Supporting the Relocation, Travel, and Lifestyle Needs of the American Military Family

FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Note:  The term vehicle includes motorcycles, automobiles, trailers, vans, and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight in Florida.


New residents must register their vehicles and obtain Florida license tags within 30 days of establishing legal residency or by the day you begin work in Florida or by the time you register your children in school.  Proof of insurance, previous out-of-state title, auto identification number, odometer reading and emissions inspection are required.  For more information, call (904)630-1916. You may be able to continue to use the current license plate and driver license issued by your HOME state as shown on your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) on vehicle TITLED to a military person or family member.  Lease vehicles or vehicles titled to other persons MUST be retitled and registered in Florida.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING VEHICLE INSURANCE IN FLORIDA

All vehicles with Florida tags required by law to be insured MUST be insured through a Florida agent for your insurance company.  This is computerized and cancellation or non-renewal of Florida insurance will result in suspension of driver license and tag.  To avoid this, the tag must be turned in to a Driver's License Office when insurance is cancelled if the tag has not been transferred to an insured car.  There is no refund on Florida tags.  Florida tags are sold to the owner of the car and are to be renewed annually by the first registered owner's birthday.

REGISTRATION ONLY TAGS

Those vehicles titled to military or family members on orders to a Florida base and with an LES showing a state other than Florida, MAY be registered in Florida at a Military Discount Rate.  Documents required to be presented by registered owner are:

1. Title or copy of title 2. Florida insurance (except motorcycles) 3. Vehicle itself for VIN and Odometer verification 4. Orders to a Florida base 5. Leave & Earnings Statement 6. Military ID

Cost of the initial REG ONLY tag is $23.60 plus Branch Fee.

REGISTRATION WITH FLORIDA TITLE AND TAGS:

Military people who are or will be Florida residents and others who are not qualified for the Registration Only tags must apply for a Florida title and register their vehicles with regular Florida tags.  Documents required to be presented by registered owner:

1. Actual title.  If a lien holder has your title, bring current registration and payment book or finance agreement to Tax Collector's Office.  They will write to obtain the title. 2. Florida insurance (except motorcycles) 3. Vehicle itself for VIN and Odometer verification 4. Personal photo ID.
Florida Motor Vehicle Insurance Laws:  Both the Financial Responsibility Law and the No-Fault Law require insurance coverage.  Minimum coverage required is $10,000 bodily injury liability, $20,000 bodily injury to two or more persons, $10,000 property damage liability, or $30,000 combined single limits.  To protect yourself and others, carry liability insurance on any vehicle you own or drive, including motorcycles.  The vehicle must be insured at the time the vehicle is registered in your name, EVEN IF THE CAR IS INOPERABLE OR IN STORAGE.  If you cancel your insurance, you must surrender your tag and registration to the nearest driver's license office.

SEAT BELTS ARE REQUIRED OF DRIVERS AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS. Child restraints are required for children under 5, and seat belts are required for children 16 and under who are more than 55 inches tall.  Children may not be left unsupervised in a car. Children's car seats are available for loan for up to nine months through the Red Cross at (904) 270-5241 or DSN 960-5241. Traffic must stop IN BOTH DIRECTIONS for school buses UNLESS THERE IS A 5 FOOT WIDE RAISED OR UNPAVED BARRIER.  (Mayport Road has neither!)  Headlights must be on between sunset and sunrise, and any time rain, smoke, fog, insufficient light, or unfavorable atmospheric conditions reduce visibility to less than 1,000 ft.

COPIES OF THE FLORIDA DRIVER'S HANDBOOK ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB.  Members of the Armed Forces stationed in Florida and their family members are not required to have Florida driver's licenses unless:  service member or spouse claims Florida's homestead exemption (all drivers need license); service member becomes employed (all drivers need license); spouse becomes employed (spouse and children need license); child becomes employed (only employed children needs license).  Licenses must be obtained within 30 days of the above actions.  New residents are required to pass a visual examination if they have a valid license from another state.  Test appointments are recommended but not needed.  A new license costs $20 and is valid six years.  License renewal is $15 and replacement cost is $10.

REGISTRATIONS AND LICENCES:  Vehicle registration, animal licenses, boat registration, hunting and fishing licenses, and Jacksonville Electric Authority payments may be made at the Tax Collector's Office.