How to Replace Your Drivers License in Mississippi
A lost drivers license is always an inconvenience, but it can also cause real problems if the document was stolen or ends up in the wrong hands. It is best to replace lost drivers license credentials as soon as possible. However, a lost license is not the only occasion when you will need to seek a duplicate. If your card is damaged or has outdated information, then you will need to obtain a valid copy. The Mississippi’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides three methods for doing so. You can apply online, at a kiosk or in person.
Whatever method you choose to get a replacement drivers license, certain identification documents and fees will be required of you. Learn how to replace drivers license in Mississippi when you review the information and tips contained in the sections below.
When is a replacement drivers license required in Mississippi?
A drivers license replacement in Mississippi is required after a name correction, such as a legal name change following a marriage, divorce or court order. Drivers will need to complete an address or a name change on drivers license records before requesting a new card.
Since a valid copy of drivers license documentation must always include your most recent details, you may need an updated copy if you drastically change your appearance through weight loss, gender reassignment or other means. Similarly, if you suffer a decline in health or vision, then you may need to add a vision or handicapped driver restriction onto your credentials.
However, the majority of applicants who ask to get copy of drivers license documents do so because they have a lost or seriously damaged their original driving license card. Whatever your reason for replacing drivers license documentation, the processes and the fees are the same.
How to Replace Your Drivers License Online in Mississippi
You may get a drivers license copy online through the state’s driver self-service portal. Click the “Request Your Duplicate Drivers License or ID Card” button and carefully read the disclaimer before proceeding. If you are requesting a copy of credentials but the state does not have a valid photo on file with the DPS, then you must visit a driver license station in person to have your picture taken before you can be issued a new card.
To obtain a drivers license copy online in MS, you must have your license number and a Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express card to pay your fee. If you do not know your license number, then you may use the last four digits of your Social Security Number to access the system instead. Follow the prompts to order your DMV duplicate license and pay the fee. After the DPS validates your request, your new card will be mailed within 48 hours to the street address on file with the agency.
How to Replace Your Drivers License by Kiosk in Mississippi
To simplify the process to replace drivers license in MS, the DPS provides a statewide network of self-service kiosks located inside DPS offices and select courthouses. However, to replace lost drivers license credentials at a kiosk, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a licensed Mississippi driver between 17 and 75 years of age
- Your DPS account must be in good standing with no unpaid traffic tickets
- You must have a valid MasterCard or Visa credit/debit card for fee payment
- You cannot have a name or other changes on your license
Ordering a drivers license copy at a kiosk is similar to using an ATM machine. If you still have your copy of drivers license document in your possession and it is not too damaged, then simply swipe it to begin your transaction. From there, you will use the touch screen to verify your information and pay your fee.
For safety purposes, the kiosk uses facial recognition technology to match your face with the photo on file and if your duplicate drivers license needs a new photo, then the machine will take it on the spot. You will receive a receipt to use until your new card arrives in the mail, usually within one week.
How to Replace Your Mississippi Drivers License in Person
“Where can I get a copy of my drivers license in MS?” is a common question among residents. Mississippi drivers license replacement is available in-person on non-holiday weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You must bring two forms of identification, which may include two from the primary list of documents or one primary and one secondary.
Check the ID document list to see every option for ID verification and which count as primary or secondary documents. Commonly-used primary forms of ID include birth certificates, U.S. passports and military ID cards. The secondary list of documents to replace drivers license credentials includes utility bills, pay stubs, bank statements and IRS/tax forms. After the DPS clerk verifies your identification, he or she will process your cash, debit or credit card fee payment.
Out-of-State Drivers License Replacement in Mississippi
Members of the U.S. armed forces, students and others who face a damaged or lost drivers license situation while living temporarily out-of-state may wonder how to get a copy of their drivers license replaced from another location. The best way to replace drivers license documentation from out-of-state is to follow the online process detailed above.
Military members may replace lost drivers license documents by mailing the following to the DPS Military Renewals division in Jackson:
- A photocopy of your MS driver’s license
- First page of military orders showing your current duty station
- Letter from your commanding officer stating your name, driver’s license number and deployment status
- A certified check made payable to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
Mississippi Drivers License Replacement Fees
There is an MS drivers license replacement fee of $11, which is payable by the methods described above. Duplicate drivers license fees must be paid in full at the time of application. If you plan on renewing your drivers license, then you will also be responsible for paying the renewal fee.
Sources
- Request a Duplicate from Ms.gov