If you are a Florida resident, it’s your civic duty to know the state laws that cover vehicle registration. Vehicle registration rules vary from state to state, and you shouldn’t get on the road without learning them all.
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Florida requires that residents register their vehicles with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).
You have 30 days to complete your vehicle registration with your local DHSMV once you get a job in the state, register your children at a Florida school, and/or establish Florida residency.
Vehicle registrations are your responsibility, so keep your important documents ready in advanced. Here you’ll find common vehicle registration questions everybody asks.
What is an auto registration?
An auto registration is your legal proof that shows you paid the registration tax and fees on your vehicle. When you register your vehicle, you’ll get a metal license plate, a validation decal, and a registration certificate.
How Do I Register My Car in Florida?
People registering their vehicle for the first time must complete the following process:
- Visit a Florida DHSMV office.
- Bring your title, proof of ID, and car insurance card (Florida Licensed Insurance).
- New residents must have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and odometer verification completed.
- Pay your initial $225 vehicle registration fee, title fees, plate fees, and taxes.
What are the common vehicle registration fees?
Apart from the initial $225 registration fee mentioned above, there are some other vehicle-related fees that you should include while going through the registration process.
Classification of vehicle by: Weight // Yearly tax and other fees – Every 2 years tax and other fees:
- Automobiles for private use: Up to 2499 lbs. // $27.60 – $55.20
- Automobiles for private use: 2500-3499 lbs. // $35.60 – $71.20
- Automobiles for private use: 3500 lbs. // $45.60 – $91.20
- Trucks, private and commercial: Up to 1999 lbs. // $27.60 – $55.20
- Trucks, private and commercial: 2000-3000 lbs. // $35.60 – $71.20
- Trucks, private and commercial: 3001-5000 lbs. // $45.60 – $91.20
Other Additional Fees:
- Transferring a license plate: $7.35
- New metal license plate: $28.00
What’s the tax rate that Florida charges for every registered vehicle?
It depends on how long you owned your vehicle. Check below:
Vehicle owned less than 6 months:
- Florida collects a 6% state sales tax rate or use tax and any local discretionary taxes your new city or county might require.
- Your sales tax rate will be allocated contingent on any taxes you paid in another state.
Vehicle owned more than 6 months:
- There is no sales, use, or local discretionary taxes for vehicles that have been owned and registered in another state.
- Whether you titled and registered your vehicle in another state, you’ll need to prove that you have owned your vehicle for more than 6 months.
How do I register a vehicle that I purchased from car dealership?
If you purchase a car from an auto dealership, they will handle the work for you.
Note that your dealer must transfer the title and registration within a 30-day window which is stated by law. Be cooperative and work together to make the process go smoothly.
Note that your dealer will be required to submit that prove of transaction to the tax collector’s office, but you should always keep a copy of every document for your own records.
Once you both completed the legal prove of transaction (Bill of Sale), take the following steps:
- Complete the title with the seller of the vehicle. You may be required to have your vehicle go under VIN inspection, if your vehicle hasn’t been titled in Florida.
- Get an odometer disclosure (for vehicles less than 10 years old).
- Submit your filled-out title to the county tax collector’s office and send it to the agent.
- Show proof of valid auto insurance.
- Pay all fees (Title fee, Vehicle registration fee, 6% sales and use tax, local county fees, license plate fee if required (there is no charge for transferring plates).
- Get your license plates and registration stickers
How do I register a vehicle that I purchased from private seller?
It’s a similar registration and titling process compare to purchasing a vehicle from an auto dealer, but with some extra points:
- The seller is required to complete the transfer and title section.
- Fill out the Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (HSMV 82040 Form).
- Show proof of valid auto insurance.
- Fill out the Florida Insurance Affidavit.
- Get a power of attorney in case you are leasing a vehicle and you need to sign on behalf of your leasing company.
- Payment for title transfer fees: $75.25 for an electronic title, $77.75 for a paper title, and $2 per lien.
- Registration and license plate fees based on the weight of the vehicle.
Note that you both need to visit your local DMV and have a copy of every filed document to avoid future complications. If you are outside of Florida, you have the choice to submit your fees and other forms to your local county office by mail.
Do I need to carry my vehicle registration?
Florida drivers must carry their car registration with them or in their vehicle at all times. It is always good to have it handy, if a police officer pulls you over and requires you to show your registration and driver’s license.
When will my vehicle registration expire?
Once you register your car, the renewal date of your car registration is on your birthday (every year or every two years depending on your case). If the car is registered to more than one person, the renewal day would be on the date of birth of the person listed on the vehicle registration.
258 comments
I missed the 30 day deadline to register a car purchased from another person. What do I do now?
You still need to register your vehicle, you’re not allowed to drive without a plate and insurance.
Hi! I bought a used car from a dealership in Florida. They transferred the old tag from the old car to the new car. The old car is not drivable just sitting in driveway. I also canceled the insurance on old car the day we bought the new car. Just recently received notice to renew registration on broke car. How do I cancel the registration on broke car? My son might fix it up and sell it or he might junk the car he just hasn’t decided yet. Is there a certain form I need to fill out for non-use vehicle to the DMV? I just don’t want my license to be suspended because it’s registered with no insurance but I had no idea this was going to happen. I thought it would cancel out that registration because we got a new car transferred plates and it’s registered and insured. Thank you
Visit GoRenew online to verify which vehicles are registered under your name. If you need assistance to register the vehicle, eTags can help.
I’d like to buy a new car in another state. Do it have to bring it back to FL to license it, or can I just transfer my current FL tag to the new car, then register it online?
Hi there,
eTags can help with this! Once you purchase and have the title, we can help you transfer the title and transfer your old tag to the new vehicle. Once the transfer is complete, simply pop your tag onto your new car and go! Visit our site to place an order.
We just realized that the vehicle type is wrong on the registration and title (listed as Plymouth instead of Dodge) Does it matter until we sell it?
Hi there. Registration fees are determined by a lot of factors. Vehicle make is one. Your best bet is to contact DMV directly and inquire about changing the information on the title and registration. Only the DMV will be able to tell you if you can do this without doing a standard transfer. Good luck!
I currently have a specialty tag on my vehicle, but when my registration needs to be renewed I would like to change it to a different one. What costs are involved and will I be able to keep the one I currently have?
Hi there! You can certainly keep your specialty plate should you choose to get a new one. The plate belongs to you! The costs can’t really be estimated as it depends on different factors like, which specialty plate, is it personalized etc. If you place an order on our site for a specialty plate, all of the fees will be outlined before you submit payment. I hope this helps!
Hi, im a flight attendant moving to Florida. Will be driving out two cars, but still based in Chicago, going to leave third car there. Is this allowed, will not have car physically in Florida, but can provide all documents to register.
Thank you
If you’ll be residing/living in Florida, you’ll need to convert/transfer the title and register in FL. You can transfer and register online with eTags, no walk-ins needed. If you don’t have an FL driver’s license we’ll need proof of residence so we can ship paperwork to your address in FL. We can also ship to the other address that’s on your driver’s license. Just choose Florida and register vehicle to get started.
I just renewed the registration (online) on the car my daughter drives, but is in my name. We live at the same address. The decal should be arriving soon, but she would like to have a charity plate. Can she go to a tag agency with her new decal and pay extra to get the charity plate? Would I have to go too? Thanks
eTags does specialty plates online You can also personalize them.
Hi, my son just recently moved to Florida. He wasn’t sure he’d stay, and was looking for a job. He just found one and plans to stay. The car he is driving is in my husband and his name. We,his parents live in Pennsylvania. The car is registered in Pennsylvania. We don’t have a title, as it is not paid off yet (2 more years). It is currently insured in Pennsylvania. State inspection runs out in July. Can we keep the car registered and insured in Pennsylvania? If so, what about the state inspection. Thanks in advance
The vehicle should be registered within 30 days on becoming a resident in Florida. Considering you do not have the physical title, you (the owners) will need to contact your lienholder and request the title sent to eTags processing department in order to complete the title conversion. While the title is in transit, a license plate will be issued, after all requested docs are received:
required docs:
IDs for both parties, FL insurance, most current out of state registration and purchase agreement which will serve as proof of lien.
I’m going to buy a car from a dealer. However I’m going to use the tag on my current vehicle. Will I get a temporary tag for the new car to drive home? When can I physically switch tags?
Typically, the switch is completed at the dealer when you purchase the car; just bring the plate with you and your registration.
Can I get a new registration on my car if the current registration has a lein on it.
Usually, if the vehicle is already registered with plates, you would resolve the lien or other issue associated with that registration. Obtaining a new registration would mean paying the new plates fees of $225 plus the one year registration. Assuming, there is not a lien or other issue associated with the vehicle’s titles, you may be able to apply for a new registration.
My mother’s birthdate and her registration expiration date are not the same how I’d this possible. And how can she correct it?
Contact your local DMV
I am a medical student from Texas. I drove my dad’s car to Florida to attend clinical rotations. I will be here for a few months. His Texas vehicle registration is expiring this month. How can I register his vehicle in Florida without him being here?
You can Transfer Title online with eTags. There’s no need for your father to be in FL. It is recommended that you obtain a power of attorney from your father as there will be documentation that requires the owner’s signature: Form 82053 online
I recently moved to FL with a car that still has my out of state plates. I am buying a new car but it’s going to be a month or two before it is available. Should I get FL plates for my existing car, knowing it’ll be traded in soon? Or wait until the new car arrives? I’m hoping to get an environmental plate, so I know the dealership won’t carry it. Thank you!
Yes, you should get your Florida plates now for your existing car at which point you can request the environmental plate. The Florida DMV requires that you apply for your Fl license and plates within 30 days of establishing residency in the state. Once you are ready to trade in your existing car, the dealership will take care of the paperwork to transfer your FL plate to the new car. You can visit eTags.com and choose the title and registration option to apply for Florida plates for your existing car.
Hi There,
My son purchased a used vehicle at a dealership Nov 22, 21. They gave him a temp tag and said they would get the permanent plates. The first temp tag expired and they issued another temp tag and still no permanent plates. Now the temp tag is expired and he is driving around with a letter from the dealership to explain that they are working on getting a tag for him. Can we bypass the dealership and get a permanent plate on our own?
Thank you!