for suspected motor vehicle thefts. A quick check based on a hunch might help you (and the authorities) in apprehending unscrupulous folks involved in automotive crime.
With VinFreeCheck, we offer you a free and reliable license plate lookup service that uses reliable sources. Our databases are linked to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to ensure you receive the latest updates for the vehicle you're looking at.
Am I Allowed to Look Up License Plates?
You have every right to do so! Rest assured, we abide by the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act's (DPPA), which prevents the unlawful disclosure of any private information of a car owner. Only the relevant details on the car's general usage will be revealed. Moreover, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants individuals the right to access information collected by the government. With our data also from NMVTIS, the NICB, and various other reputable sources, you can confidently run a lookup check on that used car you've been eyeing for some time.