How long do I have to get a Florida driver's license and register my car after moving?

What are the deadlines for new Florida residents?

As of 2026, FLHSMV's new-resident guidance gives you 30 days after establishing residency to get a Florida driver license if you drive on Florida roads, and 10 days to get Florida auto insurance and title and register your vehicles.

The deadlines are not tied only to a change of address. Under section 322.031, Florida Statutes, a nonresident who accepts a job or works in a trade or profession in Florida, or who enrolls a student in a Florida public school, must get a Florida license within 30 days after that job or schooling begins. FLHSMV's insurance page applies a 10-day window to registration and Florida insurance in the same situations.

• Driver license: within 30 days of establishing residency.
• Florida insurance, title and registration: within 10 days of establishing residency.
• Exemptions in section 322.031 include active-duty service members stationed in Florida, full-time students at qualifying schools and commuters who remain domiciled in another state, as long as they hold a valid license from elsewhere.[1][2][4]

What do I bring to get a Florida driver license?

You apply in person at an office that offers driver license services and take a vision test; FLHSMV says you may qualify without a written or road test. As of 2026, an original Class E license costs $48, and most tax collector offices add a $6.25 service fee.

U.S. citizens need three kinds of documents (non-citizens follow a separate FLHSMV checklist):

• Proof of identity: a certified U.S. birth certificate (hospital certificates are not accepted), a valid U.S. passport or passport card, or a naturalization or citizenship certificate.
• Proof of Social Security number: your Social Security card, a W-2, a pay stub or a 1099 showing your full name and number.
• Two proofs of your Florida residential address, such as a deed, lease, mortgage statement, utility bill, insurance policy or Florida voter registration card. Your out-of-state license does not count.[1][3]

How do I title and register a car from another state?

Start with insurance. Florida requires at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL) before a four-wheel vehicle can be registered, and coverage must stay continuous even if the car is not driven. FLHSMV notes you can ask your current agent to move you to a Florida policy.

Next, the vehicle identification number must be physically inspected on Form HSMV 82040 or 82042 by an approved inspector, such as a law enforcement officer, a licensed Florida dealer or a tax collector employee. Bring proof of identity, proof of Florida insurance and the original out-of-state title; if a lender holds the title, it may need to come from the lienholder.

Budget for fees and taxes. Section 320.072 imposes a $225 fee on the initial Florida registration of many vehicles, with exemptions such as moving an existing Florida plate to a newly acquired vehicle. The Department of Revenue applies Florida's 6% use tax, plus any county surtax, to vehicles brought into Florida within six months of purchase; if you already paid 6% or more to another state, no Florida use tax is due, and if you paid less, you owe the difference.[1][4][5][6]