Driving With New York Plate In Boca, Delray? Better Register In Florida…

Many New Homeowners From New York, New Jersey Not Registering In Florida. That Will Lead To Fines, More.

Must Register Within Ten Days Of Moving To Sunshine State, Child Enrolling In School.

BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Florida law makes it clear: you must register your vehicle in Florida within ten days of moving here, registering your child in a school, or starting a job. That is why officials are telling BocaNewsNow.com that they are increasingly aware of New Yorkers driving in the area with out of state plates.

“It’s a problem,” said someone connected with local law enforcement. “There was a lot of looking the other way during the early days of COVID, but now we’re returning to business as usual. If you’re living in South Florida and your car has New York registration, you may find yourself fined.”

Fines vary from next to nothing to more than $250, depending on the value of your car. Teslas — the car of choice for many New Yorkers driving who have moved to South Florida but have kept their tags — would fall on the upper end of the fining schedule.

“It’s somewhat illogical that all of these people are moving here and keeping out of state registrations,” said our tipster. “It actually costs more, and sometimes much more, to register a vehicle in New York than it does in Florida. If people are doing it as some part of an insurance scheme, they may want to think twice. If you’re living in Florida but your car is registered and insured out of state, you may have a problem if you have a claim. It certainly won’t help you if you’re at fault.”

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:

“A delinquent registration fee is imposed on any customer who fails to renew registrations of motor vehicles and mobile homes beginning on the eleventh calendar day of the month succeeding the month in which the renewal registrations were due. Section 320.07(4)(a), Florida Statutes, specifically requires the delinquent fee to be imposed on any applicant who fails to renew a registration before the end of the month in which renewal registration is due.

Please note: registrations are only valid until midnight on the registrant’s birthday.”

How To Register A Vehicle In Florida

From FLHSMV:

For vehicles with a lien:

1. If the out-of-state title is currently in the possession of an out-of-state lienholder, you must contact the lienholder to request that the title be transferred to Florida.
2. Regardless of whether the lienholder will transfer the title to Florida or not, you must have your vehicle registered.
   1. If the lienholder refuses to transfer title from the previous state, request for them to send that to you in writing on letterhead. Once you obtain that letter, you may bring it to a motor vehicle service center to apply for a registration.
   2. If the lienholder agrees to have the title transferred to Florida, you may visit a local motor vehicle service center to complete the Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (HSMV form 82040).

For vehicles without a lien:

1. Prepare a packet containing the following: (Please note: special circumstances may require additional documentation.)
   • Proof of identity (required for all owners)
   • Proof of Florida insurance
   • Original out-of-state title
   • When applying for title, ALL owners are required to sign a completed Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (HSMV form 82040).
   • Verification of physical inspection of the motor vehicle’s vehicle identification number (VIN), completed on an Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (HSMV form 82040) or Vehicle Identification Number and Odometer Verification (HSMV form 82042). The VIN must be physically inspected and verified by one of the following:
     1. A Law Enforcement Officer.
     2. A Military Police Officer.
     3. A licensed Florida Dealer.
     4. A county tax collector employee or Division of Motorist Services Compliance Examiner (which can be located at any local service center offering motor vehicle services).