Moving a Car to FL - Registration Info

[tom_sjc]

Hello,

Here's what I think I need to do, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Need a FL drivers license before I can register the car

Have to have the vehicle odometer and VIN verified someplace. (Police station?) So, can't get this done unless the vehicle is in FL. Was hoping to register the car before shipping it to FL.

Car insurance

Car registration

And this is supposed to be done within 30 days of establishing residency.

My car is a lease, does that matter? I will contact the leasing company for info and I think they will provide me with paperwork to register.

Anyone else gone through this process?

[fw102807]

Yes you need a Fl license to register and they will verify the mileage VIN at the registry. All of this is done at the same place for us in Sumter County. I don't know if this is different elsewhere. We transfered our insurance with a phone call. I don't know anything about a leased vehicle as we owned ours.

[rustyp]

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[fw102807]

Do not blindly take advice from here on this subject. Example - I did not need a Fl license to register a vehicle here. As a matter of fact I had purchased a vehicle here and transported it north but was going to use it here for 3 months. Had to register it in Fl because a temp reg is only 30 days. I did not have Fl license. Call the MV do as they say. What are you going to say when you get to the DMV " Rustyp" told me ? That will get you far.

You are correct. My husband failed his vision test and needed a letter from his eye doctor and we did in fact add his license on when we got it. How quickly we forget.

[HiHoSteveO]

Official info is found at MyFlorida.com

This link below pertains to license /registration.

Florida DHSMV - New Residents (http://www.flhsmv.gov/dhsmv/newflres.html)

[JOERILLA]

You do NOT need a FL drivers lic to registwer it and you can go to your local police station to get the vin verified...the whole process is very simple.

[villagetinker]

If you are going to be in Sumter county, you can go to the government office in Pinellas Plaza (copper topped building), go in the main entrance, turn right, go to the end of the hall, and ask your questions. This is the location to get license, car registration, etc.

[kfierle]

This should help:

What to Bring - Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/what-to-bring/)

[JerryLBell]

If you are going to be in Sumter county, you can go to the government office in Pinellas Plaza (copper topped building), go in the main entrance, turn right, go to the end of the hall, and ask your questions. This is the location to get license, car registration, etc.
I agree with VillageTinker on this as the best approach. Be prepared though as you will be taken aback by the people working this office. They are the most efficient, helpful and friendliest folks I have ever encountered in any license bureau in any state we've ever lived. If you're moving here, you can also get any information you need on getting the homestead property tax credit at the office right next to this one. Plus you can go to the other end of the hall and get your library card! This is a great one-stop-shopping approach to popularly needed governmental services for newcomers like we were last year.

[tom_sjc]

Be prepared though as you will be taken aback by the people working this office. They are the most efficient, helpful and friendliest folks I have ever encountered in any license bureau in any state we've ever lived.

Thanks, this will be a shock. I've had to deal with the DMV in MA, NH, TX and CA.

Texas was the best so far. Guess which was the worst. Yes that's right MA. CA was okay; just took 4 hours. NH was reasonable.

Okay looking forward to being treated as a human being at the FL DMV.

[tom_sjc]

On the FL web sites I've seen conflicting info about taking a written exam.

Anyone know which is correct? I will call.

[rjm1cc]

Best I can remember I needed proof of residency for the driver's license. I think they are trying to verify your address. I used the closing documents on my home. Took the vision test and then got the drivers license. Then registered the car. Car was present so they could check VIN etc. I do not think you have to be a resident to register the car. A lot of cars are in Fl that have owners up North.
You will need your Fl insurance card so do this a couple of weeks before you are ready to register.
You can get your drivers license, car registered and voter registration done at the same time and place. Registration can cost you a couple hundred of dollars.
Good that you mentioned you have a car lease. This may give you a problem with registering the car as you are not the owner. Having a loan on the car also causes additional paperwork.

[tom_sjc]

Called Sumter tax office and left a message. Received a call back they said only a vision test was required. Need SSN card, photo ID.

Thanks for all the responses.

[rustyp]

Called Sumter tax office and left a message. Received a call back they said only a vision test was required. Need SSN card, photo ID.

Thanks for all the responses.
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[vintageogauge]

I agree with VillageTinker on this as the best approach. Be prepared though as you will be taken aback by the people working this office. They are the most efficient, helpful and friendliest folks I have ever encountered in any license bureau in any state we've ever lived. If you're moving here, you can also get any information you need on getting the homestead property tax credit at the office right next to this one. Plus you can go to the other end of the hall and get your library card! This is a great one-stop-shopping approach to popularly needed governmental services for newcomers like we were last year.

That is the first thing I told my wife as we left, it was actually a enjoyable experience. The workers in Ohio acted like they were doing us a big favor to get plates or renew our licenses, I think they enjoyed making people wait. You can also go upstairs and get your dog license which by the way is free, you must have your proof of rabies vaccination with you though. You can also register to vote while you are there, one stop shopping, great place.