Is it legal to own a pet armadillo?
Unclear Needs confirmation
Armadillos live wild in Mississippi.
MS · State hub
Mississippi
Every QuirkMaps topic for Mississippi, grouped by category. Each answer links to the official source it comes from.
Exotic pets
Vehicles
Can car dealerships open on Sundays?
Unclear Needs confirmation
It's unclear whether Mississippi restricts Sunday car sales; the official code couldn't be read and sources conflict.
Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
All riders
Mississippi requires every motorcycle and motor scooter rider to wear a helmet.
Do you need a front license plate?
Rear plate only
Mississippi issues one license tag, and it goes on the rear of the vehicle.
Is it legal to pump your own gas?
Self-serve allowed
Mississippi allows self-service gas; state law sets price-sign rules for self-service pumps at retail stations.
Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
Allowed with limits
Mississippi bars any horn from making an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a train horn likely breaks.
Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
No safety inspection
Mississippi repealed its annual motor vehicle safety inspection law effective July 1, 2015.
Home & property
Are fireworks legal?
Aerial fireworks allowed
Mississippi allows Class C consumer fireworks, including small Roman candles, rockets and firecrackers, sold only during set seasons.
Food & drink
Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Allowed
Mississippi's alcohol rules don't limit happy hour drink prices at bars and restaurants.
Is there a bottle deposit?
No bottle deposit
Mississippi has no bottle deposit law; drink containers carry no refundable deposit.
Where can you buy liquor?
State wholesale, private stores
Mississippi is the only wholesaler of liquor, and privately owned package stores buy from the state and sell to the public.
Time & calendar
Does the state observe daylight saving time?
Observes DST, law to go year-round
Mississippi observes daylight saving time but passed a 2021 law to stay on it year-round if Congress allows.
Money & taxes
Are groceries taxed?
Taxed at a lower rate
Mississippi taxes groceries at 5%, lower than its 7% general sales tax rate.
Does the state have a lottery?
Has a state lottery
Yes. Mississippi created a state lottery in 2018, run by the Mississippi Lottery Corporation.
Does the state have a sales-tax-free weekend?
Has a tax-free period
Yes. Mississippi holds a July back-to-school holiday and a late-August holiday for firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies.
Voting & elections
Do you need an ID to vote?
Photo ID required
Mississippi requires photo ID at the polls. A voter without one votes an affidavit ballot and has five business days to show ID.