Mississippi License Plate Lookup Licensed PI Search — Owner Name & Address

Whether you’re tracking down the owner of a vehicle after a hit-and-run on I-20, I-55, or a rural state highway, verifying a used car purchase from a private seller in Jackson or Gulfport, or investigating a suspicious vehicle, a licensed plate lookup is the fastest legal path to answers in Mississippi. With 82 counties, a large rural road network, and the nation’s highest fatality rate per VMT, vehicle identification is a serious matter in the Magnolia State — and registered owner information is protected under both state and federal law.

What Does a Mississippi License Plate Look Like?

3 Ways to Look Up a Mississippi License Plate

Under Mississippi law and the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), there are three primary methods to search a Mississippi plate. Each returns different information at different cost and speed levels. Learn more about federal DPPA protections on our Driver’s Privacy Protection Act page.

What a Mississippi License Plate Lookup Returns

When you order through LicensePlatesCar.com, our licensed PI team searches official databases and returns a complete owner report. Here is exactly what is included:

Mississippi License Plate Lookups by County

Mississippi has 82 counties. Unlike most states, vehicle registration in Mississippi is handled at the county level through each county’s tax collector office — there is no centralized DMV. Hinds County (Jackson) generates the highest crash volumes, followed by Harrison County (Gulfport/Biloxi) on the Gulf Coast. DeSoto County in the Memphis suburban corridor sees significant cross-state traffic with Tennessee.

Source: MDOT crash data and MOHS reporting. Averages based on 2019–2023 data. See hit-and-run statistics and full stats hub.

Mississippi Hit-and-Run Crashes: What to Do and How a Plate Lookup Helps

Under Mississippi law (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-401), any driver involved in an accident causing injury, death, or property damage must immediately stop, provide their name, address, and vehicle registration, and render reasonable assistance. Leaving the scene carries severe penalties:

• Hit-and-run involving property damage only: Misdemeanor — up to 6 months in jail and/or $500 fine
• Hit-and-run involving bodily injury: Felony — up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine
• Hit-and-run involving death: Felony — up to 10 years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine
• License suspension mandatory upon conviction for any hit-and-run in Mississippi
• Mississippi has no statewide hands-free cell phone law — distracted driving is a contributing factor in a significant share of crashes

If you were the victim of a hit-and-run in Mississippi, here is your immediate action plan:

1. Call 911 immediately. Mississippi Highway Patrol handles crashes on state highways; local police handle city and county streets.
2. Note everything about the fleeing vehicle — full or partial plate number, color, make, model, damage, and direction of travel.
3. Do not follow the fleeing vehicle.
4. File an insurance claim — Mississippi requires minimum liability insurance on all registered vehicles.
5. Contact a licensed PI to run the plate for registered owner identification — this is a DPPA-permissible use for legal proceedings and insurance claims.

See our full nationwide hit-and-run statistics report for crash trends across all 50 states.

Mississippi Specialty License Plate Types

Mississippi offers a wide range of specialty and personalized plate options through the Department of Revenue. Personalized plates allow up to 7 characters. Mississippi is notable for its large number of university and college plates reflecting the state’s higher education system.

• Standard Magnolia (default design)
• Personalized / Vanity
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
• Mississippi State University
• University of Southern Mississippi
• Jackson State University
• Alcorn State University
• Mississippi Valley State University
• Military Veterans (multiple designs)
• Purple Heart
• Pearl Harbor Survivor
• Disabled / Wheelchair
• Disabled Veteran
• Law Enforcement Memorial
• Firefighter / EMS
• Breast Cancer Awareness
• Wildlife / Conservation
• Motorcycle
• Historic / Antique Vehicle
• Commercial Vehicle

Mississippi License Plate Laws and Penalties

• Rear plate only — Mississippi requires one plate displayed on the rear of the vehicle
• Plate must be clearly visible, properly illuminated at night, and unobstructed at all times
• County-based registration: Vehicle registration is handled by county tax collector offices — not a central DMV. You must register in the county where the vehicle is domiciled.
• New residents: Must register an out-of-state vehicle within 30 days of establishing Mississippi residency
• Annual renewal: Mississippi vehicle registrations renew annually. Renewal is handled through your county tax collector’s office or online at mdorlink.dor.ms.gov
• Ad valorem tax: Mississippi assesses annual ad valorem (property) tax on vehicles at the county level — rates vary by county millage
• No statewide hands-free law: Mississippi has not enacted a statewide ban on handheld cell phone use while driving as of 2025
• Safety inspection: Mississippi does not require periodic safety inspections for most passenger vehicles
• Insurance requirement: Minimum liability coverage required — $25,000 bodily injury per person / $50,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage

How to Check or Renew Your Mississippi License Plate

• Online renewal: mdorlink.dor.ms.gov — Mississippi DOR online portal
• County tax collector: Contact your county tax collector’s office for registration, title, and records requests
• Mississippi DOR phone: (601) 923-7700
• Mississippi Highway Patrol crash data: dps.ms.gov
• NHTSA recall check: nhtsa.gov using your VIN

Mississippi License Plate Lookup — Frequently Asked Questions

Mississippi Vehicle & Road Safety Statistics