4 Best Auto Transport Companies in Mississippi For 2024

1. Understand Mississippi Residency

This step only applies if you’re relocating from another state and plan to establish your permanent and principal residence in Mississippi. This information doesn’t apply to college students or snowbirds living in MS temporarily. Mississippi legally requires new residents to take specific steps regarding car registration, auto insurance, driver license, and more based on the date residency is established. It may be challenging to establish an exact date of residence, but the state suggests residency is established if you meet any of the following:

• Live in Mississippi and have a signed lease agreement or purchase agreement
• Can provide a utility bill with your Mississippi address
• Have a Mississippi car tag receipt
• Can prove employment in the state
• Have a Mississippi driver's license
• Are registered to vote in Mississippi
• Pay property taxes in Mississippi
• Have a Mississippi homestead exemption

2. Update Your Insurance to Comply with MS Laws

Mississippi law requires all drivers to maintain liability insurance and to carry their insurance cards in the vehicle at all times. You are legally required to purchase an auto insurance policy within 30 days of establishing residency. The minimum requirements are:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person/$50,000 per accident: Helps cover medical costs of people injured in an accident that is your fault.
• $25,000 property damage liability: Helps cover costs of damage to a vehicle or property when you are the at-fault driver.

Mississippi’s requirements are minimal. To reduce your risk, you may want to consider increasing the limits of the above requirements or purchasing additional coverage such as collision, comprehensive, uninsured, or underinsured motorist insurance. An umbrella policy is always a good idea if you have considerable assets.

3. Title and Register Your Vehicle

If you bring a car into Mississippi from out of state, you must apply for title and registration at the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) within 30 days of establishing residency. You’ll need to:

• Go in-person to your local tax collector’s office.
• Show the current title and registration documents from your previous state. If you have a lien, provide the name and address of the lien holder.
• Provide your valid driver's license.
• Show an odometer reading.
• Provide the vehicle’s VIN.
• Pay registration fees.

4. Obtain a Valid Mississippi Driver License

You must obtain a driver's license from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) in person within 60 days of establishing residency. You’ll need to:

• Show two documents proving MS residency, such as a bank statement, state car tag, utility bill, lease agreement, or mortgage.
• Provide your social security card.
• Provide your birth certificate.
• Provide your out-of-state driver license, which you’ll need to surrender to DPS
• Complete the application.
• Pay the license fee with a card or cash. Checks are not accepted.

5. Driving in Mississippi

Now that you’re familiar with auto insurance requirements, how to register your car, and obtain a driver’s license, you should also become familiar with the basic rules of the road. Knowing these basic laws will help make you more comfortable and confident when you’re behind the wheel.

• Seat belts: Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts. Children under the age of four must travel in a car seat. Children aged four to seven must travel in a booster seat system.
• Driver license and registration: You must have your valid driver's license and car registration with you whenever you’re driving.
• Speed limits: The limit is 65 mph on four-lane divided highways, however on interstate highways or controlled-access highways with four or more lanes, the statutory speed limit is 70 mph. On portions of interstates that pass through urban areas, the speed limit is 60 mph. Individual cities and counties establish speed limit laws for school and residential area roads. Mississippi’s absolute speed limit law means that law enforcement can cite you if you exceed the posted speed limit by only one mile per hour.
• Distracted driving: Distracted driving laws prohibit handheld devices to browse the internet or navigate social media. However, Mississippi does not ban initiating or receiving phone calls while driving.
• DUI: You are breaking the law in Mississippi if you drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or above. The state has a zero-tolerance rule for drivers under the legal drinking age of 21. It is illegal for a driver under 21 to have any level of alcohol in their system.

Are you looking to ship your vehicle to Mississippi from another part of the country? Caravan Auto Transport’s network of vetted, licensed, and insured auto transporters offers safe, efficient transport of your automobile to its destination without running up the miles on the odometer. These reputable Mississippi car shipping companies provide the following services:

Open Car Transport

The most common method of car transportation, open transport carriers are ideal if you’re looking for an affordable shipping option with speedy delivery. As the name suggests, your car is loaded onto an open-air trailer along with several other vehicles headed to the same destination.

Enclosed Auto Transport

If you desire enhanced security or protection for your vehicle, you may wish to arrange enclosed carrier shipping. Inside a covered trailer, your car is protected from harsh weather conditions and road hazards like dust and dirt. Shipping your vehicle in a closed carrier also enhances its safety during transit by keeping the car concealed.

Door-to-Door Car Shipping

With a door-to-door car shipping service, you choose the desired pick-up and drop-off locations rather than having to arrange getting your vehicle to or from a transport terminal. Door-to-door shipping is the most convenient choice for shipping your car to or from Mississippi, saving you time and effort.

Expedited Shipping

In a hurry to get your car from one location to the next? Upgrading to expedited shipping ensures a seamless pick-up and drop-off of your vehicle on your schedule. As a priority customer, you receive fast, timely service so you can get back to driving that much quicker.

Classic and Antique Car Transport

When it comes to transporting a classic car, you want an auto transport company that can deliver your vehicle without a single dent or scratch. From a vintage Mustang to an antique DeVaux Sports Coupe, our network of classic auto transporters has the expertise and equipment to transport your classic car safely, so it arrives in pristine condition.

High End and Luxury Auto Shipping

Exotic car transporters use specialty equipment, like hydraulic lifts and sophisticated tie-downs, along with enclosed trucks, to keep your valuable car safe during every mile of transit. An enclosed car hauler ensures the ultimate protection for your high-end or luxury vehicle, protecting it from dirt, dust, and debris along the way.

From moving off to college to taking on a new job, there are numerous reasons you may be interested in shipping a car to Mississippi or somewhere outside of the Magnolia State. Caravan Auto Transport’s network of auto shippers streamlines the car hauling process no matter your reason for transporting your vehicle to or from MS.

Moving and Relocation

When moving cross-country or out-of-state, many people choose to ship their cars rather than add a long road trip to an already stressful and exhausting relocation experience. Leave the logistics of moving your vehicle in the hands of professionals with either open or enclosed vehicle shipping services.

Snowbirds

Are you a snowbird who loves the Mississippi Gulf in the winter season? Given the Magnolia State’s mild winter temps and gorgeous Gulf beaches, it’s not hard to understand why. Start enjoying your escape from the frigid north that much sooner by shipping your car and meeting it at your Mississippi destination – whether you’re wintering in laid-back Waveland or active and exciting Gulfport.

Military

Mississippi is home to four military bases. From the Gulfport Battalion Center Navy Base in Gulfport to Camp Shelby Army Base just outside of Hattiesburg, tens of thousands of military personnel are stationed in the Magnolia State. If you’re one of the brave men and women serving our country, we’re happy to provide you with free quotes and connect you with top-notch car transportation to or from Mississippi.

Online Car Buyers

Whether you’ve found the perfect vehicle on Craigslist, eBay, or AutoTrader, you may need some assistance getting it home, especially if it’s sitting on the other side of the country. Instead of flying out to pick it up and putting hundreds or thousands of miles on the odometer just to get it to your driveway, arrange for a hauler to transport your new car for you.

College Students

From the University of Mississippi, famously known as Ole Miss, to Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, has no shortage of top-tier colleges and universities for those seeking to further their education. If you have a college student moving to Mississippi from out-of-state (or vice versa), have their vehicle shipped straight to campus with a fast, affordable auto transport service.

On average, it costs between $500-$1500 to ship a car to Mississippi. Anticipate paying around $1 per mile for the first 1-500 miles, then approximately $.75 for every mile after that. Several factors influence the final cost of shipping your vehicle, including the origin and destination zip codes, the method of transport (open vs. enclosed), the speed of shipment, the type of vehicle, and the time of year. The best way to get an accurate estimate of car shipping costs is by requesting free quotes from our network of auto transport companies.