Costs associated with vehicle registration

The "Assesssed Valuation" of a NEW YEAR model vehicle = 27% of the actual Value of the vehicle and this percentage decreases each year.

1. Privilege Taxes:

  • Private Vehicles
  • Motorcycles
  • Hearse & Ambulance
  • Curch & School Bus
  • Taxis
  • Trailers
  • Property Carriers:
  • 6,000 GVW
  • 10,000 GVW
  • over 10,000 GVW
  • $15 ($7.20 for trucks)
  • $ 8
  • $25
  • $10
  • $35
  • $10
  • $7.20
  • $33.60 for hire -- $25.20 private -- $16.80 farm
  • Contact Tax Collector's office
 

2. Registration Fees:

  • Tags & Decal(initial)
  • Decal Only (Renewal)
  • Substitute Tag
  • Substitute Decal
  • $14
  • $12.75
  • $10
  • $2.50
 

3. Ad Valorem Taxes:

  • Based on Assessed Valuation of vehicle & local millage rates (see worksheet below)
  • Vehicles 10 years of age and older are assessed at a lower rate. The Ad Valorem taxes are normally under $20 (plus privilege tax and tag/decal).

4. Legislative Tag Credit:

A credit against ad valorem tax assessed on private passenger or light property carrier vehicles. The percentage of Assessed Valuation is determined by the State Tax Commission each year. Currently 5.75% for 2011-12.

5. Penalties

When is a penalty assessed?
  • Initial Registration - after 7th working day following purchase
  • If registered in another State - 30 days after vehicle enters the state
  • Renewals - after end of 15 day grace period (15 days after the expiration date)

How is penalty cacluated? The penalty is assessed on the total amount of taxes and fees (regardless of credits) and in the following manner:

  • 5% - for first 15 days
  • 10% - for next 30 days
  • 15% - for next 30 days
  • 20% - for next 30 days
  • 25% - for next 30 days (at this point legislative tag credit is lost)

6. Additional Fees:

  • Title Transfer
  • Mailing Fee
  • Revenue Sharing Tags
  • Use Tax


  • Sales Tax
  • $10
  • $1
  • Special Tags with additional fees
  • For out-of-state purchases if NO proof of paid sales tax is available
  • - 5% on autos, motor homes, pickups
  • - 7% on boats, trailers, campers, MC
    - $50.00 fee on new MC & ATV first time title or registration 
  • Assessed on vehicles purchased from individuals (not from a dealer)
  • NOTE: Vehicles 10 years or older are exempt from sales tax only

Example of County Tax Calculation

Vehicle in District IV of Ocean Springs
Value of NEW Vehicle = $34,000.00
Assessed Valuation ($34,000.00 x 0.27) = $9,180.00

  • Privilege Tax
  • Registration Fee
  • Penalty
  • Total Ad Valorem
  • Special Tag Fee
  • Total Tax
  • $ 15.00 for automobile ($7.20 for trucks)
  • $ 14.00 for new tag ($12.75 for renewals)
  • $ 0.00 (if pad within 7 working days)
  • $899.93 (see Ad Valorem/Legislative Credit Worksheet below)
  • $ 0.00 (if no special tag is purchased
  • $927.68 *
  • * There may also be "Additional Fees"
    ** Based on 2010-2011 millage rates
    Ad Valorem / Legislative Credit Worksheet
     CountyMunicipalitySchoolTotal Ad Valorem
    Tax Rate (Millage) ** 0.05137 0.02183 0.06734 0.14054
    Ad Valorem Tax 471.58 200.40 618.18 $1290.08
    Legislative Credit -$527.85
    Totals $762.23