Mississippi requires Form 76-903, completed by law enforcement, before your county tax collector will issue a replacement. The fee is $10. Mississippi is a rear-plate-only state.
My Mississippi Tag Was Stolen. What Shall I Do First?
A stolen Mississippi tag can be placed on another vehicle and used for violations that will initially trace to your registration. Unlike some states where you go directly to the DMV, Mississippi’s replacement process requires a specific form completed by law enforcement; you cannot skip that step.
Work through the following in order:
1. Get Form 76-903 from your county tax collector
Pick up Form 76-903 (Lost or Stolen Tag Form) from your county tax collector’s office. This form is also available on the Mississippi Department of Revenue website at dor.ms.gov.
2. Take Form 76-903 to your local law enforcement agency
Bring the form to your local police department or county sheriff’s office to be completed and signed. Law enforcement will document the loss or theft as part of completing the form. This step is required; you cannot submit the form without law enforcement completion.
3. Notify your insurer
Call your auto insurance carrier with your policy number and any reference numbers from the law enforcement visit.
4. Submit Form 76-903 and fees to your county tax collector
Return the completed form with the appropriate fee ($10 for a plate, $2.50 for a decal only) to your county tax collector’s office. Your new tag is issued during your visit.
5. Monitor for violations
Watch your mail for any citations or enforcement notices bearing your old tag number. Dispute each one with the date of the law enforcement report and your new tag information.
Form 76-903: What It Is and Why It Is Required
Form 76-903 is Mississippi’s Lost or Stolen Tag Form. It is the document that initiates a plate replacement request in the Mississippi system. Unlike most states, where you simply walk into a DMV with your ID and pay a fee, Mississippi requires this form to be completed, including a law enforcement signature, before the county tax collector can issue replacement tags or decals.
The form is available at any county tax collector’s office and on the Mississippi Department of Revenue website. After obtaining the form, you take it to your local police department or sheriff’s office for completion. Law enforcement documents the circumstances of the loss or theft and signs the form. You then return the completed form with payment to your county tax collector.
Do not skip the law enforcement step
Your county tax collector will not process a replacement without the completed Form 76-903. Plan for at least two stops: law enforcement first, then the tax collector’s office, before you can get your replacement tag.
How to Get a Replacement Mississippi Tag
All Mississippi plate replacements are handled at your county tax collector’s office in person. There is no online replacement option. Your new tag is issued during your visit once Form 76-903 and payment are submitted.
In Person, County Tax Collector’s Office
Visit your county tax collector’s office with your completed Form 76-903, current vehicle registration, valid Mississippi ID, and payment. Your new tag and decal are issued while you wait. The county tax collector’s office is the only location for plate replacement in Mississippi, there is no state-level DMV window for this transaction.
Find your county tax collector’s contact information at dor.ms.gov. Hours typically run Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, though some counties have branch locations with different hours.
Document Checklist
Gather everything before your visit to the county tax collector. Missing Form 76-903 is the most common reason replacement visits fail, the form must be completed by law enforcement before you arrive at the tax collector’s office.
ALL REPLACEMENTS
- Form 76-903, completed and signed by law enforcement
- Current vehicle registration receipt
- Valid Mississippi driver’s license or state ID
- Proof of current liability insurance
- Payment: $10.00 for plate, $2.50 for decal only
DAMAGED PLATES (ADD)
- Damaged plate to surrender, bring the defaced plate to the tax collector’s office
Replacement Fees
Mississippi’s tag replacement fees are straightforward and uniform across all 82 counties.
| ITEM | FEE |
|---|---|
| License plate (tag) replacement | $10.00 |
| Decal (sticker) replacement only | $2.50 |
Mississippi requires only a rear plate on standard passenger vehicles. If your single rear plate was stolen or damaged, the $10 fee covers your complete replacement. If only your decal was stolen or damaged and the plate itself is intact, the $2.50 decal replacement is sufficient.
Mississippi’s Rear-Plate-Only Rule
Mississippi requires only one license plate, mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Unlike most states that require both front and rear plates, Mississippi passenger vehicles need only a rear plate. The plate must be firmly attached to the back of the vehicle with a valid registration decal in the lower right corner of the plate.
This is important for replacement purposes: if your plate was stolen, you are only replacing one plate, and the $10 fee covers that single plate. Drivers moving to Mississippi from two-plate states should be aware that their front plate bracket is no longer needed; Mississippi does not require a front plate on standard passenger vehicles.
The valid registration decal must be placed in the lower right corner of the Mississippi plate. An incorrectly placed or missing decal is a citable violation even if the plate itself is current and properly attached.
Mississippi Plates Cannot Be Transferred to a New Owner
Unlike Minnesota and some other states, where plates stay with the vehicle and transfer to the new owner, Mississippi plates are not transferable to a new vehicle or a new owner. When you sell your vehicle, you must remove the license plate and surrender it to your county tax collector’s office.
This is a practical consideration for both sellers and buyers. When buying a used vehicle in Mississippi, you cannot drive the vehicle away on the previous owner’s plates; the seller must remove them. As a buyer, you will need to register the vehicle and obtain your own plates before driving it on public roads.
Sellers must surrender plates. When you sell or otherwise transfer ownership of your vehicle, you must remove the license plate and surrender it to your county tax collector’s office. Do not leave your plates on a vehicle you have sold; you remain associated with those plates until they are surrendered.