I Just Moved to Mississippi. How Do I Get My Driver's License and Vehicle Registered?

by Joshua on April 06, 2022

Tags: moved to mississippi

Moving to the Magnolia State can be an exciting time in your life. Once you become a resident of Mississippi, there are different steps you need to take as a new resident. Here’s your guide on how to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license and out-of-state vehicle registration to the state of Mississippi.

Requirements When Transferring Your Out-of-State License to Mississippi

There are certain requirements you must meet in order to successfully transfer your license to the state of Mississippi. In order to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license to Mississippi, you will need:

A completed and signed MS Driver’s License Application Form (Form DL-41)
Your valid out-of-state driver’s license
Social security card
2 proofs of residency
Certifies birth certificate (photocopies are NOT accepted)
Valid immigration papers and passport, permanent resident card, or I-94 and passport (for non-US citizens)
Payment for all applicable fees (debit card, cash, and credit are accepted)

Make sure you have the necessary paperwork and payment(s) ready to ensure there are no penalties or delays in this process.

Testing Requirements in Mississippi

When you’re transferring your out-of-state driver’s license to Mississippi, you are required to take a vision test, written test, and driving (in-car) road test.

Vision Exam

When you’re applying for your new driver’s license in the state of Mississippi, you must pass a vision screening to measure your visual activity. In order to pass the MS vision exam, you need to have at least 20/40 acuity with both eyes.

You must also have a horizontal field of vision of 140 degrees or 70 degrees temporal, and 35 degrees nasal. If you wear glasses or corrective lenses, you will need to wear them during the vision screening. Be advised, your license will have a restriction on it disclosing that you are required to have your corrective lenses or glasses on while operating a motor vehicle.

If you decide to have corrective eye surgery, you can retake the vision test to remove the vision restrictions on your MS driver’s license. If you have a minimum of 20/40 visual activity in one eye but are legally blind in the other eye, you can still pass the MS vision exam, but you must drive with an outside side-view mirror and corrective lenses if required.

In the event that you don’t pass the vision screening, you are required to go to an eye care specialist to obtain a vision statement form. On this vision statement, the eye care specialist will certify if your vision is adequate for operating a motor vehicle safely, if you require any type of vision correction, or if your vision is not good enough to drive safely.

Written Exam

As a new resident of MS, you are required to pass a written exam. This exam is required before you can obtain a permit or permanent driver’s license in Mississippi. The MS written exam is a computerized test, and all the questions are taken from the MS driver’s manual.

This test consists of 20 questions pertaining to the rules of the road in MS. You have to obtain a score of at least 80% to pass the MS written exam. Keep in mind you need to have the proper documentation to identify yourself. The identification documents vary depending on the type of permit or license you are requesting.

Driving Exam (In-Car Exam)

You are required to take a driving test to determine your driving skill level. The first part of your driving test consists of a safety check that will show the examiner how you regard your vehicle. When you take the driving test, you must use your own vehicle, it must be insured, and pass the necessary safety requirements.

Required Documentation to Take the MS Driving Test

There are different documents you are required to present to your local Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MS DPS) branch. These documents include:

Social security card
Original or certified birth certificate
Proof of a valid MS auto insurance policy
Two documents proving your MS residency

You will need ALL the above-mentioned documents to take the Mississippi driving test.

What If You’re From Another Country?

If you’re a non-U.S. citizen, you are required to meet the standard requirements for obtaining an MS driver’s license, except for providing a social security card. If you are from a different country, your driver’s license is only valid as long as you are legally allowed to stay in the United States, or for the length of 4 years, which is the standard period.

To successfully transfer your driver’s license from another country, you need to complete an application and include the following immigration papers:

Passport
Birth certificate translated by a state-run university or approved translator
1-94 printout
Alien resident card
Proof of domicile

Make sure all the following documents are valid to prevent unnecessary delays and possible penalties.

How Quickly Do You Need to Transfer Your Driver’s License to Mississippi?

As a new resident of Mississippi, you are required to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license to this state within 60 days of establishing residency. You must register your out-of-state vehicle within 30 days of moving to MS.

To successfully transfer your out-of-state driver’s license and out-of-state vehicle registration to MS, you need to visit your local MS DPS office and present:

A completed Driver’s License Application Form (Form DL-41)
Surrender your out-of-state driver’s license
Provide your social security card
Present 2 documents showing residency in the state of MS
Original birth certificate
Pass the MS vision screening
Pay all applicable MS driver’s licensing fees

Be advised, an MS DPS agent will verify your driving record before you receive your new MS driver’s license. As long as you obtain your valid driver’s license from a different state, you may be exempt from the MS written and in-car test.

Types of MS Driver’s Licenses

There is more than one type of driver’s license in the state of Mississippi. The type of licenses offered by the MS DPS include:

Regular Class R: obtained for the operation of non-commercial vehicles
Commercial driver’s license (CDL)
Motorcycle endorsement: provided on your regular MS driver’s license or CDL license

Obtaining a Permanent Driver’s License In Mississippi

In order to successfully apply for and obtain a Mississippi driver’s license, you must apply in person at your local MS DPS office. At your local MS DPS, you need to present:

A completed Driver’s License Application Form (Form DL-41) If you are under the age of 17, your parent or legal guardian is required to sign the MS driver’s license application.
Proof of your residency, identity, and social security number (If you are under the age of 21, you can use your parent’s residency information) You can check here for a guide of acceptable documents that are REAL ID-compliant.
A passing score in the MS vision screening

Payment for all applicable MS driver’s licensing fees

Keep in mind, you will also be required to pass both the MS written knowledge and road tests. If you are a non-U.S. citizen, you must provide additional documentation. Please reference the section of this article titled “What If You’re From Another Country?”

MS Driver’s License Fees

There are different fees associated with an MS driver’s license.

$24 for 4 years
$47 for 8 years

Be advised, payment for the MS driver’s license fees must be made by debit card, cash, or credit card. Check are NOT accepted by the MS DPS.

Now that you know about transferring your out-of-state driver’s license to the state of Mississippi, it’s time to discuss transferring your out-of-state vehicle’s registration.

Registering Your Out-of-State Vehicle In Mississippi

In the state of Mississippi, when you need to register your vehicle or handle other vehicle-specific tasks, you need to visit the Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau, which is a division of the Department of Revenue (DOR).

The DOR can help you with the following tasks:

Vehicle titling and registration
License plates
Disability plates and placards
Vehicle title information search
Motor vehicle records

Be advised, certain MS counties also offer online tag renewal. Check to see if your county offers these services.

Registering Your Vehicle As a New Resident of Mississippi

As a new resident of the Magnolia State, you have 30 days to register your out-of-state vehicle with this state. Failure to register your vehicle in this time could result in a $250 penalty.

Auto Insurance in Mississippi

Unlike a lot of other states, Mississippi doesn’t require its residents to obtain a valid auto insurance policy in order to register their vehicle in the state. However, it is a good idea to obtain an MS vehicle insurance policy because it can help if you are involved in an accident.

Required Vehicle Inspections in Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Revenue doesn’t require emissions inspections. However, they do require an annual vehicle safety inspection before you can renew your vehicle registration.