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Today we’re going to give you a quick rundown on how to get your driver’s license if you’ve just moved to Florida. But before we begin, it’s important to note that as a recent transplant to the Sunshine State, the law requires you to obtain a new driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency. And we’ll start with the residency aspect first!
First, you must be considered a resident of Florida before applying for a driver’s license. Here are several forms of Residency you can provide to the DMV:
- Proof of local employment in a trade profession, or occupation
- Proof that you’ve lived in Florida for more than six consecutive months
- Proof that your children are enrolled in state public schools
- Proof of voter registration in Florida
- Proof of homestead or property tax exemption filing
Next, it’s time to gather the necessary documents. First up is Identification. If you are a U.S. citizen, acceptable form of Primary ID are:
- Birth certificate
- Passport or passport card
- Consular report of birth abroad
- Certificate of naturalization
- Certificate of citizenship
Secondary ID forms can be:
- Social Security Card
- W-2 Form
- Pay stub
- SSA-1099 or any 1099
You will also need to have Proof of Address. You can provide one of the following:
- Deed, mortgage, or lease
- Florida voter registration card
- Home or auto insurance bill
- W-2 or pay stub
- Bank statements
Once you’ve got all these in order, you’re ready to make the appointment with the DMV to get your new Florida driver’s license! These spots can fill up fast, so it’s a good idea to make this appointment as soon as possible.
At the DMV office you can expect the following to occur:
- A vision test
- A new photo taken
- Your old driver’s license surrendered
- Fees paid
After the above tasks are completed, you may be given a temporary license that will be valid for thirty days while you await your actual driver’s license card. The new card will usually arrive via mail within the month.
Now, if you’re also planning on transferring your title and registration to Florida (which is a requirement that must be done within ten (10) days of establishing residency,) your next step is to make sure you’ve got your Out-of-State Title and Registration on hand. If you’ve lost your title, or if it’s been stolen or damaged, you will need to contact your previous state’s DMV and order a duplicate/replacement document.
For out-of-state titles with active liens: In the case of an active lien – meaning, the financial institution has possession of the title – you will need to contact the bank/lender and have them send the title to the FLHSMV. This is a common practice that lienholders are quite familiar with – no need to worry!
For vehicles with liens, you may proceed with your title as follows:
Insurance. You will need to show proof of valid, local Florida insurance in order to register your vehicle.
And there you have it: how to obtain a driver’s license in the state of Florida as a new resident. And remember, for all your title and tag needs in the Sunshine State, you’ve come to the right place! From out-of-state transfers to registration renewals, Specialty Plates and more, head on over to our homepage and select Florida as your state. We’ve got a team of dedicated title and tag experts ready to lend a hand. Because as always, at eTags, we’re here to help!
