Moving to Florida? Guide for New Residents 🌴 DMV, Car Registration, Retiring, Pets, SunPass

Lots of you out there are planning to move to Florida or purchase a second home here. If you're looking to establish residency in the Sunshine State, here are some practical tips. (Yes, you do have to go to the DMV)

*Disclosure: I am a Realtor, so I help people buy and sell houses. I am not an attorney or accountant. These matters can be complicated, so if you have any questions please consult a licensed professional.*

ESTABLISHING FLORIDA RESIDENCY

You are considered a Floridian when your true, fixed, and permanent home is in Florida.

DRIVER'S LICENSE & VEHICLE REGISTRATION

If you are a new resident you must get your Florida Driver’s License and register your vehicle within 30 days of establishing residency in the state of Florida.

DMV: What to Bring to Get Your License
Vehicle Registration General Information:

PET REGISTRATION

A Florida pet license is required for all pets. Florida pet registration forms are available at any local veterinarian. Both dogs & cats over 4 months old must have a pet license, and all are required to have rabies inoculations or booster shots. All Florida pet registration fees will vary from county to county, so check your county’s website.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Florida residents can apply for a Homestead Exemption. You get a discount on the assessed value of your home. It also caps the amount that your assessed value can go up each year to only 3%. This is a great tax benefit that Florida homeowners enjoy. Your deadline each year for registering is March 1st, so don’t forget! You will do this through your County Property Appraiser office or website.

E-PASS / SUNPASS

Florida has a lot of toll roads and a lot of them don’t have pay booths. If you live in an area with toll roads or plan on doing a lot of exploring in Florida, you will want to get a SunPass or an E-Pass.

FINDING EMPLOYMENT

Start online by putting your resume up on websites like Indeed, CareerBuilder, Monster, and LinkedIn. Recruiters are always looking for perfect people to fill jobs for their clients. Service industry jobs are listed on these websites too, so do a job search and see what comes up. If you interested in a government job with the State of Florida there is a website in the description that will allow you to search for those jobs. Please remember that if you are in the medical field or an educator, we always need you own here in Florida!

State of Florida Job Openings:

RETIRING TO FLORIDA

If you are planning on retiring to the Sunshine State there is a website for the Department of Elder Affairs that actually provides a lot of useful knowledge. On that website there are a ton of links, including a link to 55+ communities by county, info on assisted living facilities, veteran affairs, and a link to the Older Floridians Handbook. This handbook provides a whole bunch of important information, I highly recommend you download it. I put the link in the description. Check it out if you are coming to our beautiful state to retire.

Department of Elder Affairs:

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Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate.

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084

The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

[MelanieLovesTampaBay]

Fellow Floridians - feel free to share your own tips or helpful hints to anyone moving here!

[peterpowers]

If anyone is wondering, I just registered my 2 cars in Florida (April 2022) from out of state and the cost to register was 3 dollars short of a grand! If finances are tight make sure you budget for this.

[apdaniel]

Perfect timing I'm moving in two days👍🏾🎈

[asherhouseman]

When I drove down to Florida from Minnesota to meet my realtor, she didn't mention anything about the toll ways. That was quite a surprise when I rolled up on the first one. I stopped my car dead in its tracks between the two options (Cash, Eplate) trying to figure out which one I should take. I wish all realtors, like yourself, told their clients about those tollways.

[phillipwayneblanchard]

if i bought a house in Florida, I would surely use this Lady! She is very knowledgeable and easy on da eyes!

[cindyl]

There is another pass called uni pass that covers 18 states we love the convenience of that.

[josryder]

Super helpful to know what to expect as we prepare to move! These tips are being added to my relocation to do list. Thank you

[jamesrussell]

Very concise & pretty useful load of info for the newcomers👍👍👍🇺🇸🌟

[joeys]

Excellent information Melanie!! My partner and I are looking forward to our move to the Tampa area in Spring 2020 and we plan on reaching out to use you as our realtor. 👍🏻🌴☀️

[zenmariac]

This was the only helpful video I’ve found on paperwork/legal resident requirements for moving to Florida! I was able to create a basic plan when I would otherwise just be winging it and definitely would have missed a few things. Thank you so much for making this.

[TheChoochooboy]

They charge registration fees based on weight as well. The lighter your vehicle the less expensive it is.

[scsmith]

A friend of mine kept a home in FL and a home in CT and spent about the same amount of time in each working in an environment where he can work from home and did so in both locations for a company from CA. CT told him that despite him having spent the appropriate number of days in Florida, changing his address on all bank accounts, getting a DL, changing voter location, and registering cars and personal watercraft in FL they did not care. It went to court and the judge ruled for my friend all because his dog and wife spend more time in Florida than he does. The judge in CT said that because the dog is in FL then that is where his real home is.

[isaiah]

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!! THIS HELPED ME SOOO MUCH!!

[nickclemente]

Perfect timing. We start driving Saturday.

[Chaplain]

Hi Melanie, i bumped into your videos one day and cant thank you enough for all the amazing information you share on your channel. My wife and I are retiring in the next few months and I wish we would had bumped into you before we got our realtor. We are buying a new home in Odessa. I have now subscribed to your Chanel and will watch all your videos. Thank you

[moetarawally-maldonado]

I’m planning on moving to Florida when finished with college in the state of Maryland

[davidbarthel]

My understanding of moving there has been that the minute you start working there is when you have to get a drivers license, as well as vehicle registration and tile. If you don't work but are just there 4 or 5 months a year you don't have to do that.

[kevinginsberg]

Moving to Wesley Chapel from Ohio on Sept. 3rd., can't wait.

[ericperich]

This is a Very Helpful Informative Video! Answers a lot of Questions. Thank you so much Melanie! Enjoy your Weekend.

[chimera]

I'm moving down there in two years so this is really helpful!