State insurance guide
Mississippi Business Insurance Guide 2026
Mississippi requires employers with five or more regularly employed employees to provide workers' compensation insurance or Commission-approved self-insurance, and employers with fewer than five may provide it voluntarily. Auto liability minimums and paid leave rules follow, each with its official source.
Explore Mississippi requirements
Open the state requirements checklistMississippi requires employers with five or more regularly employed employees to provide workers' compensation insurance or Commission-approved self-insurance, and employers with fewer than five may provide it voluntarily (Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission: Workers Compensation Facts). Auto liability policies must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage (Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance). Mississippi has no state paid family leave or disability insurance program, according to NCSL's table.
Checked against official sources on October 3, 2026; the agencies named below decide how a rule applies to a particular business.
Shopping for business insurance in Mississippi? Request coverage help
Workers' compensation
Who must carry it: 5 or more regularly employed (Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission: Workers Compensation Facts).
All employers with five (5) employees regularly employed are required to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage.
Source: Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission: Workers Compensation Facts
Exemptions and exclusions
The commission notes exceptions for employment based on an independent contract or subcontract, farm and domestic employment, and employment covered by federal law, such as maritime work (Miss. Code § 71-3-5) (Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission: Workers Compensation Facts).
The agency to ask is the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission. For the coverage itself, see the workers' compensation guide; for a proposal's arithmetic, the workers' comp calculator.
Auto liability minimums
The minimum auto liability coverage in Mississippi:
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- In force: since January 1, 2006
- Source: Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance
On January 1, 2006, the minimum liability requirements increased to the following: $25,000 per person (limited to a single accident), $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage.
Commercial and for-hire vehicles can face different or higher federal or state requirements. Our commercial auto guide covers owned, hired and non-owned vehicles.
Paid leave and disability insurance
Mississippi has no state paid family and medical leave insurance program and no state temporary disability insurance program for private employers, based on NCSL's table, last updated November 7, 2025 (NCSL: state family and medical leave laws), and a cross-check on October 3, 2026 with the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau.
Laws can change faster than compilations: Virginia enacted a program in 2026 (Code of Virginia § 60.2-801). Ask the state agency that handles labor and workforce matters before planning payroll for a later year.
Other requirements to check
Insurance or bond conditions can also come from licensing boards, landlords and clients, for example as general liability limits or certificate wording. Log each one in the certificate of insurance checklist, and use the requirements-by-state guide for work outside Mississippi.
Where to verify
- Workers' compensation: Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission
- Auto liability minimums: Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance
- Paid leave and disability insurance: NCSL state family and medical leave laws and the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau
Before you call, the state requirements checklist lists the questions to ask. For a PolicyBenchmark follow-up about your Mississippi business, request coverage help.
Frequently asked questions
How many employees trigger workers' compensation in Mississippi?
Five regularly employed employees. Below five, coverage is not mandatory, though an employer may provide it voluntarily. The agency to ask is the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission.
Are Mississippi's auto minimums enough for business vehicles?
Mississippi's minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage (Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance). They are the legal floor, not a measure of what a business needs. Commercial and for-hire vehicles can face different or higher federal or state requirements, and contracts can require more.
Does Mississippi require employers to pay into a paid leave program?
No, according to NCSL's table, last updated November 7, 2025 (NCSL): Mississippi has neither a state paid family and medical leave program nor a temporary disability insurance program. Confirm before planning a future payroll year.
About this article
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Always consult with a licensed insurance professional before making coverage decisions.