How to Transfer a License Plate to a New Car in Florida
Learn how to smoothly transfer your Florida license plate to a new vehicle while meeting legal and administrative requirements.
Switching vehicles in Florida doesn’t necessarily require getting a new license plate. Drivers can often transfer an existing plate to a new car, which can save time and money. However, the process requires specific steps to avoid potential fines or registration problems.
This guide outlines the requirements for legally transferring a license plate to another vehicle in Florida.
Ownership Requirements
Transferring a Florida license plate hinges on consistent ownership. State law generally ties a license plate to the vehicle’s owner, not the vehicle itself. When you sell or dispose of a vehicle, the plate must be removed.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Selling a Vehicle in Florida It can then be transferred to a replacement vehicle.
The core requirement is that the new vehicle must be registered in the same name, or at least one of the names, listed on the previous vehicle’s registration.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Procedure RS-05: Transfer of License Plates This ensures the plate remains associated with the original registrant.
Proof of ownership for the new vehicle is needed to register it under your name, enabling the plate transfer. For a new car, this is typically the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). For a used vehicle, it’s the existing Florida title, properly assigned by the seller. An out-of-state title, correctly assigned, serves as proof for vehicles brought into Florida.
Florida law accommodates joint ownership scenarios. If the original registration listed names joined by “and” or “or,” the plate can usually be transferred to a new vehicle titled solely in one of those names, or jointly with one original owner and a new co-owner, provided at least one original registrant remains linked to the plate.
Insurance Verification
Before transferring a license plate, drivers must prove they have the required Florida auto insurance. State law mandates specific coverages before any vehicle registration, including a plate transfer, can occur.
The required minimum coverage includes $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers a portion of medical expenses regardless of fault, and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL), covering damage your vehicle causes to others’ property.3Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida Insurance Requirements This insurance must be from a company licensed in Florida.
Insurance verification is typically handled electronically. Florida insurance companies report policy information directly to the state’s database, which is checked during the registration process. When applying for a plate transfer, officials verify active coverage linked to the vehicle identification number (VIN). If valid insurance is confirmed electronically, drivers usually don’t need to provide separate proof. This coverage must be active before initiating the transfer and maintained continuously.
Where to Submit Documents
To complete a license plate transfer, the necessary documentation must be submitted in person at authorized locations. County tax collector’s offices, acting as agents for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), are the primary sites for these transactions.4Florida Legislature Online Sunshine. Florida Statute 320.04: Registration; Duties of Tax Collectors You should visit an office in the county where you reside or where the vehicle will primarily be used.
At the office, you will need to present the completed title for the new vehicle (or MCO for a new car) showing your ownership, along with proof of identity. These offices process the transfer application, verify documents, and officially link the existing plate to the new vehicle’s registration. Some FLHSMV-operated service centers also offer these services. A list of authorized locations is available on the FLHSMV website.
If the vehicle was purchased from a licensed Florida dealer, the dealership often handles the transfer process electronically as part of the sale. They will collect the required documents and submit the information to the state. If buying from a private party, or if the dealer does not complete the transfer, the owner is responsible for submitting the documents at a tax collector’s office or FLHSMV service center.
Compulsory Fees
Transferring an existing Florida license plate involves specific state-mandated fees. The primary cost is a registration transfer fee, typically $4.50, covering the administrative update to link the plate to the new vehicle for the remainder of the registration period, assuming the new vehicle’s license tax is the same or less.
An additional service charge of $2.50 applies for processing the transfer application, collected by the office handling the transaction. This brings the usual combined statutory cost for the transfer action to $7.00.
Other costs might apply depending on the situation. County tax collectors may add a small service charge (up to 50 cents) for transactions at branch offices. If updated documents are mailed, postage and a small handling fee may be charged. These transfer-specific fees are separate from other potential costs like title application fees, lien recording fees ($2.00 if applicable), or the annual registration taxes based on the vehicle type, which might be due if renewing the registration simultaneously. The $225 Initial Registration Fee generally does not apply when transferring a plate from a disposed vehicle to a replacement, as this is a listed exemption.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Motor Vehicle Fees
Penalties for Noncompliance
Failure to properly transfer a Florida license plate or comply with registration laws can result in penalties. Operating a vehicle without correct registration, including having the properly assigned and transferred plate, is illegal. Driving an unregistered vehicle is typically classified as a second-degree misdemeanor, potentially leading to fines up to $500 and jail time up to 60 days.
State law also prohibits knowingly attaching a license plate to a vehicle to which it was not officially issued or legally transferred.6Florida Legislature Online Sunshine. Florida Statute 320.261: Attaching License Plate Not Assigned Prohibited; Penalty This misuse is also a second-degree misdemeanor with similar potential penalties. This applies if a driver puts an old plate on a new car without completing the official transfer process.
Failing to surrender a license plate when required, such as after selling a vehicle without transferring the plate, can lead to the suspension of the owner’s driver’s license until the plate is surrendered or the issue is resolved with the FLHSMV.
Altering a license plate’s appearance, such as defacing it or using materials that obscure its visibility, is a noncriminal traffic infraction, typically resulting in fines and points against the driver’s license.7Florida Legislature Online Sunshine. Florida Statute 320.0609: Attaching Obscuring Material to License Plate; Penalty Law enforcement can seize improperly altered plates. These potential consequences highlight the importance of following Florida’s procedures for license plate transfers and vehicle registration.
