Drivers License
 

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

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.

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:

a long journey for you
 

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

required
 

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

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.

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!

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.

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)

The website for requirements to get a FL driver's licenses is Gather Go Get the FLORiDA Card: Index.

What documents did you need?

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

Suzanne

Thanks!

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

A good reason for a woman to use a passport!

Suzanne