Car registration: Can VIN verification be done out of state? Car registration: Can VIN verification be done out of state? - Talk of The Villages Florida

Car registration: Can VIN verification be done out of state?

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 03-22-2025, 07:20 AM
frayedends frayedends is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 997
Thanks: 303
Thanked 1,121 Times in 424 Posts
Default Car registration: Can VIN verification be done out of state?

We have a complex moving situation but the short story is: We are moving 2 cars. First car likely in June/July. Second car not until September. We want to change our residency from Massachusett to Florida, register both cars in Florida and update insurance.

Florida has this form that requires VIN to be physically checked. I'm wondering if anyone has had that done by police in a different state and brought it to Florida? I can't seem to find any info online.
  #2  
Old 03-22-2025, 08:17 AM
escapethecold escapethecold is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2024
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default

We are from MA. One vehicle is in MA with a FL plate. Last November I took the vehicle to my town's MA police dept with the form. An officer ran the vin through national stolen vehicle system, checked the vin plate for alteration, recorded mileage and signed the form. In December went to Sumter County tax office on 466A with form and other vehicle. In less than 1 hour we walked out with FL licenses, plates for both vehicles and registered to vote in FL. Make sure you have proof of a FL auto insurance policy and proof of residency in FL (homeowner's policy/deed)
  #3  
Old 03-22-2025, 09:03 AM
villagetinker's Avatar
villagetinker villagetinker is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Village of Pinellas
Posts: 11,113
Thanks: 3
Thanked 8,251 Times in 2,998 Posts
Default

OP, call the DMV in Pinellas Plaza, and they will go over the specific requirements, and answer your questions.
__________________
Pennsylvania, for 60+ years, most recently, Allentown, now TV.
  #4  
Old 03-22-2025, 09:21 AM
CarlR33 CarlR33 is online now
Veteran member
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: Newell the place to be in the South
Posts: 968
Thanks: 644
Thanked 703 Times in 365 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by villagetinker View Post
OP, call the DMV in Pinellas Plaza, and they will go over the specific requirements, and answer your questions.
Better advice than mine because every situation is different based on residency criteria and dates, etc. but it’s fun to see the various comments and interpretation, etc.
__________________
I will say the things that others are probably thinking but afraid to say.
  #5  
Old 03-22-2025, 09:45 AM
scubawva scubawva is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 110
Thanks: 12
Thanked 89 Times in 47 Posts
Default

Get the answer from the official source. Call or visit the DMV. Simple, easy, accurate.
  #6  
Old 03-22-2025, 02:45 PM
frayedends frayedends is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 997
Thanks: 303
Thanked 1,121 Times in 424 Posts
Default

Florida must have a great DMV. In Massachusetts if someone said “call the dmv” for answers it would be hilarious. I can’t imagine you’d ever get a person on the phone.

In any case I was thinking someone might come along that’s done this before.

The residency thing is interesting. Multiple issues I’d have. 1: the car won’t be operating in Florida so the requirement to change registration isn’t really applicable.
2: Even if it’s allowable to keep my Mass registration, I won’t have a Massachusetts address. That could complicate my insurance situation should something bad happen.
  #7  
Old 03-22-2025, 03:03 PM
JOERILLA JOERILLA is offline
Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 36
Thanks: 3
Thanked 78 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by frayedends View Post
We have a complex moving situation but the short story is: We are moving 2 cars. First car likely in June/July. Second car not until September. We want to change our residency from Massachusett to Florida, register both cars in Florida and update insurance.

Florida has this form that requires VIN to be physically checked. I'm wondering if anyone has had that done by police in a different state and brought it to Florida? I can't seem to find any info online.
To answer your question...YES, any police officer in any state can fill out the VIN verification form for you. Takes about 30 seconds for them to check the VIN on the car and sign their name and badge # We used to do it all the time.
  #8  
Old 03-22-2025, 04:12 PM
vintageogauge vintageogauge is offline
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: village of Fenney, Ford City, Pa., and Hudson, Ohio
Posts: 4,671
Thanks: 6
Thanked 4,894 Times in 1,681 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by blueash View Post
Please do not follow the above advice. Florida law requires that once you establish residency here the Florida registration must be obtained within 10 days, not whenever your out of state expires.
Now, will you likely get pulled over, unlikely. But that is the law here is very clear.

The definition of when you establish residency is not when you arrive rather when you satisfy any of several criteria you can find via the Google

New Resident - Welcome to Florida! - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
They "want to change residency". They haven't changed it yet so send the car down and let it sit until you change everything.
  #9  
Old 03-23-2025, 02:44 AM
VAtoFLA VAtoFLA is offline
Member
Join Date: Aug 2024
Posts: 90
Thanks: 4
Thanked 87 Times in 39 Posts
Default

When I registered, the lady at the DMV walked out into the parking lot and verified the Vin on the vehicle.
  #10  
Old 03-23-2025, 04:15 AM
Thetwisted2 Thetwisted2 is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 23
Thanks: 24
Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by frayedends View Post
We have a complex moving situation but the short story is: We are moving 2 cars. First car likely in June/July. Second car not until September. We want to change our residency from Massachusett to Florida, register both cars in Florida and update insurance.

Florida has this form that requires VIN to be physically checked. I'm wondering if anyone has had that done by police in a different state and brought it to Florida? I can't seem to find any info online.
Take the completed you received from Fl Dmv to your local Police dept along with the vehicle and they will verify and sign, return it to Fl Dmv
  #11  
Old 03-23-2025, 04:57 AM
Creengr Creengr is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2024
Posts: 1
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I had same the apprehensions. Its easy. Just call local police office and make arrangements to meet an officer. They will know what you are referring to.
  #12  
Old 03-23-2025, 05:07 AM
Berwin Berwin is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 201
Thanks: 20
Thanked 164 Times in 82 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by frayedends View Post
Florida must have a great DMV. In Massachusetts if someone said “call the dmv” for answers it would be hilarious. I can’t imagine you’d ever get a person on the phone.
My experiences with several tax collection offices (DMVs) in Marion County have been positive. Florida may have some pain in the a$$ rules and fees but their employees have always been friendly and helpful.
Closed Thread

Tags
florida, car, vin, moving, cars


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:43 PM.