Motor Vehicles

Registration and Licensing Requirements

Florida’s no-fault insurance law requires vehicle owners to carry at least $10,000 Personal Injury and $10,000 Property Damage Liability. All licensed insurance companies electronically report to DHSMV when policies providing PIP coverage are cancelled or taken out, so most of the time, owners do not need to notify the department at all.

For more information: https://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/vehicleinsurance.html

The state of Florida requires that residents register their vehicles with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Registration and Titling happen together in Florida, so you will only need to complete the process one time to do both.

How to register your vehicle in Florida?

• Visit a Florida DHSMV office
• Bring your title, proof if ID, and car insurance card.
• Have a VIN inspection and odometer reading completed, if you are a new resident.
• Pay your initial vehicle registration fee, title fees, plate fees, and taxes.

Vehicle Registration for Military Members

Vehicle registration for members of the military is different depending on whether you are a Florida resident, a resident of another stated stationed in FL, or a Florida resident stationed out of state or overseas.

Florida Military Residents

Florida service members stationed in state are required to register any vehicle in the same manner as any other Florida resident: however, you do not have to pay the initial registration fee. Complete and file a Military Initial Registration Fee Exemption Affidavit (Form HSMV 82002) along with all other documents listed Above to claim your exemption.

Non-resident Military Stationed in Florida

Military service members stationed in Florida are not required to register their car in the state. They must maintain current vehicle registration in their home state and carry proper insurance at all times.  I you do choose to title and register your vehicle in Florida, you can register it using the steps listed above. You will also qualify for an exemption from the initial registration fee by filling the Military Initial Registration Fee Exemption Affidavit (Form HSMV 82002).

Florida Military Residents Stationed Out of State

Members of the military who are Florida residents but are stationed in another state can still register their vehicle in Florida. Fill out all of the following forms, and send them along with payment for registration fees to the county tax collector’s office in your county of residence:

• The original vehicle title, or an Application for Certification for Title with/Without Registration (Form HSMV 82040) if you also need to title your vehicle in the state.
• Florida Insurance Affidavit (Form HSMV 83330)
• Military Insurance Exemption Information
• Military Initial Registration Fee Exemption Affidavit (Form HSMV 82002)
• Exemption from Florida Sales Tax for U.S. military service members.

You may also file a Power of Attorney for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home or Vessel (Form HSMV 82053) in order to allow a person of your choice to file your Florida vehicle registration paperwork for you. Your license plates and registration stickers will be mailed to you. Contact the DHSMV customer service center at 850-617-2000 for help filling out any forms or to ask any questions.

For Florida registration FEES please visit: https://wwww.flhsmv.gov/fees

Military service member and their families who live and drive in Florida, may do so with a valid out-of-state driver license. There is no requirement to obtain a Florida driver license when military and their family members move to Florida, take a job, or enroll their children in public schools. For more information: https://www.flhsmv.gov/military/

If your license is scheduled to expire when you are deployed or stationed outside Florida, the Department encourages you to renew a license up to 18 months prior to the expiration date printed on the license.

You may renew your license on line at www.GoRenew.com (http://www.GoRenew.com), if your previous renewal was done in an office. In addition, you may order a replacement license at any time if you lose your license or if your address changes. If your name changes while you are deployed or out-of-state, obtain a license in the state or country you reside or apply in person to obtain a replacement license.

For driver’s license fees information visit: https://wwww.flhsmv.gov/fees

Be sure to bring required documents the next time you visit a driver license office in Florida:

One of the following documents to prove your IDENTITY:

• Certified U.S. birth certificate
• Valid U.S. passport or passport card
• Certificate of naturalization
• Consular report of birth abroad
• Certificate of citizenship

One of the following documents to prove your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

• Military ID card
• Social Security card
• W-2 form
• Pay check showing number
• SSA-1099

Two of the following documents to prove your RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:

• Deed, mortgage, payment booklet or rental agreement
• Florida vehicle registration or title
• Utility bill or hookup/work order, not more than two months old
• Florida Voter Registration Card

The state of Florida requires that residents register their vehicles with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Registration and Titling happen together in Florida, so you will only need to complete the process on time to do both.

How to register your vehicle in Florida?

• Visit a Florida DHSMV office
• Bring your title, proof if ID, and car insurance card.
• Have a VIN inspection and odometer reading completed, if you are a new resident.
• Pay your initial vehicle registration fee, title fees, plate fees, and taxes.

Vehicle Registration for Military Members

Vehicle registration for members of the military is different depending on whether you are a Florida resident, a resident of another stated stationed in FL, or a Florida resident stationed out of state or overseas.

Florida Military Residents

Florida service members stationed in state are required to register any vehicle in the same manner as any other Florida resident: however, you do not have to pay the initial registration fee. Complete and file a Military Initial Registration Fee Exemption Affidavit (Form HSMV 82002) along with all other documents listed Above to claim your exemption.

Non-resident Military Stationed in Florida

Military service members stationed in Florida are not required to register their car in the state. They must maintain current vehicle registration in their home state and carry proper insurance at all times. If you do choose to title and register your vehicle in Florida, you can register it using the steps listed above. You will also qualify for an exemption from the initial registration fee by filling the Military Initial Registration Fee Exemption Affidavit (Form HSMV 82002).

Florida Military Residents Stationed Out of State

Members of the military who are Florida residents but are stationed in another state can still register their vehicle in Florida.

Fill out all of the following forms, and send them along with payment for registration fees to the county tax collector’s office in your county of residence:

• The original vehicle title, or an Application for Certification for Title with/Without Registration (Form HSMV 82040) if you also need to title your vehicle in the state.
• Florida Insurance Affidavit (Form HSMV 83330)
• Military Insurance Exemption Information
• Military Initial Registration Fee Exemption Affidavit (Form HSMV 82002)
• Exemption from Florida Sales Tax for U.S. military service members.

You may also file a Power of Attorney for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home or Vessel (Form HSMV 82053) in order to allow a person of your choice to file your Florida vehicle registration paperwork for you. Your license plates and registration stickers will be mailed to you. Contact the DHSMV customer service center at 850-617-2000 for help filling out any forms or to ask any questions.

For Florida registration FEES please visit: https://wwww.flhsmv.gov/fees

The Security Office at NS Mayport is located in Building 1591, just inside the Main Gate. The Pass and ID Office is located on the right just before the main gate in Building 1983. This office assist newly reporting personnel and visitors with information regarding access to the base. For more information, contact the Pass and ID Office at: 904-270-5585.

Military personal with Orders to NS Mayport have 30 days to register their personal automobile at the Security Office (Bldg.1591). Must present orders, military ID, car insurance, registration and driver’s license. For more information, contact the Security Department at: 904-270-6120.

Driver's license

Military service members and their families who live and drive in Florida, may do so woth a valid out-of-state driver license.  There is no requirement to obtain a Florida driver license when military and their family members move to Florida, take a job, or enroll their children in public schools. For more information go to https://www.flhsmv.gov/military/.

If your license is scheduled to expire when your are deployed or stationed outside Florida, the Department encourages you to renew a license up to 18 months prior to the expiration date printed on the license.

You may renew your license on line if your previous renewal was done in an office. In addition, you may order a replacement license at any time if you lose your license or if your address changes. If your name changes while you are deployed or out-of-state, obtain a license in the state or country you reside or apply in person to obtain a replacement license.

For driver's license FEES information visit: https://www.flhsmv.gov/fees.

Be sure to bring required documents the next time you visit a driver license office in Florida:

One of the following documents to prove your IDENTITY:

• Certified U.S. birth certificate
• Valid U.S. passport or passport card
• Certificate of naturalization
• Consular report of birth abroad
• Certificate of citizenship

One of the following documents to prove your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

• Military ID card
• Social Security card
• W-2 form
• Pay check showing number
• SSA-1099

One of the following documents to prove your RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:

• Deed, mortgage, payment booklet or rental agreement
• Florida vehicle registration or title
• Utility bill or hookup/work order, not more than two months old
• Florida Voter Registration Card

State and Local Laws

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has safety laws and guidelines in place to keep drivers and pedestrians safe on the road. Safety laws cover everything from child car seats, seat belts, drunk driving, and helmets.

Make sure you follow the rules to keep yourself and others safe, and avoid receiving a fine, license suspension, or even jail time.

It is also important to know that, if you receive a citation, additional county penalties may be added on top of state fines. Check with your county clerk for additional fines and fees.

In Florida, you are required to wear a safety belt in a passenger vehicle if you are:

• The vehicle's driver.
• Under the age of 18 years old.
  • Drivers may be ticketed for minors inside the vehicle not wearing a safety belt.
• Sitting in a passenger seat in the front of the vehicle, regardless of age.

Failure to wear a seat belt could result in a fine of $30 plus any other associated legal fees and additional fees.

If a medical condition prevents the use of a safety belt, you must be able to produce proper documentation from a physician.

Be aware that Florida's safety belt law is a primary law—this allows police officers to stop a vehicle and issue a citation for any observed violations.

It is the responsibility of the supervising adult to ensure that any child under 5 years old is seated in a federally-approved child car seat. Failure to do so could result in a $60 fine and 3 points against your driver's license.

Florida law states:

• Children 5 years old or younger must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system:
  • Children 3 years old and younger must use a separate car-seat or the vehicle's built-in child seat.
  • Children 4 through 5 years must sit in either a separate car seat, a built in child seat or a seat belt, depending on the child's height and weight.
• Children under 18 years old must be in a seatbelt.

Though not required, the DHSMV recommends children 12 years old and under to ride in the back seat of the vehicle when possible. This is due to safety concerns for air bag deployment, which can be dangerous for young children.

For more information on child safety seats and restraints, please visit the DHSMV guide to vehicle and child safety.

Current Florida laws restrict some uses of wireless communication devices while operating a vehicle.

These include:

• Texting or typing on any handheld wireless communication device.
• Reading data on a wireless communication device.

Exceptions to this rule include:

• Using the device to report an emergency.
• Receiving navigation information.
• Receiving traffic data or weather alerts.

Interpersonal communication such as voice calls are not currently prohibited by law within the state. However, speaking on the phone qualifies as one of the three main types of distractions that lead to fatalities behind the wheel. For more information, visit our guide to distracted driving.

While the use of sun-screening materials on side and rear-facing windows is not prohibited, there are certain restrictions.

According to Florida law, window tint must

NOT:

• Have the effect of making a window nontransparent.
• Alter the color.
• Increase reflectivity.

Authorized guidelines for window tinting are as follows:

• For side windows:
  • A solar reflectance of 25% or less on the non-film side.
  • A light transmittance of 28% or more.
• For rear-facing windows:
  • A solar reflectance of 35% or less on the non-film side.
  • A light transmittance of 15% or more.

Violations to these laws are noncriminal, but may result in a fine. Certain medical conditions such as lupus or other autoimmune disorders which require limited exposure to sunlight could be reason for exemption with proper medical documentation.

Children and pets left in unattended vehicles are highly vulnerable to dangerous temperatures during the warmer months of the year.

To prevent heat stroke or other fatal outcomes, it's against Florida law to leave a child under 6 years old in an unattended vehicle for more than 15 minutes. Punishment for breaking this law is a second degree misdemeanor.

While there are no current state laws to protect animals, some local governments have laws against animal neglect.

EXAMPLE:

In Orange County, Florida, you may be subject to fines or other penalties if:

• You fail to provide your pet with adequate ventilation or protection from the elements.
• You risk the animal's health and well-being.

The interpretation and regulation of these laws is left up to each municipality. For more information on animal laws and safety for motor vehicles, please contact your local government officials.

For individuals riding motorcycles, mopeds, or bicycles in Florida, you may be required to use a helmet depending upon your age.

For the described modes of transportation, current Florida laws are as follows:

• Motorcycles:
  • You must wear a federally-approved helmet UNLESS you are:
    • Over 21 years old.
      AND
    • Covered by at least $10,000 in medical insurance for motorcycle-related injuries.
• Mopeds:
  • Riders under 16 years old are required to wear a helmet.
• Bicycles:
  • All riders under 16 years old must wear protective headgear while riding.

More than just a list of current legislation related to motor vehicles, the Florida Vehicle Code can be a valuable resource for drivers and vehicle owners. It also spells out your rights and responsibilities in a wide range of issues, from insurance and titling to accident procedures and licensing regulations.

The vehicle code is part of the Florida Statutes, which are updated periodically. The Motor Vehicle part of the statutes is found in Title XXIII, which comprises chapters 316 through 325.

Safety and Security

The safety belt is your vehicle’s best safety feature, but it only works if you use it. Seats belts save lives, but only if worn correctly every time you are in a motor vehicle.

In a crash, your seat belt keeps you:

• From being ejected from the vehicle;
• From being thrown against other passenger, the steering wheel or the windshield:
• Behind the wheel where you can control the vehicle.

Airbags are not substitute for seat belts!

Florida Law requires that all drivers, all front seat passengers, and all passengers under the age of 18 wear seat belts. Children under age 4 must be in a safety seat, and children ages 4 and 5 must be in either a safety seat or a booster seat.

Florida Law exempts the following from the seat belt requirements:

• A person certified with a physician as having medical condition that causes seat belt use to be inappropriate or dangerous. (Keep a copy of certification while driving/being driven).
• Employee of a newspaper home delivery service while delivering newspapers
• School buses purchased prior to December 31, 2000.
• Farm equipment
• Trucks of a net weight of more than 26,000 pounds.

A seat belt (without a booster seat) may only be used for children 4-5 years- of age when the driver is not a member of the child’s immediate family and the child is being transported as a favor or in an emergency.

Protect Your Precious Cargo! It is the parent or guardians ‘responsibility to supply the proper child restrain when transporting a child in a vehicle for hire (e.g., taxi, bus, limousine).

In passenger vehicles, children under 13 should be secured in the rear seat; airbags can injure or kill young children in the front seat.

Never leave a child unattended or unsupervised in a motor vehicle; it is extremely dangerous and can result in the child’s injury or death. Always look inside your car before you lock your car’s doors.

Please visit: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for more safety rules.

DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE!

DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!