New residents in the state of Florida must apply for a valid license at a FLHSMV office.
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In order to make use of the privilege they have acquired in the state they come from, people moving to Florida must apply for a driver’s license at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). This procedure must be carried out within the first 30 days, following the move has been made effective. In addition to this change of address associated with the driver’s license, new residents must do similar procedures to update the information corresponding to the registration of the vehicle and the property title of the same, in order to be able to drive legally without problems.
The FLHSMV also insists that new residents obtain an insurance policy that comes from a company established in the state to have valid coverage in the face of any eventuality.
How do I get a driver’s license if I recently moved to Florida?
According to traffic laws, as new residents, out-of-state drivers moving to Florida must complete an application process for a valid license in order to legally drive. ASome of the reasons for moving that the FLHSMV considers worthy of this procedure are the following:
1. Have commenced employment or be engaged in a trade, profession, or occupation in the State of Florida.
2. Have enrolled their children in any public school in Florida.
3. Have registered to vote in Florida.
4. Have filed a Florida real estate tax exemption application.
5. Have lived in this state for a period of more than six consecutive months.
The application process for a valid license in the state must be carried out in person at a local FLHSMV office.. As the case may be, the applicant may be eligible for a waiver of the written test, a knowledge test consisting of questions related to laws and signs and traffic, and the driving test, a practical test that is administered under real circumstances, in company of an evaluator from the FLHSMV. Despite this advantage, all applicants must undergo an eye exam that has a basic fee of $48.
What are the documents that I must have on hand to apply for a valid Florida license if I come from another state?
According to the FLHSMV, there are a number of acceptable documents for each line item needed in the Florida driver license application process. That is, each applicant must provide any of the options to show identification, Social Security Number (SSN), and address:
1. Primary identification
Original of one (1) of the following documents with full name:
a.) Birth certificate from the US, including some US territories and the District of Columbia (Puerto Rico birth certificates must have an issue date following July 1, 2010).
b.) Valid US passport or passport card.
c.) Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
d.) Certificate of Naturalization, form N-550 or form N-570
e.) Certificate of Citizenship, model N-560 or model N-561.
2. Proof of Social Security
Original of one (1) of the following documents with full name and full SSN:
a.) Social Security Card (with client’s current name).
b.) Form W-2 (not handwritten).
c.) Check/pay stub
d.) SSA-1099 or any 1099 (not handwritten).
3. Proof of residential address
Submit two (2) different documents with your residential address (paper copies or faxes of these documents are acceptable). Residential address documents include, but are not limited to:
a.) Deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet, or residential rental/lease agreement.
b.) Florida voter registration card.
c.) Florida vehicle registration or title (print a duplicate registration on MyDMV Portal).
d.) Utility bill.
e.) A utility hookup or work order dated within 60 days prior to application.
f.) Car payment book.
g.) Selective Service Card.
h.) Medical or health card with indicated address.
i.) Current homeowners insurance policy or bill.
j.) Current auto insurance policy or bill.
k.) Transcript forms from educational institutions for the current school year.
l.) Current professional license issued by a US government agency.
m.) Form W-2 or form 1099.
n.) Form DS2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (J-1).
ñ.) A letter from a homeless shelter, transition service provider, or halfway house verifying that they receive mail for the client. The letter must be accompanied by a form of Address Certification.
o.) Mail from financial institutions, including checking, savings or investment account statements.
p.) Mail from federal, state, county or city government agencies.
q.) FDLE registration form completed by the local sheriff’s department.
The case of immigrants, non-immigrants, Canadians may be different. In that sense, it is likely that they will have to present additional documents. Also those applicants who are undocumented, since Florida is one of the places in the United States where the latter are granted the privilege of driving.
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