I'm a new resident in Mississippi: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Mississippi. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Mississippi

Each rule comes from the Mississippi driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Deadline to switch your license

  Within 60 days of moving to Mississippi (license plate: within 30 days)

  What the manual says

  • A person who moves to Mississippi must obtain a Mississippi driver's license within sixty days.
  • A person who moves to Mississippi must obtain a Mississippi license plate/tag within thirty days.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 11

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Valid out-of-state license: knowledge exam waived, vision screening required; no road test for a regular license.

  What the manual says

  • The Computerized Exam is waived for a person with a valid driver's license from another state, but a vision screening is still required.

  • No road test for a regular license

    At this time, Mississippi does not require a skills (road) test of any applicant for a regular driver’s license. The steps for a regular license are the vision exam and the computerized exam, plus the documents described in this guide. A motorcycle endorsement does need a skills test in addition to a computerized test, and the Driver Service Bureau’s Road Test page is for scheduling a CDL road test.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 11

  Source: [1] [2] [3]

• Liability insurance

  Liability insurance required; minimums: $25,000 one person, $50,000 two or more people, $25,000 property damage.

  What the manual says

  • According to Mississippi law, every motor vehicle operated in the state must have liability insurance.
  • The manual lists $25,000 as the minimum for a single person in a single vehicle accident.
  • The manual lists $50,000 as the minimum for two or more people in a single vehicle accident.
  • The manual lists $25,000 as the minimum for property damage of others in any single accident.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 76

• How long the license lasts

  Regular Class R license: offered as a 4-year or an 8-year license

  What the manual says

  • License terms

    The Class R license is offered as a 4-year license or an 8-year license. The Driver Service Fees page lists the amounts.

  Source: [2]

Road rules

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Zero Tolerance for underage drivers; a driver under 21 is under the influence at 0.02% BAC or more.

  What the manual says

  • The manual states that Mississippi has Zero Tolerance for underage drivers under the influence of alcohol.
  • The manual says a driver under 21 is under the influence if the BAC registers .02% or more.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 78

• Refusing a chemical test

  You may refuse the test, but must surrender your license to the officer immediately; it is administratively suspended 90 days.

  What the manual says

  • The manual states that you have the right to refuse the officer's request, though there are consequences for refusing.
  • The manual says that if you refuse, you must surrender your driver's license to the officer immediately.
  • The manual states the license will be administratively suspended for ninety days for refusing the test.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 78

• Seat belts

  Driver and all passengers, front or back seat, must wear a properly fastened seat belt.

  What the manual says

  • Mississippi law requires drivers and all passengers to wear a properly fastened seat belt, front seat or back seat.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 64

• Child safety seats

  Under 4: car seat. Ages 4 to under 7, under 4 ft 9 in or 65 lb: booster.

  What the manual says

  • Mississippi law requires children under four to be properly secured in a car seat that meets applicable safety standards.
  • Children at least four but under seven who are under 4 feet 9 inches tall or under sixty-five pounds must use a belt-positioning booster seat system.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 64

• Phone use while driving

  Texting and reading or posting to social media on a hand-held phone while driving are not allowed.

  What the manual says

  • The manual states that texting on your cellphone while driving is not allowed.
  • The manual states that reading or posting to a social networking site with a hand-held mobile telephone is not allowed.
  • The term hand-held mobile telephone does not include a voice-operated or hands-free device.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 23

• School buses

  Divided highway with 4+ lanes: same-direction traffic stops for a school bus with flashing red lights; opposite direction may continue.

  What the manual says

  • The manual describes a divided highway for this exception as one with four or more lanes, with at least two lanes of travel in opposite directions.
  • Drivers traveling in the same direction as the stopped school bus on a divided highway must still stop and proceed only after the children have exited the roadway and the bus has moved on.
  • Drivers traveling in the opposite direction from the stopped bus on a divided highway may continue on their side without stopping.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 58

• Move Over law

  Four-lane highway: merge away from a stopped emergency vehicle if safe, otherwise slow down, prepare to stop.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says to merge into the lane away from the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so.
  • The manual says to merge into the lane away from the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so.
  • The manual says that if merging into an adjacent lane is not safe, you should slow down and prepare to stop if necessary, because you must yield right of way.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 67

• Headlights

  Lights on sunset to sunrise or when unable to see 500 feet ahead; low beams within 500 feet of traffic.

  What the manual says

  • You should use your lights between sunset and sunrise and at any other time when you cannot see clearly ahead for five hundred feet.
  • You are required by law to use low beams within five hundred feet of an oncoming vehicle or when following within five hundred feet of another vehicle.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 63

• Right turn on red

  Allowed after a complete stop, yielding to traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign prohibits it.

  What the manual says

  • Before turning right on red you must first stop completely; only yielding before turning is not enough and is illegal.
  • You may not turn on red if a sign prohibits you.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 37

• Speed limits

  Passenger car maximums: interstate 70 mph, four-lane state or U.S. highway 65 mph, two-lane highway 55 mph.

  What the manual says

  • The manual's table of speed limits for passenger automobiles lists 70 mph as the maximum on interstates.
  • The manual's table lists 65 mph as the maximum on four-lane highways (State & U.S.).
  • The manual's table lists 55 mph as the maximum on two-lane highways (State & U.S.).

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 41

• Left lane and keeping right

  Right lane for through and slower traffic; left lane for passing; four-lane highways: right except to pass or turn left.

  What the manual says

  • The right lane is intended for through travel, while the left lane is intended for passing.
  • You should stay in the right lane when traveling more slowly than the other traffic.
  • The manual says that on a four-lane highway you should drive in the right lane except when passing or preparing to turn left.

  Source: Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), page 70, 45

Official steps for moving to Mississippi

• Deadlines for new residents

  The manual says that if you move to Mississippi, you must get a Mississippi driver’s license within sixty days and a Mississippi license plate within thirty days.

  Source: [1]

• Your out-of-state license

  When you apply for a Mississippi driver’s license you must surrender all out-of-state licenses. If your out-of-state license is lost, you get an Affidavit of Inability to Surrender form from the Driver License office, and your signature on it must be notarized. Your driving record in other states is checked before a Mississippi license is issued. When a Mississippi license or ID card is issued, any license or ID card from another state is cancelled.

  Source: [1] [4]

• Do you take the knowledge exam?

  A new Mississippi resident who holds a valid out-of-state license does not have to take the computerized (knowledge) exam, but you must pass a vision screening. If your out-of-state license has expired, you may have to take the exam; check the Class R page and ask at a Driver License Station.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Visitors, military families and college students

  The manual says non-resident military personnel and their families, and out-of-state college students, may drive in Mississippi on a valid license from another state. The College Students page says out-of-state residents attending college in Mississippi may drive on their home state’s license.

  Source: [1] [5]

• Non-U.S. citizens

  A non-citizen shows immigration papers such as an I-94, a valid visa or a resident alien card. Legal presence is checked through the federal SAVE program, and receiving the license or ID card may be delayed up to 30 days if the check is not immediate. The applicant’s name and date of birth must appear on all supporting documents. Read the Non-U.S. Citizen page for the full list of documents.

  Source: [6]

Sources

1. Mississippi Driver’s License Manual (Revised December 2024; printed page = PDF page) (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
2. Regular Driver License - Light Commercial - Class D (New Driver’s License) (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
3. Schedule Your CDL Road Test (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
4. Application for Mississippi Driver License/ID (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety
5. College Students (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
6. Non-US Citizen Driver’s License or Identification Card (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau