How Much Is It to Register a Car in Florida?

Every vehicle in the state of Florida is required to be registered, from cars and trucks to motorcycles and RVs. If you just bought a new (or new-to-you) car or are moving to the Sunshine State with a car, you’ll need to register it with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

A complete Florida vehicle registration proves you’ve paid all registration fees and taxes, and consists of:

License plate
Registration certificate/card
Registration decal/sticker (provided on the registration certificate/card)

How much does it cost to register a car?

The cost to register a car depends on the type of vehicle you are registering. Plus, there is a one-time registration fee of $225 for all vehicles registered in Florida for the first time. That is, you must pay this fee if you don’t have a license plate or record of a license plate in your name for a vehicle you previously owned.

Military member exceptions

Military residents are exempt from paying the initial vehicle registration fee. If you’re a military member who is stationed in Florida and not planning on establishing residency, you don’t have to register your car in Florida.

Florida motor vehicle registration fees list

In the state of Florida, typical registration fees run from $14.50-$32.50. Registration use, license plate type and class code are used to determine registration fees.

One-time registration fee for vehicles registered in Florida for first time $225

Automobiles (Net weight up to 2,499 pounds) $14.50
Automobiles (2,500 - 3,499 pounds) $22.50
Automobiles (3,500 or more pounds) $32.50

Motorcycles $10.00
Moped $5.00

Trucks (Net weight up to 1,999 pounds) $14.50
Trucks -based on weight (2,000 - 3,000 pounds) $22.50
Trucks -based on weight (3,001 - 5,000 pounds) $32.50

For the complete list of registration fees, which includes antique cars, wreckers and more, visit FLHSMV.

Requirements to register your car in Florida

If you purchase a new or used car, you must get it registered in Florida. If you bought the car through a dealer, they can provide you with a temporary license plate (if you don’t have a tag to transfer) and file the registration papers for you.

To register your car, you’ll need to have the following:

Identification (such as a valid Florida driver’s license)
Proof of Florida auto insurance
License plate
Completed application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (or the filled out title, if you purchased through a private sale)
Vehicle identification number (VIN) verification (for out-of-state vehicles)
Registration and tax fees

Compare Auto Insurance

If you’re a new resident, you must get your car registered within 10 days of either establishing residency (renting, leasing or buying a home or apartment), becoming employed or placing a child(ren) in public school.

Be sure to factor in all the costs before buying a new car. Costs include the purchase price of the car, sales tax, plus all title, registration and tag fees.

To find a location where you can register your car in Florida, click here and choose your county. In addition, some motor vehicle services are offered by local county tax collectors or license plate agents.

If you buy your car privately

If you bought your car from a private seller, you’re required to re-register the vehicle in your name. To do this, you will need to complete the following:

Complete the vehicle’s title.
Fill out a statement recording the vehicle’s odometer or mileage disclosure.
Turn your title in to the county tax collector and an agent to prove ownership.
Provide proof of car insurance.
Complete an application to own the title with registration or without registration.
Pay for the registration fees.
Provide the odometer and vehicle identification number validation paperwork.

Renewing your Florida vehicle registration

Florida residents are able to renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years. Even better, it can all be done online at GoRenew.com or via the MyFlorida mobile app.

Late registration renewals

Registration is important for owning and operating a vehicle in Florida, and so is renewing this registration. If you are late to renew your vehicle or mobile home registration, you will have to pay a delinquent fee.

This fee becomes active at the end of the month in which registration was due. For instance, if your registration were due in September, the delinquent fee would be imposed by the end of that month.

Delinquent fees can range anywhere from $5 to $250, depending on how much your license tax is.

What does registering your vehicle entail?

When you register your vehicle in the state of Florida, this will include the following items:

You’ll get a metal license plate with numbers to match the Florida registration papers and decal given to you.
You will also receive a registration certificate that you must keep in your car or carry at all times to prove you are the vehicle owner if you get pulled over.
You will also receive a registration decal when you get your vehicle registered. This is a sticker that proves your registration is valid. Place this sticker on the upper right-hand corner of the license plate, and be sure to renew this registration when the time comes.

If you lose your registration

If you misplace your vehicle’s registration, don’t worry! It’s possible to replace a registration. Visit your Florida tax collector’s office at a branch near you and ask for a duplicate of your vehicle’s registration.

You will need the vehicle decal number, license plate number, photo ID, and vehicle identification number. Mistakes happen, so luckily, replacing your vehicle’s registration only costs $2.50.

Registering a specialty license plate

There are more than 100 options to choose from when it comes to specialty license plates. Whether you want to support an organization, cause or just give some love to the sunshine state, there are many to choose from. Plus, the money used to buy specialty license plates is used to support those organizations.

There are also military license plates. Florida is proud to support the men and women who serve the country! They offer license plates for Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Veterans who’ve served the country.

A request for a military license plate should be submitted to the Department of motor vehicles. You can also get a personalized license plate at the motor vehicle service center.