Drivers License

[momesu]

I had been pretty nervous about heading out to get my FL drivers license and register my car. There have been several reports of nightmare experiences doing so. Fortunately that was not my experience and I am now officially a full time FL resident.

Other than now being $500 poorer, I was very pleased with how things went. I went to office on 466A and it took less than an hour from the time I walked in and got my number till I walked out new license and tags for my car in hand.

My recommendations to anyone yet needing to do this are 1) be sure and take all required documentation and 2) arrive before 10am. Be forewarned if you want to use a charge card they will add a handling fee. If you are prepared to pay with a check you can avoid this extra charge.

I am very happy to be fully FLORIDIAN! Now I just need the tan!

Suzanne

[Skybo]

I hear you Suzanne. The required paperwork, (especially for a female who has had name changes) can be daunting. But aside from the paperwork and the cost, I found the whole process really efficient and ...dare I say it ... pleasant, compared to a normal “DMV” experience from where I came from.

Now don't forget to apply for your homestead exemption.

[skyguy79]

I had been pretty nervous about heading out to get my FL drivers license and register my car. There have been several reports of nightmare experiences doing so. Fortunately that was not my experience and I am now officially a full time FL resident.

Other than now being $500 poorer, I was very pleased with how things went. I went to office on 466A and it took less than an hour from the time I walked in and got my number till I walked out new license and tags for my car in hand.

My recommendations to anyone yet needing to do this are 1) be sure and take all required documentation and 2) arrive before 10am. Be forewarned if you want to use a charge card they will add a handling fee. If you are prepared to pay with a check you can avoid this extra charge.

I am very happy to be fully FLORIDIAN! Now I just need the tan!

SuzanneDittos! My wife and I had the same exact experience there. I had the male rep directly in line with Wanda, the woman who gave us our waiting ticket and went out to verify the VIN's on our two cars. He was great and when I supervised people who did the same exact job in NYS, I would have loved to have another Rep of his caliper! :clap2:

[ssmith]

Momesu. I remember your first posts so I am celebrating this new chapter with you!!!!

[CarGuys]

My recommendations to anyone yet needing to do this are 1) be sure and take all required documentation and 2) I am very happy to be fully FLORIDIAN! Suzanne

What is the required documentations? Does a passport make it easier?

[skyguy79]

What is the required documentations? Does a passport make it easier?CG, use this link. It will provide the information you need for your license. Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles - DL (http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/dlnew.html)

For car registration, the license requirements suffice for ID along with a FL insurance card and your NY title and lien clearance if a lien shows on the title. More on this at Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles - VEHICLES (http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/titlinf.html).

[tainsley]

What is the required documentations? Does a passport make it easier?

YES! I brought everything...even my report cards! The young lady asked for my passport, birth cert and two bills with my Florida address (don't forget those). We waited almost two hours! Be warned though...someone came out of the office at 3:10 and took the number machine away. At 4:30 someone came out and if you didn't have a ticket bye-bye!

[graciegirl]

What is the required documentations? Does a passport make it easier?



The passport makes it much easier. Ours had expired. If a woman has divorced the name change verification has to be presented and the government issued birth certificate, not the one from the hospital with your footprints.

We each had just one marriage and the drivers license change was easy but be SURE you have your original SS card. We had to leave and go to get a copy made at the agency.

The male person was most helpful and nice. Still more stuff to present than I would have thought. Check the site and be prepared is very good advice.

[jblum315]

YES! I brought everything...even my report cards! The young lady asked for my passport, birth cert and two bills with my Florida address (don't forget those). We waited almost two hours! Be warned though...someone came out of the office at 3:10 and took the number machine away. At 4:30 someone came out and if you didn't have a ticket bye-bye!
It's not simple but if you have all the required documents it goes fast. I had to go back 3 times because of lacking a required document.

If you are a woman and your birth certificate and SS card are in your maiden name, you have to bring marriage certificate to prove your married name.
You must bring 2 bills with Fl. address (and no, the DMV won't pay the bills LOL)

[janmcn]

The website for requirements to get a FL driver's licenses is Gather Go Get the FLORiDA Card: Index (http://www.gathergoget.com).

[Happinow]

What documents did you need?

[momesu]

What is the required documentations? Does a passport make it easier?

Not sure if passport makes it easier or not but it is on the list of items and its what I took. It was easier to find that then my birth certificate and since my name has changes if I had taken my BC I also would have needed my marriage license to show the name change. I also took my W-2 form that had my FL address on it and a bank statement that had my FL address on it.
For a full list of items you need to take you can go to www.GatherGoGet.com (http://www.gathergoget.com)

Suzanne

[momesu]

Momesu. I remember your first posts so I am celebrating this new chapter with you!!!!

Thanks!

[momesu]

The passport makes it much easier. Ours had expired. If a woman has divorced the name change verification has to be presented and the government issued birth certificate, not the one from the hospital with your footprints.

We each had just one marriage and the drivers license change was easy but be SURE you have your original SS card. We had to leave and go to get a copy made at the agency.

The male person was most helpful and nice. Still more stuff to present than I would have thought. Check the site and be prepared is very good advice.

I guess I was lucky that I had a job before moving down here and gave my employer my new address so I would get my W-2 here. They accepted that and I didn't need my Social Security card. W-2 worked for proof of address and proof of Social Security. Also someone mentioned they needed birth certificate with their passport. I only presented my passport and that was enough.

Best thing is now my DL is good for 12 years! YEA!

Suzanne

[momesu]

It's not simple but if you have all the required documents it goes fast. I had to go back 3 times because of lacking a required document.

If you are a woman and your birth certificate and SS card are in your maiden name, you have to bring marriage certificate to prove your married name.
You must bring 2 bills with Fl. address (and no, the DMV won't pay the bills LOL)

A good reason for a woman to use a passport!

Suzanne

[Happinow]

Driver's license good for 12 years??? Oh my. Sounds like a long time. As we all know, we live in a retirement community and say I'm 72 when I renew mine and it's good for 12 years....that means I won't have to go for any eye test or any testing all all until I'm 84!! Not so sure it's a safe practice. After a certain age we should be required to be tested more often. I think I'm hijacking this forum....sorry

[allairenjadea]

I am going to do this in March so I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row. The DMV site talks about a trip to the Tax Collectors office for titling purposes. At what point would this be done ?

[skyguy79]

Driver's license good for 12 years??? Oh my. Sounds like a long time. As we all know, we live in a retirement community and say I'm 72 when I renew mine and it's good for 12 years....that means I won't have to go for any eye test or any testing all all until I'm 84!! Not so sure it's a safe practice. After a certain age we should be required to be tested more often. I think I'm hijacking this forum....sorryTwelve years??? I just did mine in late December and it's good for a little over 8 years, no where near 12, and the same 8 year period your NY license was good for! Where did you hear that from? Or was it they thought you looked like you would last 4 years more than I will? :1rotfl:

p.s. never mind my question of where did you hear that from. I just found out who it was.

[momesu]

Twelve years??? I just did mine in late December and it's good for a little over 8 years, no where near 12, and the same 8 year period your NY license was good for! Where did you hear that from? Or was it they thought you looked like you would last 4 years more than I will? :1rotfl:

p.s. never mind my question of where did you hear that from. I just found out who it was.


My mistake it is 8 years! Sorry....<hanging head in shame>....
Suzanne

[momesu]

I am going to do this in March so I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row. The DMV site talks about a trip to the Tax Collectors office for titling purposes. At what point would this be done ?

If you go to 466A office you can do everything there. No need for separate visit to another office. That is unless they change things by March....

suzanne

[skyguy79]

My mistake it is 8 years! Sorry....<hanging head in shame>....
SuzanneMomesu, you don't need to hang your head in shame for that error; pick your head up. There only two reasons good people should hang their head in shame, one to look down and the other I can't mention on this forum! :)

[anlashokna]

Just wanted to add a little to this. One poor couple today was coming and going..they didn't have there Social Security cards so husband went home to get them. He couldn't find them, came back thinking the tax return would suffice..nope. Just make sure you have your Card and birth certificate from teh state, not hospital. If you don't have it its easy to order a copy online. Actually had two I had ordered and my mother produced my original one! LOL.

Another biggie where we ran into trouble...when registering a vehicle. You have to have your title for the car (s). We are in the middle of getting them fed exed copies from our finance company who holds them. What a pain. Never and I repeat never have we encountered that. So that came as a shock. Oh and it can take up to a month for this to occur. We got our to expediate the process but still looking at a week...pretty bad since my tags expire next week!!!! And the other vehicle will be going out of state in two week for an extended time. ::sigh:::

[CarGuys]

Dittos! My wife and I had the same exact experience there. I had the male rep directly in line with Wanda, the woman who gave us our waiting ticket and went out to verify the VIN's on our two cars. He was great and when I supervised people who did the same exact job in NYS, I would have loved to have another Rep of his caliper! :clap2:

Skyguy will you take me and run interference! I'm scarred of the DMV.

[skyguy79]

Skyguy will you take me and run interference! I'm scarred of the DMV.Hey, if I faced 33 years of being afraid of the DMV in NY and one day in FL, you can face the DMV for one day here in Florida.

Besides, how could I run interference when I'd be right behind you!
http://th266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/theogrit/th_1sm280snakes-on-a-plane.gif

[Happinow]

Having read the horror stories about getting a Florida license, my husband and I went loaded for bear. We went to the place on 466a in with the library. Much to our surprise, we walked in and there was nobody waiting. We got right in. We needed our NYS drivers license, two proofs of residence, our passport and car insurance card and title. It went smooth as silk and the lady assisting us even had a sense of humor as we joked back and fourth the whole time. I would strongly recommend you have a passport, because I think that made all the difference? They will make you take an eye test, take your picture, take the VIN off your vehicle, take the mileage and ask lots of questions. We had to register my car as well, so it took a bit longer than just getting a license. We were there for about an hour. For us it was a good experience.

[Dennis Ga]

Thanks, for all the information. We are going tomorrow morning and I hope I have everything they are looking for me to bring. Been to their site and have what we need.

[rp001]

When I first arrived here about 1 1/2 yrs ago, my neighbors warned me to NOT use the DMV office on 466,,They said their was substantial "attitude" problems from employees there..I ended up a little north in Marion County on 441 and it was a breeze..DL, Truck, and motorcycle on separate trip..They are a larger office and seem to really have their act together..That said, I saw several people turned away without theirs, due to Not having the EXACT paperwork required..No exceptions..Good luck, I think the office here is no different from others I have been to in Pa...

[aaffmom]

Location on Hwy 441 is Spruce Creek Plaza. Across street from Wal-Mart behind McDonalds. You can do both there also, DL and register you auto.

[asianthree]

What was the $500 for transfer of plates?

[RichieB]

Having read the horror stories about getting a Florida license, my husband and I went loaded for bear. We went to the place on 466a in with the library. Much to our surprise, we walked in and there was nobody waiting. We got right in. We needed our NYS drivers license, two proofs of residence, our passport and car insurance card and title.

Earlier this month I renewed my NYS license and upgraded to their "Enhanced Driver's License," which requires proof of US citizenship. I reviewed the list of documentation requirements, and went to the DMV with more docs than I needed. I zipped through, and the clerk didn't even look at half of the docs that I brought. Go figure.

Question - how do you produce documentation of Florida residency if you have only been living there for a short period of time, yet you need to secure your FL license within 10 days ?

P.S. - the time period for obtaining the FL license is 30 days. I stand corrected.

[Dennis Ga]

We went this morning and it took less than an hour for them to take $625 from us. My B'day is in Oct so I went ahead and paid through Oct 2013. No worries about paying for plates for the year. We were 3rd in line and the young Lady was very good at her job. We went to the center on 466A