The Real Reasons You Need to Have Car Insurance in Mississippiv
You’ve been told that you need car insurance in Mississippi, but why? Cars are expensive enough upfront, so paying monthly auto insurance can feel like an unnecessary burden — especially if you’re a good driver with a clean history on the road. And if you manage to go years without filing a claim, it can be even more tempting to try driving without coverage.
Of course, going unprotected is a bad idea. The truth is that there are several key reasons why you need to have a valid car insurance policy if you’re a driver in Mississippi.
Auto Insurance is Legally Required in Mississippi
First and foremost, it’s important to know that Mississippi state law requires drivers to carry auto insurance coverage. In order to register your vehicle in the state, you need to be able to display proof of insurance that meets the minimum requirements. Likewise, if you’re caught driving without adequate insurance coverage, you could find yourself facing fines of up to $1,000, a potential misdemeanor conviction, or worse.
Accidents Can Be Expensive
There are thousands of accidents per year in Mississippi, primarily involving speeding and rear-end collisions. In 2020 alone, Mississippi car accidents resulted in 3,630 serious injuries, 752 fatalities, and millions in property damage. Nobody wants to get into an accident to begin with, but the fact remains that the average person cannot afford to pay for damages out of their own pocket. Having car insurance in place helps to prevent further difficulty by covering at least a portion of the costs.
You Can’t Control Other Drivers’ Coverage
One great reason to carry good auto insurance is to protect yourself in the event that you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. There are over 234,895,000 drivers in the United States, and those are just the ones who are licensed. Nevertheless, Bankrate data shows that only about 215,000,000 carry car insurance.
In addition to other drivers not having coverage, it’s important to keep in mind that auto insurance requirements vary greatly by state. As of 2022, neither Virginia nor New Hampshire required auto insurance coverage. Other states have certain exceptions where drivers can opt to prove their financial capability of paying auto liability minimums instead of carrying full insurance. At the end of the day, however, it’s a good idea to just make sure you’re covered and avoid gambling on what kind of policy (or lack thereof) that other drivers may have.
How Much Coverage You Actually Need
Mississippi is a minimum liability coverage state, which means that you must at the very least carry protection that helps pay for injuries, suffering, and property damage inflicted on other people. The minimum coverage amounts are as follows:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident/incident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident/incident
This is comparable to most other states that require auto insurance. Texas, for instance, is another liability coverage-only state that requires auto insurance in the form of $30,000 per personal injury, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Getting Car Insurance in Mississippi
Remember that the minimum amounts above are just that — minimums. The bills you may wind up responsible for (if you’re deemed at fault in an accident) could exceed your coverage amounts. If this happens, you could wind up having to pay the difference out of pocket. Likewise, carrying the same coverage for your own potential injuries and other damage is optional, but many drivers get it as an extra layer of protection nonetheless.
Not sure what kind of car insurance is best for you? It can help to shop around for different quotes and packages. Talking with an experienced insurance agent in your area is a good place to start. That said, accidents can happen at any time. Avoid getting behind the wheel until you have the right auto coverage in place.
