Car Title
 

An Ohio resident is renting full time in TV and needs to renew their car registration in Ohio to get license tags. Ohio requires a vehicle E-check. That would require driving the car back to Ohio. Can the owner get the car titled in Florida even though the owner has an Ohio drivers license?

If someone is renting full time in Florida, they are required to have a Florida drivers license. You are only allowed to live in Florida for 30 days before getting a Florida license.

I suggest you go to the FL DMV at Pinellas Plaza (copper topped building) and ask your question there, as there will be other requirements that need to be met, and you will get the correct answers as well as being able to complete your task in one stop. As i recall there is a fee for bringing a car into FL, a few hundred dollars.

If they live here full time they should get a FL Drivers license, FL auto insurance and then they can transfer the title to FL.

Agree with Villagetinker, the people at that DMV are very nice and helpful.

I could be wrong but I believe your 30 days is not correct. Many snowbirds are here for 4-6 months.

If you are in Florida for more than 30 days, you must have a rider on your car insurance for Florida... you don't have to have a FL DL, but FL insurance is a must. Check out the MV website for the correct information.

This is from the Florida DMV website,:

"You may be considered a resident of Florida when you:

Have started employment or engaged in a trade, profession, or occupation in this state.
Have enrolled your children in the public schools of this state.
Have registered to vote in this state.
Have filed for homestead tax exemption on property in this state.
Have lived in this state for a period of more than six consecutive months.

As a new Florida resident, you must obtain a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency to drive on Florida roads. In addition, you must obtain insurance from a Florida insurance agent that is licensed to sell insurance in Florida in order to title and register your vehicle(s), vessel(s), and mobile home(s) within 10 days of establishing residency."

A lot of snowbirds are in violation of this law, especially if they are claiming to be Florida residents.

Snowbirds claiming to be Florida residents, yes. People staying four months, no.

You may be considered a Florida resident when you have lived in this state for a period of more than six consecutive months. At that point, after six months, you have ten days to obtain insurance and register your vehicle. Also at the six month point you have 30 days to obtain a valid Florida license.

A snowbird is not allowed to drive a vehicle in Florida for 4 months without having a Florida insurance policy, even if they are not Florida residents. There are several websites that explain this and other laws that affect snowbirds. This is the part of the Florida law that many snowbirds are violating. Google it.

According to insurance.com:

"If you spend more than 90 days of the year in Florida, you will need to register and insure your car there."

From James Horne Law:

"Any individual who drives in Florida for more than 90 days out of a 365-day calendar year must purchase PIP and liability auto insurance in Florida. Notably, the 90 days do not have to be consecutive; any non-resident driver driving their vehicle within the state for 90 or more days out of the year is required to obtain PIP coverage, regardless of whether they are legally a Florida resident. Insurance can deny claims for property damage, medical benefits, and general liability if they find you have been driving your car in Florida for 90 or more days out of the year.:

That may very well be so, but not by the explanation of Florida residency you quoted in a previous post.

It is confusing, but the requirement to obtain a drivers license applies to new Florida residents. But, the 90-day insurance law applies to everyone who drives a vehicle in Florida, residents and non-residents. A snowbird, who stays in The Villages for 4 or 5 months every year, is required to buy a Florida auto insurance policy. But, I think that many (not all) snowbirds ignore the insurance law.

Draw the distinction between the car and you. If you are an Ohio resident, generally because you spend most of your time in Ohio, then keep your Ohio driver's license. But if you are a full time renter, then you are probably a Florida resident.

You should register the car in the state in which it is principally garaged independent of the state in which you are a resident. You could easily keep a car that you own at a vacation home in a foreign state.

I know for Ohio you can renew online and have it mailed to your out of state address but you may have to call Ohio and ask what happens if you happen to be on vacation the next few months out of state?

Yes, but apparently some counties require an emissions inspection that needs to be done in person before you can order the registration renewal. This cannot be done from out-of-state. You need to actually take the vehicle to an inspection station within the state. It is called E-check.