[mherzberg]

We just moved in from Georgia and my wife and I (and our car) are licensed there. I see there is a DMV location on 466. Are there any "good" or "bad" days to go as far as waiting time, etc.? Any advice on what not to forget to bring, etc.? Are there any "taxes" due on transferring registration? Thanks!!!

[twinklesweep]

Originally Posted by mherzberg

We just moved in from Georgia and my wife and I (and our car) are licensed there. I see there is a DMV location on 466. Are there any "good" or "bad" days to go as far as waiting time, etc.? Any advice on what not to forget to bring, etc.? Are there any "taxes" due on transferring registration? Thanks!!!

As I recall, there are no "taxes" such as there would be if purchasing a car. HOWEVER, when registering a vehicle in FL for the first time, one must BUY the tag (license plate) for each car, and these are incredibly expensive. Of course, this is true only for first-time registration; when renewal time comes, it's only a registration fee, as the owner of the vehicle already owns the tag.

Check to be sure, but I believe you have to go to the motor vehicle office in the new government building on 466A between Buena Vista and Wildwood. I don't think the office on the corner of Morse and 466 does licenses. My experience has been not good or bad "days" but rather good or bad "times." If you get there when they open, you will have practically no wait, so I've been told. You will need several proofs of residency/address (I forget how many); the Office of Voter Registration is right next to Motor Vehicle, where you can register to vote and the voter registration certificate given to you on the spot will serve as one of the proofs.

Bring your checkbook or lots of cash! And good luck!!!

[mherzberg]

Thank you twinkle sweep..... ...I think!!!

[CFrance]

One thing... We were told that you need a marriage certificate to prove that you (wife) are who you are, since you (may have) changed your name when you got married. My friend waltzed in without that and was turned away. So I made sure we had that (much searching through our papers) only not to be asked for it.

However, while we were waiting, another couple was turned away because they didn't have it. If you have changed your name when you got married, I would take the marriage license.

car registration: make sure you have your release of lien letter if you have paid off your car. If you had a loan for the car, you have to have this, or a title that is free and clear and lists no lienholder. Also, they will not go outside to verify your VIN if it is raining. So be prepared to wait if that's the case.

Otherwise, they are pleasant and efficient. You take a number. There is a man there who will make sure you have everything needed before you begin the wait for your number to come up. Take some reading material or your iPad. We were there early afternoon, and waited about 20 minutes. They said it's much more crowded in the winter months.

[chuckinca]

I couldn't believe they wouldn't step out into a light rain to check the vin - but they wouldn't! Had to come back the next week - but saved $350 on pickup truck license plates vs California.

.

[jnieman]

I'm thinking you need proof of Florida insurance also.

[Skybo]

As Twinkle indicated, titling/registering your vehicle for the first time in Florida is very expensive. Ours was around $500.00, which included retitling/registering one car and two Florida driver’s licenses.

The easiest thing to do is to stop by the the DMV on 466a and pick up their checklist of required documentation. But I can tell you, the first thing you will need to do is obtain Florida car insurance. You can get a Florida driver’s license without Florida auto insurance, but you need the insurance to register your vehicle here, so you may as well get the insurance in place before you even go to the DMV because everything can be done at the same time if you have all the documentation you need..

The bad news (beyond the expense) is that Florida is among the strictest (paperwork wise) states to get a driver’s license. The good news is that the DMV personnel are efficient and pleasant.

As others have mentioned, be aware that if the name on your current identification doesn’t match the name on your birth certificate, you will need to provide a “paper-trail” showing how you ended up with your current name. That’s not normally a problem for men, but for women, they will need to show a marriage certificate...and women who have had previous marriages/name changes might need to provide marriage (and possibly) divorce documents from their previous marriages.

[Villager Dude]

Originally Posted by Skybo

As Twinkle indicated, titling/registering your vehicle for the first time in Florida is very expensive. Ours was around $500.00, which included retitling/registering one car and two Florida driver’s licenses.

The easiest thing to do is to stop by the the DMV on 466a and pick up their checklist of required documentation. But I can tell you, the first thing you will need to do is obtain Florida car insurance. You can get a Florida driver’s license without Florida auto insurance, but you need the insurance to register your vehicle here, so you may as well get the insurance in place before you even go to the DMV because everything can be done at the same time if you have all the documentation you need..

The bad news (beyond the expense) is that Florida is among the strictest (paperwork wise) states to get a driver’s license. The good news is that the DMV personnel are efficient and pleasant.


As others have mentioned, be aware that if the name on your current identification doesn’t match the name on your birth certificate, you will need to provide a “paper-trail” showing how you ended up with your current name. That’s not normally a problem for men, but for women, they will need to show a marriage certificate...and women who have had previous marriages/name changes might need to provide marriage (and possibly) divorce documents from their previous marriages.

I think it is about $ 400. per car.

[Snookie]

when you go make sure to take your birth certificate or passport...they will ask for it. If you are close to 466A you can go to the court house on the Wildwood side on 466A also.

I don't know how crowded they are I would say, get there when they open....Good Luck and welcome to The Villages.. To meet people from Georgia..Try the Georgia Club and the Heart of Dixie. We belong to both and love them.

[Wkcarter]

Went to the one on 466A last week, you need picture ID , proof of address ( deed or a bill with address on it) something with your social security number ( either social security card or check stub will do).
Your vehicle tags are $ 78 and the one time transfer fee goes on the weight of the vehicle ( mine were $ 396 and $ 435). You will need title and proof of florida insurance.
The people there were very friendly and the whole process took about 1 hour and that included wait time.

[zcaveman]

Here is a list of the documents needed. Down near the bottom of the page. Apparently you can also make an appointment.

Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Title Registration:

http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/titlinf.html


Z

[dotti105]

When you receive your fla driver's licesnse do you have to give up your license from your former state?

[Villager Audio Video]

Yes, you can't have two current drivers licenses from two different states. They take it. The good new is I believe they are good for like 7 years

[Buckeyephan]

Just did ours 2 months ago. Someone when we got ours was refused because their birth certificate was from a hospital and they require one with the state embossed seal. I took my passport and Medicare card and things went through without a hitch. Husband's car was a nightmare b/c it had been titled in his name DBA his company. Four trips later, it was finally resolved. They told us that before noon on a Tuesday or Thursday was the best. Also, they take credit cards but charge a 3% fee or so to use it. Checkbook or cash is the best way to go. Needed to remove my glasses for the photo but they don't put weight on the card!

[John_W]

If your car is less than six months old, as in my case. You must pay the sales tax difference between your old state and Florida. For example, Sumter County has a sales tax of 7 cents, I came from Baltimore where the sales sales was 6 cents. I had traded cars five months earlier and had paid $9,000 along with my trade in car. They said I owed 1% on the $9,000, or $90. The worker there was nice, he said just come back in three weeks when your car is six months old and you won't have to pay the $90, which is what I did.

This was at the Gold Dome on CR466A. My first tag was about $435 for two years. I just renewed my tags for two more years. You can go through the drive-thru if you have your renewal notice. It was only $115 for the next two years. Also, if you take your birth certificate, they wouldn't accept the one from the hospital with the gold seal, they wanted to see the one I had from the health department.