Mississippi Car Insurance Coverage: What You Need to Know
If you’ve never had to use your car insurance, chances are you don’t know exactly what your policy covers. That’s more common than you’d think—especially in Mississippi, where many folks pick the cheapest policy just to stay legal. But if you’re ever in a wreck, understanding your coverage can make a huge difference.
Let’s break down the basics.
Two Types of Coverage
Most car insurance policies include two categories:
Liability Coverage – Covers others when you cause a wreck.
First-Party Coverage – Covers you and your car (we’ll talk more about this in another post).
Liability Coverage: What’s Included
Liability insurance pays for damages you cause to someone else. The two main parts you need to know:
Bodily Injury Liability – Covers medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.
Property Damage Liability – Covers damage to the other person’s car or property.
Mississippi’s Minimum Coverage
In Mississippi, the minimum liability insurance required is:
$25,000 per person
$50,000 per accident (total)
$25,000 in property damage
How It Works in Real Life
Let’s say you rear-end a car with three people inside. If your policy has the state minimum:
Each person can get up to $25,000 for injuries.
But the total payout for everyone combined can’t go over $50,000.
So, if:
Driver has $20,000 in damages,
Passenger 1 has $28,000,
Passenger 2 has $5,000,
Your policy could pay:
$20,000 to Driver
$25,000 to Passenger 1 (max per person)
$5,000 to Passenger 2
That adds up to $50,000 total.
But what if all three have more than $50,000 in damages combined? Insurance will only pay up to your policy limit. After that, victims may have to recover the rest elsewhere—sometimes through underinsured motorist coverage, or directly from you.
Why This Matters
If you’re ever in a wreck, knowing your coverage helps you make smart decisions—and avoid surprises. And if you’re the injured one, an attorney can help make sure the insurance company treats you fairly and doesn’t lowball your claim.
