Mississippi Antique & Historic Plates

License plates for antique vehicles in Mississippi provide a registration option for qualifying older automobiles kept for historic, collectible, or exhibition purposes. A Mississippi antique tag can help identify a vehicle that meets state requirements for age and use. Owners should review the Mississippi Department of Revenue rules, application requirements, fees, and permitted vehicle use before applying. Antique registration may differ from standard passenger registration, making it important to check current state requirements and paperwork for an accurate application.

License plates connected with antique vehicle registration can give qualifying historic automobiles a distinct registration status in Mississippi. The Mississippi antique tag is intended for eligible older vehicles and may involve specific age, ownership, inspection, registration, and usage requirements. Vehicle owners should check current Mississippi Department of Revenue information before submitting an application or paying registration fees. Knowing the applicable requirements can help owners prepare the correct documents and avoid delays with antique vehicle registration or renewal.

How to Get a Mississippi Antique License Plate

A Mississippi Antique License Plate is available to an owner of a registered antique automobile who meets the requirements set by Mississippi law. The application is handled through the county Tax Collector in the county of the owner’s legal residence. Applicants should have accurate vehicle information, ownership records, VIN details, applicable registration information, the required application, and the applicable fee ready before submitting the request. The Department of Revenue provides the state-level framework for vehicle registration and plate requirements, but the county Tax Collector handles the application process for residents.

Apply Through the County Tax Collector

Mississippi law permits an owner of a registered antique automobile to apply for an antique license plate through the Tax Collector in the county of legal residence. The county office serves as the local point for submitting the application and reviewing the vehicle and ownership information required for the registration.

• Mississippi DOR – Antique Cars:
  • https://www.dor.ms.gov/node/645

Applicants should contact their county Tax Collector before submitting an application to confirm the current procedure, applicable fee, and any state-required form used for antique automobile registration. The Tax Collector can review the submitted information and process the request under the applicable Mississippi registration statute. Using the county office tied to the owner’s legal residence helps direct the application to the proper local authority.

Information and Documents to Have Ready

Applicants should prepare accurate vehicle identification information before applying for a Mississippi Antique License Plate. The information should correspond with the vehicle’s official records so the county Tax Collector can process the application correctly. Ownership documentation is another key part of the application. Applicants should have the vehicle title or other applicable proof of ownership available, along with the vehicle identification number (VIN). Current registration or tag information may be relevant where applicable. The required antique automobile application should be completed with the requested vehicle and owner information. Applicants should check with the county Tax Collector for the current application requirements and applicable fee before submitting the request. This approach helps avoid delays caused by missing information or an incorrect application.

What Happens After Applying?

After submission, the county Tax Collector processes the antique plate application under the applicable Mississippi registration statute. The office reviews the vehicle and ownership information provided with the application and handles the registration transaction according to state requirements. Once approved, the antique plate is issued for the qualifying registered antique automobile. A standard antique plate is issued on a permanent basis rather than requiring annual renewal, subject to the conditions established by Mississippi front plate law. Owners should keep their vehicle and ownership records current and follow any statutory requirements that apply to continued use of the antique registration.

Who Qualifies for Antique Plates?

A Mississippi Antique Tag is available for vehicles that meet Mississippi’s antique registration requirements. The current Mississippi Department of Revenue states that a vehicle 25 years old or older is considered an antique vehicle and is eligible for antique registration. Mississippi’s specialty plate listings include separate categories for antique cars, antique motorcycles, and antique trucks.

Key eligibility points:

• Vehicle must be 25 years old or older.
• The vehicle must fall within an applicable antique registration category.
• Mississippi provides separate categories for antique cars, antique motorcycles, and antique trucks.
• The vehicle’s age is the main factor identified by the DOR for antique registration eligibility.
• The applicable antique category depends on the type of vehicle being registered.

How Old Does a Vehicle Have to Be?

The Mississippi Department of Revenue states that any vehicle that is 25 years old or older is considered an antique vehicle and is eligible for antique registration.

For a quick eligibility check, look at the vehicle’s age:

• Under 25 years old: Does not meet the DOR’s antique-age requirement.
• 25 years old: Meets the stated age requirement.
• Older than 25 years: Meets the stated age requirement.

Which Vehicles Can Qualify?

Mississippi has separate antique categories for different vehicle types. The Mississippi Department of Revenue’s specialty plate listing includes Antique Car, Antique Motorcycle, and Antique Truck categories.

Qualifying vehicle types include:

• Antique cars — vehicles meeting the applicable antique age requirement.
• Antique motorcycles — motorcycles listed under the state’s antique motorcycle category.
• Antique trucks — trucks listed under the state’s antique truck category.

Antique vs Classic vs Collector Vehicle

Antique, classic, and collector vehicle are terms owners often use for older or collectible vehicles. Mississippi’s registration system uses the specific antique category.

For antique registration:

• Antique: The statutory registration category.
• Classic: A common term for an older or collectible vehicle.
• Collector: A term often used for vehicles kept for collection or special interest.

How Long Is a Antique Tag Valid?

A standard Mississippi Antique Tag has permanent validity under Mississippi law. The standard antique automobile plate does not require ordinary annual renewal. Mississippi Code states that the plate remains valid without renewal as long as the antique automobile exists, subject to the applicable statutory conditions. This makes antique registration different from regular vehicle registration, which normally follows a recurring renewal cycle.

How Long Does a Standard Antique Plate Last?

A standard antique automobile plate is considered permanent and does not require ordinary annual renewal. Once the qualifying antique automobile is registered under the applicable statute, the plate remains valid without the regular yearly plate renewal process. Its validity is tied to the continued existence of the antique automobile and the conditions established by Mississippi law. This means an owner with a standard antique plate does not need to renew the plate every year in the same manner as a regular vehicle registration. The permanent nature of the standard antique plate is one of the main differences between Mississippi antique registration and ordinary vehicle registration.

What About a Personalized Antique Plate?

A personalized antique plate follows a different renewal rule from the standard antique automobile plate. Mississippi law provides a separate five-year renewal provision for a personalized antique plate. This creates an important distinction between the two plate types. A standard antique automobile plate has permanent validity without ordinary renewal, while a personalized antique plate is subject to the separate five-year renewal requirement. Owners should identify which type of antique plate they have before assuming that the same validity period applies.

What Happens When Vehicle Ownership Changes?

A change in vehicle ownership can affect the registration and plate record. Permanent validity does not mean that an antique plate automatically transfers to a new owner whenever the vehicle is sold. Registration records must reflect the current owner, and the applicable transfer procedure may depend on the circumstances of the ownership change. When an antique vehicle is sold or transferred, the new owner should contact the appropriate county Tax Collector for the required registration procedure. The county office can confirm how the antique registration and plate should be handled based on the vehicle’s new ownership and current records.

Antique Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Plates

Mississippi Antique Plates are available in separate categories for antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The Mississippi Department of Revenue lists these vehicle types separately, and Mississippi law provides separate statutory treatment for antique automobiles, antique trucks, and antique motorcycles. This distinction helps owners identify the appropriate antique plate category for their vehicle.

Antique Car Plates

An antique car can qualify for Mississippi’s antique automobile registration category when it meets the applicable age requirement. The Mississippi Department of Revenue identifies Antique Car as a specialty plate category. Owners may encounter separate options for standard antique car plates and Antique Car Vanity plates. The applicable requirements and renewal rules can differ for a personalized or vanity version.

Key points include:

• Antique car registration is a specific Mississippi category.
• The vehicle must meet the applicable antique age requirement.
• A standard Antique Car plate is separate from an Antique Car Vanity plate.
• Standard and personalized antique plates can have different renewal provisions.

Antique Truck Plates

Mississippi provides a separate Antique Truck category for qualifying older trucks. Antique truck registration is treated separately from antique automobile and motorcycle categories under Mississippi law.

For an antique truck owner, the relevant factors include:

• The truck’s age and antique classification.
• The applicable antique truck registration category.
• The vehicle’s identification and ownership records.
• The requirements that apply to the antique truck plate.

Antique Motorcycle Plates

Mississippi also has a separate Antique Motorcycle category. A motorcycle that meets the state’s 25-year classification can qualify for antique registration under the applicable requirements. The state treats antique motorcycles separately from historical motorcycles, with separate statutory provisions applying to these categories.

Key points for motorcycle owners include:

• Antique Motorcycle is a separate plate category.
• The applicable age classification is 25 years or older.
• Mississippi has separate statutory treatment for antique motorcycles.
• An Antique Motorcycle Vanity option is listed separately from the standard antique motorcycle category.
• Historical motorcycle plates are a separate category from antique motorcycle plates.

Antique Tag Cost and Fees

A Mississippi Antique Tag is available for qualifying antique vehicles through the state’s vehicle registration system. Mississippi provides separate plate categories for antique cars, antique trucks, and antique motorcycles, along with vanity options for certain antique categories. Each plate type falls under its applicable registration and fee provisions, so the selected vehicle category matters when applying for an antique plate.

How to Display an Authentic Historical License Plate

Historic Mississippi License Plates can be used through a separate historical-plate process when an applicant has an authentic plate that corresponds to the vehicle’s required model year. This process differs from receiving a standard state-issued antique plate. The historical plate must be supplied for review, and the Mississippi Department of Revenue has authority to examine the plate before it can be approved for historical display. The process is intended for authentic older plates rather than modern reproductions that simply copy an earlier Mississippi design.

Find an Authentic Plate From the Correct Year

The historical plate should correspond with the vehicle’s applicable model year and meet the state’s historical plate requirements. Collectors may refer to this type of plate as a YOM (Year of Manufacture) plate or year-of-manufacture plate.

When selecting an old plate, pay attention to:

• The plate’s original year of issuance.
• The vehicle’s applicable model year.
• Mississippi markings and identifying features.
• Whether the plate remains in sufficiently original condition.

Submit the Historical Plate for Authentication

An applicant who wants to use an authentic historical plate must provide the plate for the required review process. The historical plate is submitted to the Mississippi Department of Revenue through the county Tax Collector. The county Tax Collector serves as the local point for submitting the plate and related registration information. The Department of Revenue then has authority to examine the plate and determine whether it meets the statutory requirements for historical use. This means owning an old Mississippi plate does not automatically give an owner permission to display it as a historical registration plate. The plate must go through the applicable authentication process before it can be approved.

What Does the Department of Revenue Check?

The Department of Revenue has statutory authority to examine an authentic historical license plate before approving it for use. The review can address the plate’s authenticity, condition, and original year of issue.

The review may consider:

• Whether the plate is authentic.
• The plate’s original year of issue.
• Its physical condition.
• Whether its condition has been altered or refurbished in a manner permitted by the applicable requirements.

Old License Plates and Year-of-Manufacture Plates

Old Mississippi License Plates attract collectors because they preserve details from earlier periods of Mississippi vehicle registration. Vintage plates can contain distinctive colors, numbers, county markings, manufacturing features, and year information that make them useful to collectors of historic vehicles. Some owners refer to these plates as YOM plates, meaning year-of-manufacture or year-of-issuance plates connected with a vehicle’s model year.

Why Do Collectors Seek Old Plates?

Collectors may look for an old plate that matches the period or model year of a historic vehicle. A genuine plate can provide a period-correct appearance that a newly manufactured reproduction may not provide.

Collector terms include:

• Old plate — an original plate from an earlier registration period.
• Vintage plate — an older plate valued for its age or historical appearance.
• YOM plate — a year-of-manufacture plate associated with the vehicle’s applicable model year.
• Authentic plate — an original plate rather than a modern reproduction.
• Historical plate — an old plate that goes through Mississippi’s applicable historical-plate approval process.

County and Year Markings

Old Mississippi plates may contain markings that help identify their plate history including the county number and year-related information. Collectors often use these details when searching for a plate that matches a particular vehicle or historical period. The plate’s original year of issue matters for the historical registration process. A visually similar plate from another year may be collectible, but that does not automatically make it eligible for historical display on a vehicle.

Owning an Old Plate vs Displaying It

There is an important difference between owning an old plate as a collectible and receiving permission to use that plate as a historical registration plate. A person can possess a vintage or antique plate without that plate being approved for vehicle display. For legal historical display, the applicable Mississippi process requires the authentic plate to be submitted for review. The Department of Revenue can examine its authenticity, condition, and original year of issue.

Antique Tag vs Historical License Plate

A Mississippi Antique Tag and a historical license plate serve different purposes under Mississippi’s vehicle registration system. An antique tag is a state-issued special registration category for qualifying older vehicles. A historical plate, by comparison, uses an authentic old Mississippi plate that must go through a separate approval process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mississippi antique tags can raise questions about vehicle age, plate costs, renewal, eligible vehicle types, and the application process. The answers below address questions Mississippi Antique Plates including antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles. They also explain key differences between standard antique registration and historical plates, helping vehicle owners identify the appropriate Mississippi plate category for their vehicle.

How old does a vehicle have to be for an antique tag in Mississippi?

A vehicle must be 25 years old or older to meet Mississippi’s antique vehicle age requirement. The Mississippi Department of Revenue states that a vehicle meeting this age threshold is eligible for antique registration. The applicable vehicle records and registration requirements still apply when an owner applies for a Mississippi Antique Tag.

How much is an antique tag in Mississippi?

The current Mississippi Department of Revenue fee schedule lists for an Antique Car, Antique Truck, and Antique Motorcycle. The standard antique categories are listed with a one-time fee. Antique vanity categories are likewise listed at on the current DOR fee schedule.

Does Mississippi require annual renewal for an antique plate?

A standard antique automobile plate does not require ordinary annual renewal. Mississippi law provides that the standard antique plate remains valid without renewal as long as the antique automobile exists, subject to applicable statutory conditions. A personalized antique plate follows a separate renewal provision, so its rules should not be confused with the standard permanent antique plate.

Can I get an antique plate for a truck?

Yes. Mississippi has a separate Antique Truck category for qualifying older trucks. The Mississippi Department of Revenue lists Antique Truck separately from Antique Car and Antique Motorcycle. A truck that meets the applicable antique vehicle requirements can be registered under the antique truck category and receive the corresponding Mississippi Antique Plates.

Can motorcycles get Mississippi antique plates?

Yes. Mississippi provides a separate Antique Motorcycle category. A motorcycle that meets the state’s antique age classification can qualify for antique registration under the applicable requirements. The Department of Revenue separately lists Antique Motorcycle and Antique Motorcycle Vanity categories, so motorcycle owners should use the category that matches their registration needs.