Choose a standard or specialty plate
FLHSMV's license plate overview identifies three standard options: a county name plate, Sunshine State and In God We Trust. County name plates are not available in every county. The department also states that Florida plates are replaced on a ten-year cycle.
The specialty plate program offers designs supporting organizations and causes. A specialty design and personalized lettering are separate choices. Many specialty plates can also be personalized.
Some plates require eligibility evidence before purchase. Military plates and disability-related plates have their own qualifications; see Florida military vehicle services and disabled parking permits and plates for those requirements.
For an initial vehicle registration, follow registering a vehicle in Florida. Selecting a design does not replace the ownership, insurance and registration application.
Check personalized lettering before applying
Use the official Personalized License Plate Check to test a proposed configuration. Its instructions allow up to seven characters plus an additional space or hyphen for center-design plates, and up to five characters for left-design plates.
Availability is only a preliminary check. The service warns that a configuration available now may be unavailable when the reservation is attempted at the tax collector's office. FLHSMV also reserves the right to cancel a reservation it considers objectionable or obscene. A result from the checker is not the completed plate order.
Submit the personalized plate application
FLHSMV directs customers to order personalized plates in person using HSMV 83043, Application for Personalized License Plate. The form requests owner or lessee information, vehicle information, the selected plate type, an explanation of the lettering and ranked configuration choices.
Its instructions call for proof of Florida PIP and PDL insurance, a copy of the current registration certificate or renewal notice, and payment to the county tax collector or license plate agent. The form identifies acceptable insurance evidence, including a card, policy, binder, certificate or affidavit.
The application says to allow six to eight weeks for manufacture and delivery to the tax collector or plate agent. Follow the form's layout for the selected design. Specialty motorcycle plates have a separate six-character layout, so passenger vehicle spacing should not be assumed to apply.
Plate fees and registration charges
The FLHSMV fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026, lists $28 for an original or replacement license plate and $225 for the initial registration fee when applicable. These are separate from the vehicle's registration tax and other applicable charges. The schedule's weight-based registration amounts are base vehicle taxes, not complete transaction totals.
The specialty and personalized plate page lists an additional $15 annual personalization fee, also checked October 16, 2026. A specialty design may add its own charges. The License Plates Rate Chart, HSMV 83140, provides a calculation checklist and directs applicants to the selected specialty or personalized plate charges. The cited pages do not give a new effective date for these amounts.
For ordinary renewals, including online delivery and processing fees, see Florida registration renewal.
Transfer your plate to another vehicle
The department's plate transfer procedure directs the seller to retain the plate. A transfer requires proof of motor vehicle insurance. The procedure also allows a plate to move to another vehicle before the original vehicle is sold if the owner submits the required affidavit that the original is in storage, inoperable or will not be operated on Florida roads.
A plate registered to joint owners can be transferred to either individual or to one previous owner jointly with a new owner. When a special plate moves from two names to one, the remaining owner must establish eligibility for that plate type.
The transfer procedure explains that registration tax is prorated monthly based on the effective date. Have the office calculate the transfer for the actual vehicles and registration period. A plate physically attached to another car is not evidence that the registration transfer was processed.
Surrender an unused plate and keep the receipt
The license plate overview allows surrender in person or by mail to a motor vehicle service center, with a request to cancel and recycle it. For a lost, destroyed or stolen plate that cannot be returned, it provides an affidavit route.
Keep the surrender receipt. FLHSMV says it can establish credit toward a later initial registration fee when that fee was paid for the vehicle associated with the surrendered plate. The receipt also documents that the plate was returned.
FLHSMV's insurance requirements instruct owners to surrender the plate before canceling coverage. An actively registered vehicle still requires coverage when parked or inoperable. See Florida insurance requirements for lapse and suspension issues.
Temporary tags depend on the transaction
The public plate overview describes 10-day tags for specified weighing, VIN verification or inspection situations, 30-day tags for listed sales and other transactions, and 90-day tags for specified circumstances including waiting for a personalized or special plate.
The department's Temporary Tags procedure, RS-31, also includes a 60-day category that the public overview's list omits. It describes an existing owner applying for a Florida title with a valid outside title carrying an active lien, and an active-duty service member with a valid Florida license stationed outside Florida. The military provision requires duty orders or the described signed affidavit.
These are distinct eligibility categories, not a choice of how long a customer would like to postpone registration. Have the issuing office determine the tag appropriate to the documented transaction. Use the expiration date on the issued tag.
Specialty plate gift certificates
FLHSMV's specialty plate program allows purchase of a gift credit for the annual use fee of an available specialty plate. The recipient redeems the credit with proper identification when obtaining the plate, and purchase and redemption need not happen at the same office.
The department states that gift certificates are not refundable because the money goes to the sponsoring organization when purchased. The credit is for the specialty plate program; ordinary title, plate issuance and registration charges must still be considered when calculating the recipient's transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my plate stay with a vehicle I sell?
The seller retains the Florida plate and handles its transfer or surrender separately from the buyer's title application.
Does checking personalized lettering online reserve it?
No. The official checker warns that availability may change before the reservation is attempted at the tax collector's office.
How long does a personalized plate take?
HSMV 83043 says to allow six to eight weeks for manufacture and delivery to the county tax collector or plate agent.
Can I cancel insurance while keeping an active registration on a parked car?
FLHSMV requires continuous coverage during the registration period and directs owners to surrender the plate before cancellation.
Are all temporary Florida tags good for 30 days?
No. The duration depends on the qualifying transaction. The agency's procedure includes 10-, 30-, 60- and 90-day categories.
What if my plate or decal was lost rather than surrendered?
Follow the Florida plate, decal and registration replacement guide for the replacement application and supporting evidence.