Becoming a Florida Resident
 

I am sure others may have run into this situation. We want to become Fl residents, as we are in Fl on average 7 months of the year. We will register the vehicle we have with us in TV. We have a residence in NJ and a vehicle that we leave here during the winter. If Fl is our main residence do both vehicles have to be registered in Fl and can that be done without the vehicle physically being in Fl?

Yes, there is a form that is filled out by any police officer or other public official if NJ that verifies vin and mileage. Take that form with NJ title to Florida dmv.

Make sure you talk to your insurance carrier. If your residence is here and your FL registered car is in NJ you will have to have a carrier that is licensed to insure in FL.

The problem you will have will be with state income taxes. You have to prove to NJ that you intend FL to be your home state. This is not hard. Just register to vote, get FL drivers license (they will take your NJ license), change NJ and Federal income tax return addresses to FL, register your FL car in FL.
Your NJ car will stay registered in NJ. You might want to email NJ MVD to confirm but this is correct. You will need auto insurance approved by the state the car is in.Thus you may need a new insurance company in FL. FL will want to see the car so they can copy the VIN number. You will need proof that you live in FL so look up the rules but utility bills to your FL residence and a lease or purchase agreement/deed for your home should work. You also need proof of FL ins. Just like NJ.Also title to the car.If financed no problem but but be sure to have your loan info so FL can write to your lender.
You will pay non resident income taxes to NJ if you have NJ source income. The year you move you will be a part time resident in NJ for income taxes. If you are buying file for the homestead exemption. Probably with your county property appraiser. Do this ASAP so it is done and not forgotten. It is effective the following Jan 1st.

This is an easy process, just a paperwork pain.

Thanks all for your info ad help!

You may also want to check insurance rates. Same exact car in florida vs wisconsin is about $900 more a year in florida for car insurance...

You may want to RETHINK becoming a FL resident while you still own a home in NJ.....if and when you decide to sell in NJ with FL as your primary residence you will pay an exit tax to the state of NJ on the profit of your home...THANK GOVERNOR CORZINE FOR THAT ONE!!

Fl residence
 

Be careful.If you become a FL resident your NJ home will no longer be your home.If you sell your NJ home you will owe federal income tax on the gain.

Not sure if this is correct (above comment). For the Federal income tax if you live in the home for any 24 month periods out of the last 60 months (the 60 months are tax years) you will not owe capital gains tax if the NJ home was your principal place of residence for the 24 months. NJ follows the Federal income tax rules. Thus do a little research to make sure if you are or are not taxable in NJ.

Remember you get an ongoing benefit with the homestead exemption in FL and the taxable increased in appraised value is cap.

You will also be paying NJ income tax on all your income if you keep NJ as your residence.

Probably pays to register in FL.

Along the lines of this thread, does anyone know the process and in what order? Change to FL license, register autos, change to FL insurance?

Our attorney also advised us to get an Affidavit of Domicile wherein you declare FL your place of residence. We got this at the same place as the drivers licenses and car regs ( on 466). Cost us $10. He told us to attach a copy to our final state income tax form. We loved Sumter County's one-stop shopping.

Insurance (including health) is a big deal. Be sure to address it before anything else. We needed to change auto insurance carrier since the one up north only insures within that state. Our health insurance was a nationwide plan but many are not.

Good luck with your transition.

Should have answered this...our health insurance required no change. We took care of auto and car insurance first and then went to 466 center (Sheriff's building called ??) to get drivers licenses, register car, and Affidavit of Domicile. I think we even registered to vote there. Also applied for Homestead exemption. All in the same afternoon!

I do recall that you needed to provide proof of FL vehicle insurance before getting a drivers license and vehicle registration. So take care of insurance first. Take your vehicle with you...they go out to parking lot and take VIN number, etc.

They were amazing. Kind, helpful, professional, and courteous. We even met the famous Randy Mask (the tax collector).

Might vary by the county you are in. In Marion County the tax collector will do it all. Very efficient and nice. Fl is trying to make it easy.

You do it all at the same time. Including registering to vote (this keys you in as a resident as you can only vote from your residence). You may have to pay a few hundred dollars per car. It is a one time deal. You could call or email the state for info but figure $500.00 per car. This is a guess but you get the idea, expensive. Do not recall if they charge for CC payments or if they take CC. Bring your check book.
You need to come to the tax office with your FL insurance card, NJ drivers license (you have to surrender), car (they want to check the VIN), any financing paperwork if you do not owe it, proof of address - utility bills, lease, deed etc. You can look up on the web site. Bring several forms of proof. You will get an eye sight test to see if you need glasses to drive. Probably no drivers test or questions.