Appointments
A DMV office is always at your service, to complete your transactions or to help you solve doubts. You can visit one of our offices with, or without an appointment. The only difference will be the time you will need to spend in the office.
If you want to save time and avoid long lines, you can make an appointment Online by OASIS, our Online Appointment Service and Information System. This is the easiest option. You may also schedule your appointment by phone. This phone service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please keep in mind that before making an appointment to the DMV, it is mandatory to be fully informed about the necessary documentation and deadlines for the different types of procedure you need to achieve.
Hours 2900 Apalachee Parkway,, Room B-142, MS-76
There is always a DMV office near you. In general, the offices open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. And then, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Please keep in mind that the opening hours can vary from a County to another one.
The DMV usually closes its doors during the weekends, however there are some exemptions when some of the DMV offices offer limited services these days.
DMV officials are available 24/7 to help you solve your doubts and assist you in any query. For those people who are not available to visit us within these hours, do not hesitate to contact the DMV online or by phone.
FL DMV Practise Test
To be able to get a driver's license, the driver must pass a Practice test. The driver will have 5 shots to approve it, after that, if it's not successful, there will be a waiting period of one year to reschedule the test.
To be able to apply for the test, you will have to bring with you the following documentation:
- Valid ID.
- Social Security Number.
- Proof of current address.
- If under 18 - Parental Consent Form – Minor Driver Applicant Form.
Please note that if you took the exam on a third party, the exam results will be loaded in the system and available at all the offices of the FLHSMV (Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles). There will be no need to bring any documentation to the FLHSMV if the exam has been taken by an external Driver’s license provider.
If you need more information about the available Driver’s Licence educational centers, please enter here: https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/driver-license-exams/
Florida License
In Florida, the Sunshine State, it is quite simple to get your driver's license. All you have to do is complete a TLSAE course, pass a driving and theoretical exam, present your paperwork and that will be it!
Depending if the driver is young with no experience, or if the driver has experience behind the wheel, there are different kinds of licences.
Class E - Learners license
Drivers between 15 and 18 years old must apply for their first driver's license called: class E - Learners license. Graduated Driver License laws (GDL) establish this first step for those inexperienced people who are starting to learn how to drive.
To apply for this Learners License, you must complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course (TLSAE). After that, you will have to make an appointment at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), where an officer will request you all the necessary documentation. You will have to pass a vision and hearing examination before taking the test, if everything is Ok, the last step required is to pay the fee to access the knowledge test.
Required Documents to apply for a Learners License
- ID or Passport
- Social Security Number
- Document that Proof your Residential address
- Parental consent for a driver application of a minor - If you are under 18
- Proof of Legal residence in the US for all of those drivers who are not American citizens.
Restrictions of the Learners License:
- The individual must drive under the supervision of an adult over 21 years old.
- It is not allowed to drive at night during the first 3 months of the license. After this period, it is permitted to drive up to 10PM.
If you hold the first Learners License, you will have 1 year to upgrade it and obtain an intermediate or full privilege license. If your Learners license expires, you will have to renew it and do the process all over again.
Intermediate Driver License
According to the Graduated Driver License laws (GDL), the second step the driver must obtain is the Intermediate Driver's License. In this second stage, the driver can drive with no supervision, but there are still some restrictions to follow up until the driver turns 18 years old.
To apply for this Intermediate License, you must hold your Learners license for one year with no traffic violations. You must count with 50 hours of driving practise, 10 of which must be during night hours. After this, you will have to Schedule an appointment to the DHMSV’s Service Center. At your appointment the officer will request you all the documentation. You will have to pass a Driving exam, and if you succeed, you will give up your learners license and gain the new one.
Necessary Documents to apply for an Intermediate License
It is very important that the driver presents the form: Certification of Driving Experience of a Minor (HSMV 71142). This paper will be filled up by the parent/driving instructor in the presence of a Notary Public or officer from the Driver License Center.
Restrictions of the Intermediate License:
- The minor is allowed to drive between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m with non supervision . This rule applies until he or she turns 17 years old.
- Theminor is allowed to drive between 5:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m with non supervision. This rule applies until he or she turns 18 years old.
- The minor is not allowed to drive outside these time frames unless he or she is accompanied and supervised by an adult over 21 years.
Full privilege Driver's License (Adult +18)
If you are over 18 years old, and have never held a Driver's license, you can apply for a Full privilege License without working the steps mentioned before. However, if you prefer to have supervised driving for a period of time, you are allowed to get your full license starting from a learners step.
To apply for this Full-Privilege License, you must complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course (TLSAE). After this, you will have to schedule an appointment to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), where you will present all of your papers to the officer. You will have to successfully pass a vision and a hearing examination, to access the Knowledge and driving test. If you comply with all of these steps, you will have to pay a fee (if apply) and take your Picture for your new drivers license.
Required Documents for a Full privilege License
- Identification Card or Passport
- Proof of Social Security Number
- Proof of Residential address
- If from outside the States: Proof of Legal residence in the US.
Transferring your Driver's License to the Florida Driver’s License.
Out of the State of Florida Licenses.
If a Driver (older than 16 years old), with a current Driver's license needs to transfer their out of state license to a Florida one, the only requirement will be to pass a Vision and Hearing examination. But, if the license is expired, the driver will be requested to pass these medical examinations, plus a Knowledge and a Driving exam.
To apply for the Full-Privilege License in Florida, the individual has to make an appointment to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), where the officer will ask you to present all the required documentation. The driver will have to pass a vision and hearing examination. If it is successful, the last step will be to pay the fee, take the Picture for the new license and surrender the out of state license he or she owns.
Once you comply with all the requirements mentioned above, you will obtain a Full Privilege Florida Drivers License. This License will be valid for 8 years, and it will expire the day of your birthday.
Outside of the United States License.
If you are coming from another country, and need to obtain the Florida Drivers license, you will have to follow a similar process to the one followed for a new Driver's license. There are some exceptions if you are coming from Canada or Germany, (in which case you will only be required to take a driving and Knowledge test), France, South Korea and Taiwan.
To apply for this Florida driver’s license, you must schedule an appointment at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), once you are there an officer will request all of your documentation. You will have to pass a vision and a hearing examination, and if apply, you will also take the Knowledge and the Driving test. If you comply with all of these steps, you will have to pay a fee and take your Picture for your new drivers license.
Change address
The State of Florida requires that every change of address is registered in the system and changed on the drivers license. After moving, there is a limit of 30 days to communicate this to the DMV.
There are different options to comply with this:
- Change of address Online: Access the site GoRenew.com and sign up. Pay a fee of 2$ to complete the process. Please keep in mind that this process accepts all credit cards.
- Change of address by mail: you will find all of the information at www.gorenew.com.
- Change of address visiting a DMV office: Localize the nearest office and bring the documentation personally.
Required Documentation in 2900 Apalachee Parkway,, Room B-142, MS-76
- Valid Identification Card.
- Proof Social Security Number.
- Proof of your new address.
Florida Bill of Sale
It is known that at the time to purchase a new vehicle, there is a lot of paperwork to go through. During the last few years there have been some incidents when selling/buying a car. There have been cases of fraud, theft or simply mistakes that have led people to lose extra money and waste their time.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) highly recommends that, at the moment of buying or selling a vehicle, the owner and the buyer protect themselves by completing the Bill of Sale Document. This paper is not legally required by the DMV officers, and in any case it replaces the Title transfer, but it is a very good backup form, as the Bill of Sale protects both parts of the transaction: The Buyer and the Seller.
Its official name is “Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel”. This document can be downloaded from the official DHSMV website. This form is a very good backup to avoid you any possible problems in the future.
What is the purpose of this paper?
The Bill of Sale is beneficial for both parts, as it protects the Seller and the Buyer. This paper serves as a proof of the transaction made and the transfer of responsibilities form one part to the other one.
At the moment of the sale, it is necessary that the actual owner of the vehicle is the first one to fill up this paper and sign it, before the buyer.
To complete the form correctly, the seller must include the Vehicle details, the Certificate of title number, the current kilometer the vehicle has made, the personal information of both parts, the price of the vehicle and the current date.
Benefits for Sellers
The Bill of Sale form protects you as the seller of the vehicle in any case, for example: if any infraction or new ticket arrives to you after you sold the vehicle, you will have no responsibility towards those infractions. This form works as proof of non responsibility over the sold vehicle.
Once the purchase is completed, you must notify the tax collector’s office (DMV Office), to inform them about the sale. Once the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is informed, they will proceed to cancel the registration of the vehicle under your name and keep the vehicle on hold until the buyer’s notification arrives. Once the new notification is received, they will register the vehicle under the buyers name.
Benefits for the Buyer of the Vehicle
The Bill of Sale also protects the buyer of the vehicle in case there is any infraction or ticket of the vehicle from the previous owner. It is a proof of non responsibility over the vehicle from the date of purchase backwards.
Once the transaction has been completed, you should notify the new acquisition to the tax collector’s office. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will receive your notification and proceed to cancel the registration of the vehicle under the Seller’s name and register the vehicle under your name. Please keep in mind that you will have to pay a sales tax payment. After purchasing the vehicle, you will have only 30 days to register the vehicle under your name. After this period of time, you will be punished with a penalty fee due to the late transfer.
Drivers License Renewal
In Florida your Drivers License will be valid for a period no longer than 8 years. The expiration date will be on the day of your birthday. In Florida, it is allowed to renew your license up to 18 months before the expiration date.
There are some exemptions, where the renewal will not be possible due to eligibility, unsolved traffic violations, or in the case where a license has been suspended, cancelled or revoked. In these different scenarios, it is possible that the DMV requests the driver to comply with a new training and/or to get a brand new license.
The are different ways to renew your license in Florida:
Renewal Online
Renewing your license online is the most easy, fast and convenient way to do it. There is an exception applied to the Commercial Drivers License that does not allow its renovation online. This service is only available for American citizens or permanent US residents. If you choose this option, please bear in mind that you will not be allowed to use it if the last renewal was made online, by mail or by phone.
Renewal Personally
This is the winning option in most of the cases. All you need to do is to make an appointment at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) service’s center and bring all the required paperwork.
It is probable that you may have to pass a vision test (If applicable) and you`ll have to surrender your expired Driver’s license.
Once you attend your appointment, the officer will require all the paperwork, including your ID, proof of address and if you have changed your name, two different proofs of your new name. Bear in mind that if you have not renewed your driver's license in person since January 1st, 2010, you will need to bring one form of primary ID, two proofs of your current address and your social security number.
Real ID and the Driver’s License.
If you need to renew your license, keep in mind that you will have to do the renovation in person starting from October 1st 2021. From this day forward, all the renewal of the drivers licenses in Florida will be issued complying with the Real ID standards. To avoid double paperwork and assure the renovation is made under the new security standards from the Real ID. You may seek advice from a FLHSMV office.
More info at https://www.realidinfo.net/en/fl-florida
Renewal for special situations
Requirements for Older and Senior Drivers
After the age of 80, the Drivers license will have a validity of 6 years. At the time to renew this license, the driver will be required to pass a vision examination, and other kinds of tests may also apply depending on the situation. Before making your appointment for the renewal, please contact the FLHSMV for more information.
Military personnel - Requirements
All Military personnel can apply for the renewal of their driver's license up to 18 months before its expiration date. Before completing the online application for the renewal, please contact the FLHSMV for more information.
In a force majeure situation it is impossible for the soldier to renew their license, there are other types of extensions that may apply under certain circumstances. The DMV will allow the License’s validity to be extended for 90 days after its expiration date.
The state of Florida will allow some exemptions for those soldiers who are outside the State and cannot apply for the online renovation. This will be permitted until the soldier comes back to Florida to reside.
Offices in 2900 Apalachee Parkway,, Room B-142, MS-76
In order to help and assist citizens all over the State of Florida, the Department of Motorized Vehicles provides a wide range of possible communication channels.
The last couple of years, there has been a depreciation of some of the DMV offices outside Miami, Broward and Volusia. For this reason there has been a restructuring of the office's location across the State.
The DMV focused on centralizing the services in some places and merging the services with the tax collectors offices in other places where the demand was lower. Despite this, it is necessary to mention that the DMV offices have never lost their touch of quality and speed at the time to manage the citizens' formalities.
This website is privately owned and is not affiliated with the FLHSMV (Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles). Remember that we are never going to solicit any personal information, ID or credentials. The official FLHSMV website: https://www.flhsmv.gov/
