Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Mississippi
All drivers in Mississippi are required to maintain minimum liability car insurance under the Mississippi Code for Motor Vehicle Safety and Responsibility. Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor. If you violate the auto insurance law once, you'll be fined $1,000 and your driving privileges will be suspended for one full year or until you can prove that you've purchased the mandatory car insurance. Reinstating your license will be costly as well.
Type of penalty | First and subsequent offenses |
|---|---|
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Fine | $1,000 |
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Driving privileges | License suspension for one year or until proof of insurance is provided |
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Penalties reduced/waived | If proof of insurance coverage is submitted before the scheduled hearing, the fine will be reduced to $100; If proof that an insurance policy was in effect at the time of the stop is submitted before the hearing, the fine, court costs and suspension will be waived |
|
Reinstatement requirements | SR-22 form to be maintained for three years; $100 reinstatement fee |
Penalties for driving uninsured in Mississippi
In Mississippi, you must have liability insurance of at least the state's minimum required coverage amounts in order to drive. Failure to present proof of coverage that is equal to or greater than the mandatory 25/50/25 requirements, in the form of a valid insurance ID card or equivalent proof, can result in a conviction and punishment with a fine of $1,000, plus a suspension of your driving privileges for one year or until you can satisfy the court with valid proof of insurance.
Unlike states that have escalating penalties for every time you violate the insurance law, Mississippi only has one sentence to cover your first and future offenses. The state also employs various ways to catch you driving uninsured: Although evidence of financial responsibility is most needed when you're involved in a traffic accident, Mississippi requires you to carry proof of insurance in your car at all times. Police officers can ask for your insurance ID card when you're pulled over for a minor road infraction or even as you pass a routine roadblock.
Getting your penalties waived or dismissed
If you are able to produce a newly purchased insurance policy or an SR-22 certificate filed by your insurance agency on or before the date of your court hearing, your fine can be reduced to $100. If you are able to prove that you had an active insurance policy at the time the citation was given, your fine, court costs and suspension will be waived and your case dismissed.
Reinstatement procedures and fees
Another way the state of Mississippi penalizes driving uninsured is with fines to restore your driving privileges.
To have your license reinstated, you will need your insurance carrier to file an SR-22 form. You will have to maintain the SR-22 for three years without a single lapse in your policy's premium payments. You will also need to pay the $100 reinstatement fee.
Make sure your check is valid, if that is how you are paying your fines and fees. The state assesses a $10 fine if your check bounces when you make these reinstatement payments.
Reapplying for auto insurance in Mississippi
Having a misdemeanor on your record for no insurance can negatively impact your driving record. Car insurance companies will see this and consider you a driver who's too high risk to cover. Even if you plan to purchase an insurance policy to avoid being convicted again, you can be denied by insurers in the voluntary market, where you will have a higher chance of finding the best Mississippi auto insurance.
The State of Mississippi offers another option: The Mississippi Automobile Insurance Plan (MSAIP) helps high-risk drivers get car insurance as long as they have a valid Mississippi driver's license and a motor vehicle currently registered in the state.