Federal & State Regulations | Vehicle registration requirements - Florida

A vehicle must have a valid registration to operate on Florida roads, and vehicles with out-of-state registrations are required by law to be registered within 10 days of the owner either becoming employed, placing children in public school, or establishing residency within Florida.

Interstate carriers registering with Florida are required to submit proof of current Bodily Injury and Property Damage liability insurance each registration year. If the vehicle is leased to a carrier who provides insurance for the vehicle, a copy of the lease agreement must be submitted with proof of insurance.

Agency: Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).

License plate display

Registered vehicles in Florida must display a license plate with a valid decal. For more vehicles, license plates go on the rear of the vehicle. You must have a decal in the upper right corner of the license plate that shows the month and year your registration expires. All license plates are required to be replaced every 10 years.

Trucks less than 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) are issued one license plate to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. Commercial vehicles with a GVW of 26,001 pounds or more must display a license plate on the front and the rear of the vehicle. Wrecker plates are displayed on the front of the vehicle. Dump trucks may display the rear plate on the gate no higher than 60 inches. Truck tractors are issued one license plate to be displayed on the front of the vehicle. Trailers and semitrailers display the license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

International Registration Plan

Florida is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees, allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

Motor vehicles that qualify for apportionment consist of the following:

A power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or registered weight in excess of 26,000 pounds;
A power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or
A unit used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds a GVW or 26,000 pounds.

All IRP registrations are valid for a 12-month period. Florida uses a 10-month staggered renewal system, which means each IRP account is assigned a renewal month that ranges from January through October. Applicants must provide proof of heavy vehicle use tax, insurance, physical location within Florida, and vehicle ownership or lease.

Temporary permit: A temporary operational permit (TOP) is a 60-day temporary authorization to operate your truck under the IRP.

Hunter's or unladen weight permit: An owner-operators not operating as a lessor may receive a hunter's permit for a fee. Such permit shall be valid for 10 days and shall only be utilized for owner-operator vehicles with a registered gross weight not in excess of the empty or unladen weight of the vehicle.

Agency: Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Fees: The total fee for an apportioned license plate and cab card is based on the number of miles traveled in each jurisdiction.

['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']

['Vehicle Registration Permits']

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Vehicle registration requirements - Florida

License plate display

International Registration Plan