How to Get a Dealer License in Mississippi
In Mississippi, dealer licensing runs through the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR), Title and Registration / Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau. To get a used car dealer license in Mississippi you'll need a registered business, a compliant location, a $15,000 surety bond, and the fees below. Whether you're opening a car lot, going wholesale-only, or starting a buy-here-pay-here operation, this guide walks the Mississippi auto dealer license requirements, real costs, and the exact steps — in plain English. Rules change, so verify everything against the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR), Title and Registration / Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau's current pages before you file.
- Agency
- Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR), Title and Registration / Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau
- Surety bond
- $15,000
- License term
- Annual — renewed each license year with the renewal fee, refreshed liability-insurance evidence, and a continued bond.
- Sales threshold
- Mississippi requires a dealer permit to engage in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging used vehicles for profit. DOR frames the requirement around being 'engaged in the business' rather than publishing a simple fixed hobby-sale number — confirm current thresholds with DOR before relying on a specific count.
- Pre-licensing
- Required — an 8-hour educational seminar conducted by the Mississippi Independent Automobile Dealers Association (MIADA); the certificate of completion must accompany the application. No separate state written exam.
License types in Mississippi
| License type | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Used Motor Vehicle Dealer Permit (Retail) | Independent dealers selling used vehicles at retail to the public from an established place of business. |
| Wholesale Motor Vehicle Dealer Permit | Dealer-to-dealer and auction sales only; Mississippi residents must keep a minimum inventory and receive a single wholesale dealer tag. |
| Designated Agent | The status that lets a dealer process its own titles and registrations for DOR — the $15,000 'Bond of Designated Agent' attaches here. |
| New (Franchised) Motor Vehicle Dealer | Franchised new-car dealers are licensed by the separate Mississippi Motor Vehicle Commission (MMVC), not DOR. |
What it costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer permit fee | ≈ $100 | Confirm the current figure on the DOR dealer license packet before relying on it |
| Dealer tag fee | ≈ $43.75 per tag | Per dealer tag; verify current amount with DOR |
| Annual renewal fee | ≈ $100 | Verify current amount on the DOR packet |
| Surety bond premium | Varies | Annual premium you pay is a fraction of the $15,000 face amount, based on credit — not a state fee |
Step by step
- Establish a qualifying Mississippi place of business and obtain motor-vehicle liability insurance.
- Complete the 8-hour MIADA dealer seminar and obtain the certificate of completion.
- Obtain the $15,000 Bond of Designated Agent (insurer seal + power of attorney attached).
- Complete the DOR Motor Vehicle Dealer License Packet (application plus all supporting documents).
- Submit the packet with bond, insurance proof, seminar certificate, and fees to DOR.
- Receive the dealer permit and dealer tag(s); renew annually with the renewal fee.
Premises & temp tags
Location: A bona fide established place of business in Mississippi (not a residence or vacant lot) with an office, permanent dealer signage, display space, and normal business hours, plus motor-vehicle liability insurance giving blanket coverage on vehicles operated on public roads (filed at application and each renewal). Wholesale dealers must keep a minimum inventory and be Mississippi residents. Exact square-footage, sign, and hours specifics are set out in the DOR Dealer Booklet.
Temp tags / plates: Dealers issue temporary/drive-out tags to buyers pending permanent registration; the exact validity period and per-tag rules are set out in the DOR Dealer Booklet.
Mississippi-specific things to know
- Mississippi splits dealer licensing across two agencies: used dealers are permitted by DOR ($15,000 bond) while new/franchised dealers are licensed by the Motor Vehicle Commission ($25,000 bond) — conflating them is the most common error.
- The used-dealer bond is named the 'Bond of Designated Agent' and is $15,000 — not the $25,000 MMVC bond that older or generic guides often cite.
- The MIADA 8-hour seminar is a hard prerequisite — without the certificate of completion in the packet, the application is incomplete.
- Wholesale-only dealers face residency and minimum-inventory rules and get a single wholesale tag — a narrower operation than a retail used-dealer permit.
Official Mississippi resources
- DOR — Dealers and Designated Agents ↗
- DOR — Motor Vehicle Form Search ↗
- Mississippi Motor Vehicle Commission (new/franchise dealers) ↗
Mississippi dealer license FAQ
How much does a dealer license cost in Mississippi?+
Dealer permit fee: ≈ $100; Dealer tag fee: ≈ $43.75 per tag; Annual renewal fee: ≈ $100; Surety bond premium: Varies. Plus the $15,000 surety bond (you pay a small annual premium on that, not the full amount).
How big is the dealer bond in Mississippi?+
Mississippi requires a $15,000 surety bond. The used/independent dealer posts a $15,000 surety bond called the 'Bond of Designated Agent' (insurer seal + power of attorney attached). Do not confuse this with the $25,000 single-location / $100,000 multi-location bond that new/franchised dealers post with the separate Mississippi Motor Vehicle Commission under Miss. Code § 63-17-75.
Do you need a physical lot to get a dealer license in Mississippi?+
A bona fide established place of business in Mississippi (not a residence or vacant lot) with an office, permanent dealer signage, display space, and normal business hours, plus motor-vehicle liability insurance giving blanket coverage on vehicles operated on public roads (filed at application and each renewal). Wholesale dealers must keep a minimum inventory and be Mississippi residents. Exact square-footage, sign, and hours specifics are set out in the DOR Dealer Booklet.
How many cars can you sell in Mississippi without a dealer license?+
Mississippi requires a dealer permit to engage in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging used vehicles for profit. DOR frames the requirement around being 'engaged in the business' rather than publishing a simple fixed hobby-sale number — confirm current thresholds with DOR before relying on a specific count.
How long is a Mississippi dealer license valid?+
Annual — renewed each license year with the renewal fee, refreshed liability-insurance evidence, and a continued bond.
Is dealer training or an exam required in Mississippi?+
Required — an 8-hour educational seminar conducted by the Mississippi Independent Automobile Dealers Association (MIADA); the certificate of completion must accompany the application. No separate state written exam.
How do temporary tags work for Mississippi dealers?+
Dealers issue temporary/drive-out tags to buyers pending permanent registration; the exact validity period and per-tag rules are set out in the DOR Dealer Booklet.
Data verified 2026-07-17. Requirements change — confirm with the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR), Title and Registration / Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau before filing.
Licensed and ready to sell?
Loturn tracks every cost against every VIN and shows real profit on every car, with dealer accounting built in. One flat price.
Start free trial