Moving to Florida: how to switch your car insurance and register your car

Your first 30 days, in order

When	What	Where
Before you register	Buy a Florida policy with at least $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL, starting the day you'll register	Through David, or any Florida-licensed insurer
Before you register	Get a VIN verification for a used out-of-state car (form HSMV 82042)	A notary, a licensed Florida dealer or law enforcement
Within 10 days of residency	Title and register the car	Your county tax collector
Within 30 days of residency	Get your Florida driver license	A driver license office
After the Florida plate is on	Cancel the old policy and handle the old plates	Your old insurer and your old state

Step by step

1. Get a Florida policy. It must be from a company licensed in Florida and include at least $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability. Have it start the day you'll register.
2. VIN verification. Used cars from out of state need a VIN check (form HSMV 82042). A notary, a licensed Florida dealer or law enforcement can complete it. Brand-new cars are exempt.
3. Go to your county tax collector with the out-of-state title (or your lender's info if it's financed), the VIN form, your Florida insurance card and ID. In South Florida that's the Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach tax collector.
4. Pay the fees. Cars never registered in Florida pay a one-time $225 initial registration fee, plus title and plate fees.
5. Get your Florida driver license within 30 days of becoming a resident.
6. Cancel the old policy only after the Florida plate is on. Turn in or cancel your old state's plates as that state requires.

How a Florida policy is different

	Most other states	Florida
Fault system	At-fault: the other driver's insurer pays your injuries	No-fault: your own PIP pays your first $10,000
Bodily injury liability	Required	Not required to register a car
PIP	Often not used	Required, $10,000
Uninsured motorist	Often required	Must be offered; rejecting it takes a signature

If you're coming from a state that required 25/50 or 50/100 bodily injury, keep at least that much here. Dropping to the Florida minimum because it's legal is how people end up personally liable after a crash.

Why your price may change

Florida policies include PIP, and rates vary a lot by ZIP code. A move from out of state to Miami can raise or lower your price depending on where you came from. Your driving history comes with you, and so does your insurance history: proof of continuous coverage from your old state usually lowers the Florida price.

Common mistakes

• Canceling the old policy before the Florida one starts. Even a day's gap can raise future prices.
• Keeping out-of-state insurance on a Florida-registered car. It won't satisfy Florida's PIP rule.
• Waiting past 10 days. Driving a resident's car on out-of-state plates can get you a ticket.
• Dropping bodily injury coverage because Florida doesn't require it.