License plates can become damaged, lost, stolen, or unreadable, making replacement necessary for Mississippi vehicle owners. A replacement plate helps keep a vehicle properly identified and supports compliance with Mississippi registration requirements. The replacement process can vary based on the reason for the request and the type of plate involved. Vehicle owners may need to provide registration details, identification, or other documents when requesting a new plate. Knowing what information to prepare can make the request easier and help avoid delays during the replacement process.
License plates replacement in Mississippi may involve different steps for standard, specialty, personalized, or other plate types. Owners should check the current requirements through the Mississippi Department of Revenue or their county Tax Collector before submitting a request. Fees can vary based on the plate type and replacement reason. A replacement may be needed when a plate is damaged, lost, stolen, or no longer readable. Keeping registration information current and using the correct replacement process helps maintain valid vehicle identification and registration records.
How to Replace a Mississippi License Plate
A Mississippi License Plate Replacement is handled through the county Tax Collector using the state’s replacement tag application. If your plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement plate or replacement decal instead of continuing to use a missing or unusable tag. New residents moving to Mississippi should also check the state’s vehicle registration requirements to determine when they need to obtain a Mississippi license plate. The Mississippi Department of Revenue lists Form 76-903, Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal, as a motor vehicle registration form. The form collects vehicle details, owner information, and other information needed for the replacement process.
Get Form 76-903
The official form used to Replace Mississippi License Plate is Form 76-903, Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal. The Mississippi Department of Revenue lists Form 76-903 under its Motor Vehicle Forms and Registration Forms. The form can be obtained through the Mississippi DOR website or the appropriate county Tax Collector. It covers replacement tags and decals and provides spaces for the vehicle and registered owner information required for the request.
- Form 76-903, Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal:
- https://www.dor.ms.gov/node/5365
Complete the Required Information
Complete the replacement application with accurate vehicle information and owner details. Form 76-903 asks for the registered owner’s name and address, county/seat, vehicle make, year, model, and VIN. It includes fields for the existing tag number, decal number, and expiration date. The form lets the Tax Collector match the replacement request with the correct registration record. Check each field before submitting the application so the information matches the vehicle’s current registration records.
Complete the Law-Enforcement Portion
For a lost or stolen plate or decal, Form 76-903 includes a law-enforcement section. This section asks for the law enforcement agency and the case number, or a copy of the law enforcement report. If your plate was stolen, contact local law enforcement and obtain the applicable report information before completing the replacement process. The form also provides fields related to reporting the missing tag through NCIC or a local system.
Complete the Affidavit and Notary Requirement
Form 76-903 contains an affidavit in which the applicant certifies that the information provided is true and correct. It states that a lost, stolen, or destroyed tag or decal found later must be returned to the Tax Collector and not displayed on a vehicle. The taxpayer must sign the affidavit before a notary public. Complete the certification carefully, since the form references penalties for a false affidavit under Mississippi Code Section 27-19-65.
Submit the Application to the County Tax Collector
Take the completed replacement application to the county Tax Collector handling your vehicle registration. The Tax Collector processes the Mississippi replacement tag request and handles the applicable replacement fee. The current DOR form lists a replacement license tag fee and a replacement decal fee on the form version available from DOR. If your plate was lost or stolen, bring the law-enforcement information required by Form 76-903. Confirm the accepted payment methods and any county-specific submission requirements before visiting the office.
Required Documents for a Plate Replacement
For a Mississippi License Plate Replacement, the main document is Form 76-903, Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal. The Mississippi Department of Revenue lists Form 76-903 as a motor vehicle registration form. The form contains the information needed for a replacement application, including the registered owner’s details, vehicle information, and tag or decal details.
Required Information and Documents
Mississippi License Plate Replacement, prepare the required information before submitting the replacement application. Form 76-903 lists the vehicle, registered owner, tag, and law-enforcement details that may apply to the request.
Prepare the following information for the replacement request:
- Form 76-903 – Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal.
- Registered owner information – The form asks for the registered owner’s name and address.
- VIN – The vehicle identification number is required in the vehicle description section.
- Vehicle information – Include the vehicle make, year, and model.
- Tag/decal information – Provide the tag number, decal number, and expiration date when available.
- Law-enforcement information – For a lost or stolen tag or decal, Form 76-903 has a section for the law-enforcement agency.
- Case number or report – The form requests a case number or a copy of the law-enforcement report for lost or stolen tags.
- Signature and notary – The applicant must certify the information and sign the affidavit before a notary public.
- Replacement fee – The posted DOR form lists fees for replacement tags and decals. Mississippi DOR’s FAQ likewise states that a replacement tag and decal or decal-only request carries a fee.
Mississippi Replacement Tag Cost
Mississippi Replacement Tag Cost depends on whether the vehicle owner needs a replacement tag and decal or only a new decal. The replacement process is handled through the county Tax Collector, with the applicable charge based on the type of replacement requested.
| Replacement Type | Fee | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement Tag + Decal | $10 | When the license plate and decal need replacement |
| Replacement Decal Only | $2.50 | When only the registration decal needs replacement |
| Regular Registration Taxes & Fees | Separate | May apply based on the vehicle and registration circumstances |
Lost License Plate What to Do
A Lost License Plate Mississippi situation should be handled promptly so the missing plate is not used by someone else. If your plate is missing, first check that it has not been misplaced or left at another location. For a lost tag, Mississippi uses Form 76-903, Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal, for requesting a replacement tag or decal. The form collects vehicle and registration details and includes information related to a lost, stolen, or destroyed tag. The replacement process is handled through the county Tax Collector.
Report the Missing Plate and Complete Form 76-903
If the plate cannot be found, obtain Form 76-903 and complete the required vehicle and owner information. The form includes fields for the registered owner, VIN, make, model, year, tag number, decal number, expiration date, and county. For a stolen or missing plate, law-enforcement documentation may be required. Mississippi DOR instructions state that stolen tags should be reported to local law enforcement, with the applicable law-enforcement portion of the form completed.
Submit the Replacement Request
Take the completed replacement application to the appropriate county Tax Collector. The office handles the Mississippi replacement tag request and collects the applicable replacement fee. A replacement decal can be requested when the decal itself is missing or damaged. Check the current fee with the county Tax Collector before submitting your application, since fees and local procedures can change.
What If You Find the Lost Plate Later?
If a lost, stolen, or destroyed tag is recovered after a replacement has been issued, do not place the recovered tag back on the vehicle. Form 76-903 states that a recovered tag or decal must be returned to the Tax Collector. This prevents an old or previously reported tag from remaining in use after a replacement has been issued.
Stolen License Plate Reporting and Replacement
If you have a Stolen License Plate Mississippi situation, report the stolen tag to local law enforcement before requesting a replacement. Mississippi DOR requires information from law enforcement for a stolen tag replacement. The process then continues through Form 76-903 and the county Tax Collector.
Report the Stolen Plate
Start by reporting the stolen plate to the appropriate local law-enforcement agency. Mississippi Code § 27-19-37 addresses lost or stolen tags and the reporting process.
For the law-enforcement portion, prepare:
- Name of the law-enforcement agency
- Case number, when assigned
- Law-enforcement report or applicable report information
- Details identifying the stolen tag
Complete Form 76-903
Complete Form 76-903, Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal, with the registered owner’s information and vehicle details.
The replacement application includes:
- Registered owner’s information
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Vehicle make, year, and model
- Tag number
- Decal number
- Registration expiration date
- Law-enforcement agency information
- Case number or law-enforcement report
Obtain the Substitute Tag
Take the completed Form 76-903 to the county Tax Collector for processing. After the required law-enforcement information has been completed, the Tax Collector handles the substitute tag and decal.
The listed replacement charges are:
- Replacement tag and decal
- Replacement decal only
What If Your Plate Is Damaged, Destroyed, or Unreadable?
A damaged license plate may require different treatment depending on why the tag can no longer be used or identified. Mississippi law distinguishes between a plate that is physically damaged, destroyed, defaced, unreadable, or deteriorated through age. The condition of the plate can affect whether it is treated as a standard replacement plate request or falls under a specific statutory replacement provision.
Damaged or Destroyed Plate
A plate may become damaged or destroyed through an accident, weather, physical impact, or other circumstances. If the tag can no longer be used, contact the county Tax Collector about the appropriate replacement process.
For a damaged or destroyed plate:
- Keep the damaged plate if it is still available.
- Complete Form 76-903 when the Tax Collector requires it for the replacement request.
- Provide the vehicle and tag information requested on the form.
- Ask the county Tax Collector which replacement fee applies to your situation.
Defaced or Unreadable License Plate
Mississippi Code § 27-19-31 addresses tags that become so defaced that proper identification cannot reasonably be made. A plate that is severely faded, altered, damaged, or otherwise unreadable may fall within this category. If the tag number or other identifying features cannot reasonably be recognized, contact the county Tax Collector for the appropriate replacement procedure.
Can You Replace a Personalized or Specialty Plate?
Yes, a personalized plate or specialty plate may be eligible for replacement when it is lost or stolen, but the exact process can depend on the type of distinctive tag. Mississippi law includes provisions for replacement of certain distinctive tags, including situations involving loss or theft. The replacement process can involve the county Tax Collector and the applicable replacement tag requirements.
Replacement Personalized Plate
If a personalized plate is lost or stolen, do not assume that a standard duplicate plate can be ordered through the same process used for every regular tag. The applicable replacement procedure depends on the type of tag and the circumstances.
For a lost or stolen personalized plate, the process may involve:
- Reporting a stolen plate to law enforcement when applicable
- Completing Form 76-903
- Providing the registered owner’s and vehicle information
- Providing the tag number and other requested details
- Submitting the replacement request through the county Tax Collector
Replacement Specialty Plate
A specialty plate can have specific statutory provisions based on its designation. Mississippi law provides for replacement of certain distinctive tags following loss or theft, with the $10 replacement tag and decal fee applying under the relevant § 27-19-37 process. The exact administrative requirements can vary by plate type.
Replacement Plate vs Replacement Decal vs Duplicate Plate
The terms replacement plate, replacement tag, replacement decal, and duplicate plate can appear similar, but they do not always refer to the same request. Mississippi’s official forms and statutes use specific terminology for substitute tags and decals. The correct option depends on what is missing or damaged and the type of Mississippi registration involved.
| Replacement Plate | Replacement Decal | Duplicate Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Replaces the original license plate with a substitute plate or tag. | Replaces only the registration decal; the license plate remains the same. | A separate term that may refer to certain plate requests and is not automatically the same as a replacement plate. |
| Commonly applies to lost, stolen, destroyed, or qualifying damaged plates. | Used when only the registration decal is lost, damaged, or needs replacement. | Often associated with personalized or specialty plate requests. |
| Tag + decal fee | Decal-only fee | Fee and requirements depend on the applicable plate type and Mississippi rules. |
| Lost or stolen plates may require Form 76-903 and law-enforcement information. | Form 76-903 may be used for a replacement decal request. | Requirements should be confirmed with the county Tax Collector for the specific plate type. |
| The replacement request is handled through the county Tax Collector. | The replacement request is handled through the county Tax Collector. | Do not automatically treat a duplicate plate as the same request as a replacement plate. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mississippi license plate replacement, a few common questions may come up about fees, forms, stolen plates, replacement decals, and where to submit your request. The answers below explain the basic replacement requirements, costs, and steps in clear terms so you can identify what applies to your situation.
How much does it cost to replace a license plate in Mississippi?
The Mississippi license plate replacement fee is for a replacement tag and decal. This fee applies to a replacement request for a lost, stolen, destroyed, or qualifying damaged plate. Other registration taxes or fees may apply based on your vehicle and county.
How much is a replacement decal in Mississippi?
A replacement registration decal costs in Mississippi when only the decal needs replacement. The existing license plate remains with the vehicle. If both the plate and decal need replacement, the replacement tag and decal fee.
What form do I need to replace a Mississippi license plate?
Mississippi uses Form 76-903, Application for Replacement Tag and/or Decal, for replacement requests. The form asks for vehicle and registration information. Certain stolen-plate cases require law-enforcement information and a case number or report.
Do I need a police report for a stolen license plate in Mississippi?
If your Mississippi license plate was stolen, contact local law enforcement and follow the reporting requirements before submitting the replacement request. Form 76-903 includes a section for the law-enforcement agency and case number or report information. The completed law-enforcement portion may be required for a stolen plate.
Where do I replace a lost Mississippi license plate?
A lost Mississippi license plate is replaced through the county Tax Collector. Complete the required replacement paperwork, provide the requested vehicle and registration information, and submit it to the appropriate county office. The Tax Collector handles the replacement process and applicable fee collection.