Florida Temporary Tag Requirements & How To Get One
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Temporary tags are a common and important part of how we make sure vehicles are registered. They help keep track of new vehicles, stop new owners from getting pulled over for no reason, and also help protect new vehicle owners from vehicle theft.
But, many vehicle owners don’t actually know that much about temporary tags, the requirements to get them, or how they work. If you’re wondering about your Florida temporary tag, you’re in the right place. We’ll talk about what the temporary tags are, how they work, and how you can get one if you need it.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Is A Florida Temporary Tag?
Florida temporary tags are any license plate for any vehicle that’s only intended for temporary use. They aren’t quite the same as a permanent license and are typically only valid for 10, 30, or 90 days according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
The most common type of temporary tags are dealer tags which a vehicle dealer issues when the vehicle is purchased. They allow the vehicle to be legally driven off the sales lot and give the new owner a grace period to go get the vehicle registered and a permanent license issued in their name.
Temporary tags can also be obtained for private sales, when the owner is applying for registration documents or going through other parts of the registration process that will take longer than average, or when the vehicle’s owner is applying for a customized license, among other reasons.
Basically, if there is a legitimate reason you cannot get a traditional license for your vehicle, chances are you can apply for a temporary tag to keep your vehicle legal in the meantime.
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Can You Abuse Florida Temporary Tag Access?
While Florida tends to be pretty liberal when it comes to offering temporary tags to vehicle owners, that doesn’t mean that you can just renew your temporary tag over and over, or continue using temporary tags on multiple vehicles to avoid getting a 10-year license.
In fact, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “abusing or misusing” temporary tags is a misdemeanor in Florida.
Additionally, issuing a temporary tag to a “fictitious person” to conceal the true identity of the owner is considered a felony.
Florida Temporary Tag Requirements
There are a lot of situations where you might qualify for a temporary tag in the state of Florida. Most vehicle owners won’t need a temporary tag for most of these reasons, but it’s still a good idea to know when you might qualify.
If you need a Florida temporary tag you can apply to get one at a Florida Vehicle Service Center.
As of this writing, you cannot apply for a Florida temporary tag online or over the phone.
Requirements for Temporary Tags for Dealer Use:
Dealers need to apply to be able to issue temporary tags, but once approved they can issue temporary tags for their customers.
Dealer tags are typically good for 30 days, during which time the dealer will apply for a title and registration for the new owner. Owners are responsible for getting their standard 10-year license once they’ve received the title and registration.
Typically, these tags are not renewed past the initial 30-day period, but you may be able to apply for a non-dealer tag if your vehicle qualified for a different type of temporary tag.
New vehicle owners should always receive a temporary tag on the purchase of a vehicle. Your dealer should provide one automatically, and remove their dealer license plates before you take the vehicle off the lot.
The exact date your temporary tag will expire should be included in your paperwork from the dealer.
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Requirements for Non-Dealer Temporary Tags
In some cases, you may need a temporary Florida license plate for a vehicle you already own, or a vehicle you bought from someone other than a licensed dealer.
Private vehicle sales are getting more and more common, and there are a variety of unusual circumstances where you might legally own a vehicle but not be able to apply for a 10-year license immediately.
These are some of the situations and requirements for getting a non-dealer temporary tag in Florida.
Custom License
One of the most common reasons vehicle owners will need a temporary tag instead of a 10-year license is if they are applying for a custom license.
Custom licenses are popular, and states tend to encourage them because they’re a good source of income for the state.
However, it can take time to get a custom license approved, and you may need a temporary tag in the meantime if your license expires before you get approval. This is especially common if you’re putting a custom tag on a new vehicle since it can take more than 30 days to get custom license approval in some cases.
If you need a temporary tag immediately you may be able to request one at the same time you apply for your custom license.
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Temporary Resident, Not Moving To Florida
Another common reason for you to get a temporary tag would be if you’re going to be living or working in Florida temporarily but aren’t going to become a permanent resident.
Temporary military postings travel nurses, and seasonal jobs are all common reasons to apply for a temporary Florida license for the duration of your time in the state.
However, if you become a permanent resident at any point while using a Florida temporary tag you’ll need to get a 10-year license instead. You shouldn’t wait until the temporary tag expires to switch.
New Resident Seeking Proof Of Ownership
If you move to Florida but don’t already have the documentation to prove that you own your vehicle you can apply for a temporary tag to protect yourself and your vehicle while you apply for proof of ownership with another state.
This process can take a while, so it’s a good idea to get a temporary tag and apply for proof of ownership as quickly as possible.
Miscellaneous Situations
There are several other uncommon situations where you might need to get a Florida temporary tag, for instance, semi-trucks and other large vehicles might need one when they are being stored in Florida temporarily, loaded, and unloaded.
Banks and credit unions may also have temporary tags when they are in temporary ownership of a vehicle.
It’s a good idea to check when you might be eligible for a temporary tag or required to have one if you are unable to get a 10-year license, or are bringing a vehicle into Florida that might require temporary registration.
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