Titling cars in Florida
I did a search, but couldn't find the information I wanted. I have a place in Florida where I spend more and more time every year. As time goes by, I am less and less enamored with Minnesota winters, and am thinking about moving to Florida permanently. I will probably sell most of my stuff, and just take my '67 L79 and my Featherlight trailer with me. My vehicles all have proper Minnesota titles. Am I going to have any problem getting them registered in Florida? Surely some of you other snowbirds must have been through this.
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
Just moved to Florida and need to get a driver license and your car registered?
If you have an out-of-state license, you may be able to convert it to a Florida driver's license without having to take a written or road test. Review the requirements for citizens and non-citizens.Obtain vehicle insurance from a company licensed to do business in Florida. In other words, visit a Florida insurance agent. Take proof of identity (required for all owners), proof of Florida insurance, original out-of-state title, and verification of physical inspection of the motor vehicle's *vehicle identification number (VIN), completed on a form HSMV 82040, Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration, to your local Florida county tax collector's office.
When applying for title, ALL owners are required to sign a completed application for title (HSMV 82040). If an owner is unable to sign the form in the presence of a tax collector employee, he/she may sign his/her appropriate portion of the form and give to the co-owner for submission to the agency. Remember: proof of identity is required for all owners. *Vehicle identification number (VIN) verification is required for all USED motor vehicles not currently titled in Florida, including trailers with a weight of 2,000 pounds or more.
The VIN must be physically inspected by one of the following:- A law enforcement officer from any state.
- A licensed Florida or out of state motor vehicle dealer.
NOTE: If the VIN is verified by an out of state motor vehicle dealer, the verification must be submitted on their letterhead stationery. - A Florida DMV Compliance Examiner/Inspector, DMV or tax collector employee.
- A notary public commissioned by the state of Florida.
- Provost Marshal (an officer who supervises the military police of a command) or a commissioned officer in active military service, with a rank of 2nd Lieutenant or higher or an LNC, "Legalman, Chief Petty Officer, E-7".
In the state of Florida, a motor vehicle is required by law to be registered within ten days of the owner either becoming employed, placing children in public school, or establishing residency. Registering your motor vehicle goes hand in hand with the titling process.
Tom Hendricks
Proud Member NCRS #23758
NCM Founding Member # 1143
Corvette Department Manager and
Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet. -
Re: Titling cars in Florida
I moved to Fla. from N.J. in '08, at the time transferring your license was a simple matter of turning in your current license and taking a quick vision test at the counter. Since 01/01/10 ( Federal Reg. ) you now have to prove who you are and where you live. Go to these websites for more info/ details: http://www.flhsmv.gov/ and http://gathergoget.com/ . I had no problem transferring the title and registering. My Chevelle and Vette were not fully operational at the time. So in order to verify the vin's ( section 8 on Form HSMV 82040 ), I called the local sheriff's office. An Officer stopped by my house within two hours and did the verification. Once that is done it also has to be notarized.
You should also be aware that Florida has a $225.00 initial registration fee but the good news is that since your car is more than 30 years old that fee is waived ( see exemptions, section G below ).
(G). The registration of an automobile or truck defined as "ancient" (the vehicle was manufactured in 1945 or earlier) or "antique" (the vehicle was manufactured beginning 1946 and of the age of 30 years or more after the date of manufacture), pursuant to s. 320.086(1) or (2), Florida Statutes
ErichComment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
Most county tax offices have a person there who will do the VIN verification, then just take the paperwork inside and do the transfer.Comment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
We moved here in 2004 and i don't recall the process being too difficult. I did have to drive my Vette to the Tag agency for a VIN check, though there probably many other ways to do that. The thing that stands out in my mind was what they all laughingly told me: "Florida gets you coming in. After that, it's very simple and reasonable". I found that to be the case. The initial fees do bite though.
Stu FoxComment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
I believe your can contract your local police station a arrange for a home visit to verify mileage and vin no. There are not any state inspections.Comment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
When I moved to Florida in 94 only one of my five old vehicles was drivable at the time. I went to the DMV, they gave me some paperwork and told me to take my car to a car dealer for VIN verification. After showing the salesman where the VIN was located (64 Vette) & why it was welded in place, he filled out the paperwork & I took it back to the DMV, and got the license tags. If my memory is correct, prior to my coming to Florida, there had been some sort of an "impact fee" that was being charged on all vehicles coming into the state. I believe it was $400 per vehicle. Lucky for me, the Supreme Court of Florida had found it to be unconstitutional and refunds were being made. I don't remember for sure about the actual drivers license, but I do remember taking a written test. The drivers license that I got in May 94 is the same one I still have, never been changed. It has a 17 year old picture of me on it. It has been renewed each time either by mail or on line for all these years. It is due for renewal again in 2013. I wonder if they will ask me to come in for, at least an eye test?Comment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
I retired and moved full time to Florida in 2009. Brought 3 old cars down with me, 2 old Corvettes and a 56 Chevy.
They cannot/will not do a VIN verification on old cars at the DMV location, as the employees there are not "trained" to do so. They only know to look through the windshield for the VIN's on new cars. They were able to do this on both of my daily drivers...........NO problem
BUT, for the 3 old cars, I called the local sheriff's office. They sent out their "public service officer". He came to my house with the proper paperwork.
He was a retired guy who volunteered with the sheriff's department, BTW. He verified the VIN's, filled in the paperwork, and I took that paperwork along with my Maryland titles to the DMV and had no problems.
VERY simple job.
Food for thought....you can get regular plates or antique plates. Also, there is no vehicle state inspection in Florida for any car.
Chuck1963 Corvette Conv. 327/360 NCRS Top Flight
2006 Corvette Conv. Velocity Yellow NCRS Top Flight
1956 Chevy Sedan. 350/4 Speed Hot RodComment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
Dennis
I live in Florida (West Palm Beach area) and can tell you it's easier than that...All you have to do is go to the DMW and get a mileage and VIN verification form. Fill it out in the presence of a notary and have him/her verify the info on the car and have it notarized. That's ALL the DMV requires in Florida. I know as I have done it 4 times with my cars. I did NOT want to bring any of Camaro's or Vettes to the DMV to have some DMV worker treat my cars like a Celica.....Good luck, and if I can be of any assistance with anything at all, don't hesitate to get in touch with me...Happy Thanksgiving to ALL the members and their families...
ARAComment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
ARA:
I didn't mind taking my Vette over as I had arranged it in advance with the gal at the Tag Agency. The weather was nice for a drive (time of my choosing), and she was pretty cute too.
Stu FoxComment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
I have been traveling and have been offline for the last couple of days, so I couldn't get back to you guys until now. Thanks for all the responses. I have a couple of questions. Since I don't want to haul a couple of cars to Florida and have trouble titling them, I'd like to get the titles transferred before I haul them 1500 miles. From what Tom says, it looks like I can use the Florida form and have the mileage and VIN's verified up here, and have the dealer submit the information on their letterhead, and get all of this done before I hook up for a 1500 mile trip. Does that seem correct?
Second, I have seen a 2000 lb trailer weight mentioned. Is this gross or net? My Featherlight is 1100 net and 9000 gross.
Also, I have had my Florida DL for the last couple of years; long enough to be called for jury duty!Comment
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Re: Titling cars in Florida
You don't even have to go to the DMV. You can print the form from the DMV website. Get the VIN # verified, fill in the data and sign the form, then send it in. Another thing that may be of interest is that you can get a correct year license plate assigned to your car. There are places that sell old plates and as long as the plate passes state inspection to can get that plate assigned to your car. I had a '59 FL plate assigned to my '59 Triumph TR3 and a '67 FL plate assigned to mt '67 Austin Healey. I still have both plates although the cars are gone. Write to me for more info.Comment
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