Frequently Asked Questions
Disabled Person Parking Permits
- Permanent: The four year disabled person parking permit (blue) expires on the disabled person's birthday four (4) years after it was issued.
- Temporary: A person whose disability is temporary may qualify for a temporary disabled person parking permit (red) issued for six months or less.
Any person applying for a new permit or renewing their disabled person parking permit must provide form HSMV 83039, Application for Disabled Person Parking Permit, completed and signed by a certifying medical authority. The certifying medical authority must sign within 12 months prior to submitting the application. In addition to the completed form, be sure to bring a copy of your Florida driver license or ID card.โ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐: ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ (๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ/๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐) ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ.
Anyone who obtains or uses a disabled person parking permit that does not belong to them can be charged with a second degree misdemeanor โ $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail. Improper use of the permit costs twice the fee of a disabled parking violation. Permit holdersย may notย loan their permits to family members. It does not matter if you are running an errand for the person with a disability. If the person with a disability is not present, the fine is $1,000.
Must only be used by the permit holder. The permit holder must have their Florida driver license or ID card and the permit registration on-hand when using the permit.
The disabled person parking permit may be used in any vehicle transporting a disabled person to whom the permit was issued.
Permits are registered to the person, not the vehicle.
HOV Passes
To qualify for a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Registration and Decal, the motor vehicle must be titled as an Inherently Low-Emission Vehicle (ILEV) or Hybrid vehicles. ILEV or Hybrid vehicles are certified and labeled in accordance with federal regulations. ILEV and hybrid vehicles may be driven in HOV lanes at any time, regardless of their occupancy.
The HOV decal is placed on the lower right-hand side of the rear window.
HOV decals may be renewed for one or two years. The registration period will remain the same as the vehicleโs existing license plate number.
Each year is a different color. Florida HOV sticker colors cycle every 4 years:
- Stickers that expire during 2016 are Red
- Stickers that expire during 2017 are Blue
- Stickers that expire during 2018 are Orange
- Stickers that expire during 2019 are Green
Registration
Simple. You can transfer the registration and plate to your new car as long as it has not expired. If you are not purchasing a new vehicle, you must cancel your registration and surrender your license plate.
A Vehicle Registration is evidence of having paid the registration tax and fees on a motor vehicle. It consists of a metal license plate, a validation decal, and a registration certificate.
A car title deals with the ownership aspect of your car and tells the state who the owner is and what liens are on the vehicle, just like a warranty deed or mortgage filing with your county for your home. A car title looks like a warranty certificate. But your vehicle registration on the other hand is linked with the license plates on your car. The registration provides revenue for your state and a valid non-expired plate is evidence that you are current on your registration fees.
If the license plate is not registered to a replacement vehicle, the license plate must be turned in to a local office to prevent a driver license suspension.
To renew car registration, you will need:
- Your renewal notice or current registration.
- Your driverโs license.
- Florida proof of insurance for your vehicle.
To register your vehicle, you will need to provide the vehicleโs original title, proof of Florida Insurance, your driver license and Bill of sale to either the local DMV or the Tag & Title Agency.
License Plate
Yes. If you can provide proof that the vehicle from which you are taking the plate was in your name, and has been traded, sold or disposed of, Initial Registration fee may be waived.
No, a license plate cannot be given or transferred to someone else. Section 320.0609(1)(a), Florida Statutes, requires that the registration, license plate and certificate of registration shall be issued to and remain in the name of the owner of the vehicle registered.
If the license plate is not registered to a replacement vehicle, the license plate must be turned in to a local office to prevent a driver license suspension.
Section 320.06(1)(b), Florida Statutes, requires ten-year replacement of all license plates. The replacement is necessary because license plates must be fully reflectorized to ensure visibility for law enforcement purposes. Current, in-use plates will have their replacement date altered to reflect this new 10-year lifespan. That is, if your plate is now 3 years old, you will not be required to replace it for another 7 years.
Not on the top left, not on the bottom right, not on the orange in the middle. Fix the decal in the square space provided in the upper right hand corner of the Florida license plate or just put it over the old one.
Florida law requires a vehicle to be registered within 30 days if the owner becomes employed, places children in school or establishes residency. You will need:
- A valid Florida or out-of-state driver's license.
- Original Title.
- Proof of Florida insurance.
- Sales Tax - If your Title was issued less than six months ago, bring the bill of sale or invoice. Florida sales tax may apply.
If you don't physically have your out of state title due to it being held by a lienholder, then you will have to contact the DMV or a Tag & Title Agency to have the lienholder send the title.
Title
A certificate of Title is the proof of ownership to a motor vehicle in the State of Florida. Most vehicles are required to be titled. The exceptions are mopeds, motorized bicycles, and trailers weighing less than 2,000 pounds.
A Car Title deals with the ownership aspect of your car and tells the state who the owner is and what liens are on the vehicle, just like a warranty deed or mortgage filing with your county for your home. A Car Title looks like a Warranty Certificate. But your Vehicle Registration on the other hand is linked with the license plates on your car. The Registration provides revenue for your state and a valid non-expired plate is evidence that you are current on your registration fees.
On the Title, the seller should fill in the name and address of the purchaser, the odometer information, selling price, and the date sold in. Then must sign their name in the Seller section and hand print their name (same section). The purchaser should then sign their name in the purchaser section and hand print their name in the same section. If there is a co-purchaser, they should follow the same instructions in the co-purchaser section.
VIN number, proof of Identity (copy of Driverโs License, Identification Card or Passport), Lien satisfaction letter (if applicable) and odometer reading.
Application for Registration and Title to a motor vehicle can be made at any local DMV or Tag & Title Agencies located in each of the counties throughout Florida.
For any โtransferring car title transactionโ in Florida, you are required to show original documents. If you lost your car Title, you will need to request a replacement. Once you receive your new Title, the lost one will become invalid.
There are several reasons to transfer a car Title. They include if you decide to:
- Sell your car.
- Buy a car.
- Donate your car to charity.
- Give your car as a present to a family member or someone else.
Florida law requires a vehicle to be registered within 30 days if the owner becomes employed, places children in school or establishes residency. You will need:
- A valid Florida or out-of-state driver's license.
- Original Title.
- Proof of Florida insurance.
- Sales Tax - If your Title was issued less than six months ago, bring the bill of sale or invoice. Florida sales tax may apply.
If you don't physically have your out of state title due to it being held by a lienholder, then you will have to contact the DMV or a Tag & Title Agency to have the lienholder send the title.
Personalized and Specialty License Plate
License plates with a center logo design such as the basic Florida license plate or the Save the Manatee license plate, may have up to 7 characters plus either a space or a hyphen. License plates with a left-side logo design such as collegiate and sports license plates may have up to 5 characters with no additional space or hyphen.
Yes, you can. But these sample plates are not intended to be placed on vehicles driven on Florida roads.
The purpose of specialty license plates is to raise funds for a particular cause. The use of a specialty license plate is a voluntary purchase and can be discontinued at any time.
Click hereย to check availability of your chosen personalization.
To view the available specialty plates,ย click here.
Lien
A lien is when a lienholder has a secured interest in a vehicle, mobile home or vessel in the form of a debt due to the lienholder and the lienholderโs information is placed on either a paper or electronic certificate of title in addition to the ownerโs information.
In Florida, a vehicle cannot be legally sold in a private sale if there is an existing lien. For the vehicle to be legally sold, the lien must first be satisfied. Once the lienholder reports to DHSMV that the lien has been satisfied, the title can be transferred.
An electronic lien title (ELT) is a program that runs across various US states, including the state of Florida, allowing local DMVs to electronically exchange lien and title information with lienholders without using paper titles. When an electronic lien is satisfied, the title will then remain electronic until a request for paper title is received.
Once youโve completed your car payments, your lienholder will electronically notify the Florida DMV that you are free of payments. Since Florida handles vehicle titles electronically, you can request a paper title through your local DMV office or any Tag & Title Agency or you can keep your title as electronic title and request to be print it out when you are going to sell the vehicle.
Florida law requires a vehicle to be registered within 30 days if the owner becomes employed, places children in school or establishes residency. You will need:
- A valid Florida or out-of-state driver's license.
- Original Title.
- Proof of Florida insurance.
- Sales Tax - If your Title was issued less than six months ago, bring the bill of sale or invoice. Florida sales tax may apply.
If you don't physically have your out of state title due to it being held by a lienholder, then you will have to contact the DMV or a Tag & Title Agency to have the lienholder send the title.
Florida Auto Insurance
Yes. If you own a vehicle with at least four wheels and are registering it, you must have Florida Auto Insurance Policy.
If itโs time for you to start shopping for car insurance, give us a call.ย Simplified Insurance Agencyย can help ensure that you sign a policy that stays within your budget and gives you all the coverage you need.
No. In Florida, a DMV requires proof of Florida Auto Insurance Policy.ย If itโs time for you to start shopping for car insurance, give us a call.ย Simplified Insurance Agencyย can help ensure that you sign a policy that stays within your budget and gives you all the coverage you need.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is authorized to suspend your driving privilege, including your vehicle license plate and registration, for up to three years or until proof of Florida insurance is provided, whichever is first.
If itโs time for you to start shopping for car insurance, give us a call.ย Simplified Insurance Agencyย can help ensure that you sign a policy that stays within your budget and gives you all the coverage you need.
Florida's minimum coverage is $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) as long as you have a valid Florida license plate.
The DMV will deny your registration and license plate without proof of insurance. So, yes, you need to insure your car before you even attempt to register it.
If itโs time for you to start shopping for car insurance, give us a call.ย Simplified Insurance Agencyย can help ensure that you sign a policy that stays within your budget and gives you all the coverage you need.