Driver license the official handbook

The Official Florida Driver License Handbook—rev. 051417
  
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......................................................................................................................YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGE
Depending on your driving 
record, you may have to obtain 
additional insurance beyond the 
basic PIP and PDL requirements. 
For example, Florida law requires 
you to have Bodily Injury Liability 
(BIL) insurance—and increased 
PDL coverage—when you are 
convicted of driving under the 
influence (DUI). The coverage 
required in such a case must be 
at least $100,000 BIL for injuries 
to one person, $300,000 BIL for 
injuries to two or more people, and 
$50,000 property damage liability 
(PDL). This higher coverage will be 
in effect for three years after your 
DUI conviction. The higher limits 
will no longer apply if you are not 
convicted of another DUI or any 
felony traffic offense during that 
three-year period.
Other higher coverage limits 
are required by law if: your 
driver license is suspended for 
accumulation of excessive points for 
infractions; you cause a crash and 
people were injured; your driver 
license was revoked for Habitual 
Traffic Offender status; or your 
driver license was revoked for 
any serious offense. The required 
coverage for these cases are $10,000 
BIL for injuries to one person, 
$20,000 BIL for injuries to two or 
more people, $10,000 PDL; OR 
$30,000 combined single limits.
If you do not provide proof of 
higher coverage limits your driver 
license and/or license plates will be 
suspended for up to three years. 
In addition, if you are the driver 
or the owner of a vehicle involved 
in a crash that is your fault, 
DHSMV can require you to pay 
for the damages before your driving 
privilege is reinstated.
Vehicle Licensing
The vehicle you own must have a 
Florida registration certificate and 
license plate. If a non-resident 
  • accepts employment or engage 
in a trade, profession or 
occupation in Florida; or
  • enrolls children to be educated 
in a Florida public school, you 
must obtain the registration 
certificate and license plate 
within 10 days after beginning 
employment or enrollment. 
You also must have a Florida 
Certificate of Title for your 
vehicle unless an out-of-state 
lien holder/lessor holds the title 
and will not release it to Florida.
To get your license plate and 
registration certificate, you must 
show proof of Florida insurance (in 
most cases, you need a Florida driver 
license to get insurance.) You must 
also prove that you own your vehicle 
by showing your certificate of title. 
The vehicle identification number 
(VIN) on any vehicle previously 
titled or registered in another state 
must be verified by one of several 
designated officials before the 

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©2017 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
vehicle can be titled and registered 
in Florida. VIN verification is 
not required on any new vehicles 
(regardless of whether purchased 
in Florida or out of state), or new/
used mobile homes, trailer type 
recreational vehicles (travel trailers, 
camp trailers, truck campers, and 
fifth wheel recreational trailers), 
or trailers and semi-trailers with a 
weight of less than 2,000 pounds.
Applying for Title, License 
Plates & Registration
Apply for title, license plates, and 
registration at any tax collector’s 
office in Florida. The cost of your 
license plate will depend on the type 
and weight of your vehicle. Your 
vehicle must always have a current 
license plate and you must always 
have your vehicle’s registration when 
you are driving. If you buy a vehicle 
from a dealer in Florida, the dealer 
must apply for a certificate of title, 
certificate of registration and license 
plate for you. If you buy a vehicle 
from an individual, you must 
obtain the title from the individual 
and apply for a certificate of title 
in your name. You may apply for 
a certificate of title, certificate of 
registration, and license plate at the 
same time. You cannot get a license 
plate until you have a title to prove 
that you own the vehicle. All first 
time driver license applicants who 
hold an out-of-state license should 
apply for a Florida driver license 
before they register their vehicle in 
Florida (many tax offices will do 
both at the same time).
Renewal
Vehicle license plates and 
registrations must be renewed each 
year or biennially, on or before the 
birthday
 of the first owner listed on 
the registration form. Registrations 
may be renewed up to 90 days prior 
to the expiration date. Each time 
you renew, you must prove that 
you have the required insurance, 
unless it’s on file and electronically 
updated. Registrations expire 
at midnight on the birthday 
of the first owner listed on the 
registration form
, except for:
  • Mobile homes renew yearly by 
December 31.
  • Heavy trucks (>5000 lbs), semi-
trucks and semi-trailers renew 
yearly by December 31.
  • Vehicles owned by companies 
and corporations and some 
commercial vehicles renew 
yearly by June 30.
Violations of the License 
Law
You can be put in jail or required to 
pay a fine for the following offenses:
  • Altering your license in any way. 
  • Unlawful use of your license.
  • Allowing your license to be used 
by another person.
  • Making a fraudulent application 
for a driver license or 
identification card.
  • Having more than one 
credential (US driver license or 
identification card).
  • Allowing an unlicensed person 

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