Mississippi dealers issue a 7-working-day temporary paper tag displayed in the rear window. Private sellers cannot issue tags and Mississippi plates cannot be transferred to new owners.
How Long Is a Mississippi Temporary Tag Valid?
Mississippi dealer-issued temporary tags are valid for 7 full working days, exclusive of the date of purchase, after the motor vehicle is purchased. This is codified in Mississippi Code § 27-19-40. The expiration date on your paper tag shows the last valid day.
Within those 7 working days, you must register your vehicle and obtain a permanent tag at your county tax collector’s office. Mississippi requires you to register the vehicle within 30 business days of purchase, the temporary tag is your legal authorization to operate the vehicle during the initial registration window.
7 working days is longer than it sounds in some cases
If you purchase your vehicle on a Thursday and the following week includes a state holiday on Monday, your 7 working days extend well past the calendar week. Count only business days, Monday through Friday, excluding Mississippi state holidays.
Working Days: Not Calendar Days
Mississippi’s 7-day temporary tag validity counts only working days, Monday through Friday, excluding Mississippi state holidays. This is meaningfully different from states that count all calendar days. A vehicle purchased on Thursday afternoon effectively has until the following Thursday evening (7 working days later) to be registered, assuming no holidays fall in that window.
The date of purchase does not count; the 7 working days begin the day after the purchase date. Mississippi Code § 27-19-40 specifies the tag is valid for “seven (7) full working days, exclusive of the date of purchase.”
| PURCHASE DAY | TAG EXPIRES (NO HOLIDAYS) | REGISTER BY |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Following Tuesday | Within 30 business days |
| Wednesday | Following Thursday | Within 30 business days |
| Friday | Following Monday (7 working days out) | Within 30 business days |
Buying Scenarios at a Glance
Your purchase situation determines whether you receive a temporary tag and what your registration deadline is.
| SITUATION | TEMPORARY TAG | REGISTRATION DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|
| MS dealer purchase, MS resident | 7 working days (paper tag in rear window) | Within 30 business days of purchase |
| MS dealer purchase, non-resident | Number of days required by buyer’s home state | Register in home state within tag period |
| Private sale, MS resident | None, seller must remove and surrender plate | Register at county tax collector before driving |
| New MS resident | Out-of-state plates valid during 30-day window | Register within 30 days of establishing MS residency |
Buying From a Private Seller in Mississippi
Mississippi private-party purchases do not come with a temporary tag. Mississippi law limits temporary tag issuance exclusively to licensed motor vehicle dealers and automobile auctions, private individuals cannot issue any form of temporary authorization. Combined with Mississippi’s no-transfer plate rule, this creates a situation where private-party buyers must register before driving.
When a vehicle is sold between private individuals in Mississippi, the seller must remove the license plate and surrender it to the county tax collector’s office. The buyer then has no plate on the vehicle and cannot legally drive it on public roads until a new plate is obtained through the county tax collector.
Mississippi plates cannot be transferred to a new owner, and no temporary tag is available from private sellers. Plan to register at your county tax collector before taking delivery of a vehicle purchased from a private individual in Mississippi.
What to Bring to Register a Private-Party Purchase
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
- Original title signed and assigned by the seller, all liens released
- Bill of sale with purchase price, date, and odometer reading
- Valid Mississippi driver’s license or state ID
ALSO REQUIRED:
- Proof of current Mississippi liability insurance
- Payment for ad valorem tax, base registration fee, and any applicable county fees
- Mississippi sales tax (if applicable to the purchase)
Non-Resident Tag Validity
When a non-resident of Mississippi purchases a vehicle from a Mississippi dealer or automobile auction, the temporary tag is valid for the number of days within which the non-resident’s home state requires them to obtain a permanent plate. This is not a fixed number; it depends entirely on your home state’s registration deadline for newly purchased vehicles.
For example, if you live in Tennessee and Tennessee law requires newly purchased vehicles to be registered within 30 days, your Mississippi dealer-issued temporary tag would be valid for 30 days, the same window as Tennessee’s registration requirement. The Mississippi tag effectively serves as your authorization to drive the vehicle home and complete registration under your home state’s rules.
Confirm with your home state DMV how many days you have to register a newly purchased vehicle before heading to a Mississippi dealer. That number determines how long your Mississippi temporary tag will be valid.
Where to Display the Mississippi Temporary Tag
Mississippi temporary tags are paper documents that are affixed to the rear window of the vehicle, not mounted in the rear license plate bracket. This is different from many states where temporary tags go in the plate bracket. In Mississippi, the paper tag goes inside the rear window where it is visible from behind the vehicle.
Correct Display
- Affixed to the inside of the rear window
- Clearly visible from behind the vehicle
- All information, including expiration date legible
- Secured flat so it does not curl or become unreadable
Not Permitted
- Mounted in the rear license plate bracket
- Obscured by window tint or other material
- Folded, torn, or altered in any way
- Not visible from behind the vehicle
Registration Deadline After Purchase
Mississippi requires newly purchased vehicles to be registered within 30 business days of the purchase date. This deadline applies regardless of whether you received a temporary tag from the dealer. The temporary tag covers you legally to drive during the initial period, but the formal registration must be completed at your county tax collector’s office within 30 business days.
When you register, you pay the ad valorem tax based on your county’s mill rate and your vehicle’s value, the base registration fee of $12.75, and any applicable county fees. Your permanent tag and decal are issued during your registration visit.
Do not wait for the 7-day window to expire before visiting the county tax collector. The 7-day temporary tag and the 30-business-day registration deadline are separate requirements. Ideally, complete registration well within the 7-working-day window so you are driving on a permanent tag as soon as possible.
New Mississippi Residents, Registration Requirements
If you have recently moved to Mississippi from another state and have a current registration and valid plate from your previous state, you have 30 days to register your vehicle with your county tax collector after establishing Mississippi residency. Your out-of-state plates remain valid during this 30-day window.
After registering, your out-of-state plates must be surrendered and a Mississippi plate is issued. Your registration will be set to expire on your birthday, consistent with Mississippi’s birthday-month expiration system. The ad valorem tax at initial registration is calculated based on your vehicle’s value and your county’s mill rate.
If you do not have a current registration from your previous state when you move to Mississippi, you must register immediately at your county tax collector’s office before driving the vehicle on Mississippi roads.