Fla. Stat. 320.03
Registration; duties of tax collectors; International Registration Plan

(1)

The tax collectors in the several counties of the state, as authorized agents of the department, shall issue registration certificates, registration license plates, validation stickers, and mobile home stickers to applicants, and shall provide to applicants for each the option to register emergency contact information and the option to be contacted with information about state and federal benefits available as a result of military service, subject to the requirements of law, in accordance with rules of the department. Any person, firm, or corporation representing itself, through advertising or naming of the business, to be an authorized agent of the department shall be deemed guilty of an unfair and deceptive trade practice as defined in part II of chapter 501. No such person, firm, or corporation shall use either the state or county name as a part of their business name when such use can reasonably be interpreted as an official state or county office.

(2)

The department may require each tax collector to give a bond, payable to the department, conditioned that the tax collector faithfully and truly perform the duties imposed upon him or her according to the requirements of law and the rules and regulations of the department and that the tax collector pay over and account for all validation stickers, records, and other property and money that comes into his or her possession or control by reason of such service. The amount of the bond is to be determined by the department based on an amount not more than 10 percent above the average of the daily deposits of each tax collector.

(3)

Each tax collector shall keep a full and complete record and account of all validation stickers, mobile home stickers, or other properties received by him or her from the department, or from any other source. Notwithstanding chapter 116, every county officer within this state authorized to collect funds provided for in this chapter shall pay all sums officially received by the officer into the State Treasury no later than 5 working days after the close of the business day in which the officer received the funds. Payment by county officers to the state shall be made by means of electronic funds transfer.

(4)(a)

Each tax collector, third party contracted with a tax collector, or license tag agent who has online computer access to the department’s systems or data shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department and shall, except when the department has issued a registration renewal notice, upon receipt of an application for the registration of any motor vehicle, determine from the driver file of the applicant whether the applicant’s driver license has been canceled, suspended, or revoked and, if so, whether the applicant has surrendered his or her license to the department as required by s. 322.251. If the applicant has not surrendered his or her license in accordance with that section, the tax collector shall refuse to register the vehicle until such time as the applicant surrenders his or her driver license to the department.The Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System shall be installed in every tax collector’s and license tag agent’s office in accordance with a schedule established by the department in consultation with the tax collectors and contingent upon funds being made available for the system by the state.

(4)(a)

Each tax collector, third party contracted with a tax collector, or license tag agent who has online computer access to the department’s systems or data shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department and shall, except when the department has issued a registration renewal notice, upon receipt of an application for the registration of any motor vehicle, determine from the driver file of the applicant whether the applicant’s driver license has been canceled, suspended, or revoked and, if so, whether the applicant has surrendered his or her license to the department as required by s. 322.251. If the applicant has not surrendered his or her license in accordance with that section, the tax collector shall refuse to register the vehicle until such time as the applicant surrenders his or her driver license to the department.

(b)

The Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System shall be installed in every tax collector’s and license tag agent’s office in accordance with a schedule established by the department in consultation with the tax collectors and contingent upon funds being made available for the system by the state.

(5)(a)

In addition to the fees required under s. 320.08, a fee of 50 cents shall be charged on every license registration sold to cover the costs of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System. The fees collected shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund to be used exclusively to fund the system. The fee may only be used to fund the system equipment, software, personnel associated with the maintenance and programming of the system, and networks used in the offices of the county tax collectors as agents of the department and the ancillary technology necessary to integrate the system with other tax collection systems. The department shall administer this program upon consultation with the Florida Tax Collectors, Inc., to ensure that each county tax collector’s office is technologically equipped and functional for the operation of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System and to ensure that all ancillary technology and other tax collection systems used by tax collectors protect customer privacy and data. Tax collectors and their approved license plate agents shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department regarding use of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System in accordance with paragraph (4)(b). Any designated revenue collected to support functions of the county tax collectors and not used in a given year must remain exclusively in the trust fund as a carryover to the following year.Upon a tax collector’s request, the department may provide ancillary technology to integrate other tax collection systems used by tax collectors in order to provide tax collectors with data access and uniform interface functionalities for registration renewal transactions performed at a tax collector’s office or online via a tax collector’s website. The department shall prescribe the best manner of delivering the data access and uniform interface functionalities to tax collectors for the purpose of processing registration renewal transactions and shall provide the ability to record and process registration renewal transactions in the state system in real time and bulk data reporting for vehicle registrations, including each applicant’s electronic mail address collected pursuant to s. 320.95. Such data and functionality may be used only for purposes of fulfilling the tax collector’s statutory duties pursuant to this chapter, chapter 319, chapter 322, or chapter 328 and may not be resold or used for any other purpose. Such data access and uniform interface functionalities shall be developed no later than July 1, 2023. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “registration renewal transactions” means issuance of motor vehicle, mobile home, and trailer registration certificates, registration license plates, and validation stickers.

(5)(a)

In addition to the fees required under s. 320.08, a fee of 50 cents shall be charged on every license registration sold to cover the costs of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System. The fees collected shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund to be used exclusively to fund the system. The fee may only be used to fund the system equipment, software, personnel associated with the maintenance and programming of the system, and networks used in the offices of the county tax collectors as agents of the department and the ancillary technology necessary to integrate the system with other tax collection systems. The department shall administer this program upon consultation with the Florida Tax Collectors, Inc., to ensure that each county tax collector’s office is technologically equipped and functional for the operation of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System and to ensure that all ancillary technology and other tax collection systems used by tax collectors protect customer privacy and data. Tax collectors and their approved license plate agents shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department regarding use of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System in accordance with paragraph (4)(b). Any designated revenue collected to support functions of the county tax collectors and not used in a given year must remain exclusively in the trust fund as a carryover to the following year.

(b)

Upon a tax collector’s request, the department may provide ancillary technology to integrate other tax collection systems used by tax collectors in order to provide tax collectors with data access and uniform interface functionalities for registration renewal transactions performed at a tax collector’s office or online via a tax collector’s website. The department shall prescribe the best manner of delivering the data access and uniform interface functionalities to tax collectors for the purpose of processing registration renewal transactions and shall provide the ability to record and process registration renewal transactions in the state system in real time and bulk data reporting for vehicle registrations, including each applicant’s electronic mail address collected pursuant to s. 320.95. Such data and functionality may be used only for purposes of fulfilling the tax collector’s statutory duties pursuant to this chapter, chapter 319, chapter 322, or chapter 328 and may not be resold or used for any other purpose. Such data access and uniform interface functionalities shall be developed no later than July 1, 2023. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “registration renewal transactions” means issuance of motor vehicle, mobile home, and trailer registration certificates, registration license plates, and validation stickers.

(6)

A nonrefundable fee of $1 shall be charged on every license registration sold, transferred, or replaced. This fee must be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Trust Fund established in the Department of Environmental Protection and used only for purposes of air pollution control pursuant to chapter 403, except that, if any county has an approved local air pollution control program as provided in s. 403.182, 50 cents of the fee from each license registration sold in the county must be returned to that county for deposit into a local air pollution control program trust fund, which must be established by the county and used only for air pollution control programs relating to the control of emissions from mobile sources and toxic and odor emissions, air quality monitoring, and facility inspections pursuant to chapter 403 or any similar local ordinance. Any county that has a Department of Environmental Protection approved local air pollution control program shall receive 75 cents of the fee from each license registration sold, transferred, or replaced in the county. However, if the approved local air pollution control program trust fund has an unencumbered balance at the end of the preceding fiscal year of more than 50 percent of the preceding year’s allocation from the fees authorized in this subsection, the department may, after consultation with the approved local air pollution control program, retain any amount above 50 cents of the fees from each license registration sold, transferred, or replaced in the county for the following fiscal year. The Department of Environmental Protection is authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement this subsection.

(7)

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall register apportionable vehicles under the International Registration Plan. The department may adopt rules to implement and enforce the provisions of the plan.

(8)

If the applicant’s name appears on the list referred to in s. 316.1001(4), s. 316.1967(6), s. 318.15(3), or s. 713.78(13), a license plate or revalidation sticker may not be issued until that person’s name no longer appears on the list or until the person presents a receipt from the governmental entity or the clerk of court that provided the data showing that the fines outstanding have been paid. This subsection does not apply to the owner of a leased vehicle if the vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the vehicle. The tax collector and the clerk of the court are each entitled to receive monthly, as costs for implementing and administering this subsection, 10 percent of the civil penalties and fines recovered from such persons. As used in this subsection, the term “civil penalties and fines” does not include a wrecker operator’s lien as described in s. 713.78(13). If the tax collector has private tag agents, such tag agents are entitled to receive a pro rata share of the amount paid to the tax collector, based upon the percentage of license plates and revalidation stickers issued by the tag agent compared to the total issued within the county. The authority of any private agent to issue license plates shall be revoked, after notice and a hearing as provided in chapter 120, if he or she issues any license plate or revalidation sticker contrary to the provisions of this subsection. This section applies both to the annual renewal of a motor vehicle registration and the replacement of the motor vehicle registration or license plate, but does not apply to the transfer of a registration of a motor vehicle sold by a motor vehicle dealer licensed under this chapter, except for the transfer of registrations which includes the annual renewals. This section does not affect the issuance of the title to a motor vehicle, notwithstanding s. 319.23(8)(b).

(9)

A nonrefundable fee of $1.50 shall be charged on the initial and renewal registration of each automobile for private use, and on the initial and renewal registration of each truck having a net weight of 5,000 pounds or less. Such fees shall be deposited in the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund created in part I of chapter 427 and shall be used as provided therein, except that priority shall be given to the transportation needs of those who, because of age or physical and mental disability, are unable to transport themselves and are dependent upon others to obtain access to health care, employment, education, shopping, or other life-sustaining activities.

(10)(a)

Jurisdiction over the electronic filing system for use by authorized electronic filing system agents to:
Electronically title or register motor vehicles, vessels, mobile homes, or off-highway vehicles;
For derelict or salvage motor vehicles, process title transactions, derelict motor vehicle certificates, or certificates of destruction, pursuant to s. 319.30(2), (3), (7), or (8);
Issue or transfer registration license plates or decals;
Electronically transfer fees due for the title and registration process; and
Perform inquiries for title, registration, and lienholder verification and certification of service providers,

is expressly preempted to the state, and the department shall have regulatory authority over the system. The electronic filing system shall be available for use statewide and applied uniformly throughout the state.

The following entities that meet all established requirements may be authorized electronic filing system agents and may not be precluded from participating in the electronic filing system in any county:
An entity that, in the normal course of its business, sells products that must be titled or registered and provides title and registration services on behalf of its consumers; or
An authorized insurer as defined in s. 624.09(1), a licensed salvage motor vehicle dealer as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)5., or a licensed motor vehicle auction as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)4. For these entities, authorization for use of the electronic filing system under this subparagraph is limited exclusively to processing, in the normal course of business pursuant to s. 319.30(2), (3), (7), or (8), title transactions, derelict motor vehicle certificates, or certificates of destruction for derelict or salvage motor vehicles physically located in the state.
Upon request from a qualified entity, the tax collector shall appoint the entity as an authorized electronic filing system agent for that county.An authorized electronic filing system agent may charge a fee to the customer for use of the electronic filing system.The department may adopt rules to administer this subsection, including, but not limited to, rules establishing participation requirements, certification of service providers, electronic filing system requirements, disclosures, and enforcement authority for noncompliance.

(10)(a)

Jurisdiction over the electronic filing system for use by authorized electronic filing system agents to:Electronically title or register motor vehicles, vessels, mobile homes, or off-highway vehicles;For derelict or salvage motor vehicles, process title transactions, derelict motor vehicle certificates, or certificates of destruction, pursuant to s. 319.30(2), (3), (7), or (8);Issue or transfer registration license plates or decals;Electronically transfer fees due for the title and registration process; andPerform inquiries for title, registration, and lienholder verification and certification of service providers,

is expressly preempted to the state, and the department shall have regulatory authority over the system. The electronic filing system shall be available for use statewide and applied uniformly throughout the state.

1. Electronically title or register motor vehicles, vessels, mobile homes, or off-highway vehicles;
2. For derelict or salvage motor vehicles, process title transactions, derelict motor vehicle certificates, or certificates of destruction, pursuant to s. 319.30(2), (3), (7), or (8);
3. Issue or transfer registration license plates or decals;
4. Electronically transfer fees due for the title and registration process; and
5. Perform inquiries for title, registration, and lienholder verification and certification of service providers,

(b)

The following entities that meet all established requirements may be authorized electronic filing system agents and may not be precluded from participating in the electronic filing system in any county:An entity that, in the normal course of its business, sells products that must be titled or registered and provides title and registration services on behalf of its consumers; orAn authorized insurer as defined in s. 624.09(1), a licensed salvage motor vehicle dealer as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)5., or a licensed motor vehicle auction as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)4. For these entities, authorization for use of the electronic filing system under this subparagraph is limited exclusively to processing, in the normal course of business pursuant to s. 319.30(2), (3), (7), or (8), title transactions, derelict motor vehicle certificates, or certificates of destruction for derelict or salvage motor vehicles physically located in the state.
1. An entity that, in the normal course of its business, sells products that must be titled or registered and provides title and registration services on behalf of its consumers; or
2. An authorized insurer as defined in s. 624.09(1), a licensed salvage motor vehicle dealer as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)5., or a licensed motor vehicle auction as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)4. For these entities, authorization for use of the electronic filing system under this subparagraph is limited exclusively to processing, in the normal course of business pursuant to s. 319.30(2), (3), (7), or (8), title transactions, derelict motor vehicle certificates, or certificates of destruction for derelict or salvage motor vehicles physically located in the state.

(c)

Upon request from a qualified entity, the tax collector shall appoint the entity as an authorized electronic filing system agent for that county.

(d)

An authorized electronic filing system agent may charge a fee to the customer for use of the electronic filing system.

(e)

The department may adopt rules to administer this subsection, including, but not limited to, rules establishing participation requirements, certification of service providers, electronic filing system requirements, disclosures, and enforcement authority for noncompliance.

Source: Section 320.03 — Registration; duties of tax collectors; International Registration Plan, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0320.­03 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

320.02
Registration required 320.03
Registration 320.04
Registration service charge 320.05
Records of the department 320.06
Registration certificates, license plates, and validation stickers generally 320.07
Expiration of registration 320.08
License taxes 320.10
Exemptions 320.011
Administration and enforcement 320.13
Dealer and manufacturer license plates and alternative method of registration 320.14
Fractional license tax 320.15
Refund of license tax 320.015
Taxation of mobile homes 320.17
Classification of vehicles and mobile homes and assessment of license tax by department 320.18
Withholding registration 320.19
Tax lien 320.20
Disposition of license tax moneys 320.23
Taxes declared compensatory 320.023
Requests to establish voluntary checkoff on motor vehicle registration application 320.025
Registration certificate and license plate or decal issued under fictitious name 320.26
Counterfeiting license plates, validation stickers, mobile home stickers, cab cards, trip permits, or special temporary operational permits prohibited 320.27
Motor vehicle dealers 320.28
Nonresident dealers in secondhand motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, or mobile homes 320.30
Penalty for violating s 320.31
Definitions covering ss 320.031
Mailing of registration certificates, license plates, and validation stickers 320.37
Registration not to apply to nonresidents 320.38
When nonresident exemption not allowed 320.39
Reciprocal agreements for nonresident exemption 320.51
Farm tractors and farm trailers exempt 320.055
Registration periods 320.57
Penalties for violations of this chapter 320.58
License inspectors 320.60
Definitions for ss 320.61
Licenses required of motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, importers, etc 320.061
Unlawful to alter motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, temporary license plates, mobile home stickers, or validation stickers or to obscure license plates 320.62
Licenses 320.63
Application for license 320.64
Denial, suspension, or revocation of license 320.67
Violations by dealers 320.68
Revocation of license held by firms or corporations 320.69
Rules 320.70
Penalties for violation 320.71
Nonresident motor vehicle, mobile home, or recreational vehicle dealer’s license 320.071
Advance registration renewal 320.072
Additional fee imposed on certain motor vehicle registration transactions 320.77
License required of mobile home dealers 320.081
Collection and distribution of annual license tax imposed on the following type units 320.083
Amateur radio operators 320.084
Free motor vehicle license plate to certain disabled veterans 320.086
Ancient or antique motor vehicles 320.087
Intercity buses operated in interstate commerce 320.089
Veterans of the United States Armed Forces 320.90
Notification of consumer’s rights 320.091
Vehicles held in trust 320.95
Transactions by electronic or telephonic means 320.102
Marine boat trailers owned by nonprofit organizations 320.0104
Legislative intent with respect to implementation of chapter 320.105
Golf carts and utility vehicles 320.131
Temporary tags 320.133
Transporter license plates 320.203
Disposition of biennial license tax moneys 320.261
Attaching registration license plate not assigned unlawful 320.271
Used cars 320.273
Reinstatement of license of motor vehicle dealers 320.275
Automobile Dealers Industry Advisory Board 320.371
Registration not to apply to certain manufacturers and others 320.405
International Registration Plan 320.406
Estimate of amount of tax due and unpaid 320.407
Suits for collection of unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest 320.408
Departmental warrant for collection of unpaid taxes and penalties due from motor carriers 320.409
Tax lien on property 320.411
Officer’s sale of property or franchise 320.412
Department to furnish certificate of liens 320.413
Discontinuance or transfer of business 320.414
Restraining and enjoining violation 320.415
Authority to inspect vehicles and seize property 320.416
Cooperation of other state agencies in administration of law 320.417
Foreclosure of liens 320.525
Port vehicles and equipment 320.535
Airport vehicles and equipment 320.571
Failure of person charged with misdemeanor under this chapter to comply with court-ordered directives 320.0601
Lease and rental car companies 320.0603
Vehicle-for-hire license or permit 320.605
Legislative intent 320.0605
Certificate of registration 320.0607
Replacement license plates, validation decal, or mobile home sticker 320.0609
Transfer and exchange of registration license plates 320.615
Agent for service of process 320.641
Discontinuations, cancellations, nonrenewals, modifications, and replacement of franchise agreements 320.642
Dealer licenses in areas previously served 320.643
Transfer, assignment, or sale of franchise agreements 320.644
Change of executive management control 320.645
Restriction upon ownership of dealership by licensee 320.646
Consumer data protection 320.0655
Permanent license plates for governmental entities and volunteer fire departments 320.0657
Permanent registration 320.0659
Permanent registration of trailer for hire and semitrailers 320.664
Reinstatement of license 320.695
Injunction 320.696
Warranty responsibility 320.697
Civil damages 320.698
Civil fines 320.699
Administrative hearings and adjudications 320.701
Applicability of ch. 84-69 320.0705
Semiannual registration or renewal for certain vehicles 320.0706
Display of license plates on trucks 320.0715
International Registration Plan 320.771
License required of recreational vehicle dealers 320.781
Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Protection Trust Fund 320.0801
Additional license tax on certain vehicles 320.0802
Surcharge on license tax 320.0803
Moped license plates 320.0804
Surcharge on license tax 320.0805
Personalized prestige license plates 320.0807
Special license plates for Governor and federal and state legislators 320.0815
Mobile homes and recreational vehicle-type units required to have appropriate license plates or stickers 320.0821
Wrecker license plates 320.822
Definitions 320.823
Establishment of uniform mobile home standards 320.824
Changes and modifications of standards 320.827
Label 320.830
Reciprocity 320.831
Penalties 320.832
Legislative intent 320.833
Retention, destruction, and reproduction of records 320.834
Purpose 320.835
Mobile home and recreational vehicle warranties 320.836
Presenting warranty claim 320.837
Warranty service 320.838
Civil action 320.839
Cumulative remedies 320.840
Liquidated damages 320.0841
Free motor vehicle license plates to members of Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Tribes 320.0842
Free motor vehicle license plates to veterans who use wheelchairs 320.0843
License plates for persons with disabilities eligible for permanent disabled parking permits 320.0845
License plates for members of Paralyzed Veterans of America 320.0846
Free motor vehicle license plates to active members of the Florida National Guard 320.0847
Mini truck and low-speed vehicle license plates 320.0848
Persons who have disabilities 320.861
Investigations 320.862
Revocation of license held by firms or corporations 320.0863
Custom vehicles and street rods 320.865
Maintenance of records by the department 320.0875
Purple Heart special motorcycle license plate 320.0891
U.S. Paratroopers license plate 320.0892
Motor vehicle license plates for recipients of the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross 320.0893
Motor vehicle license plates to recipients of the Medal of Honor 320.0894
Motor vehicle license plates to Gold Star family members 320.0898
Emergency service special registration plates 320.1316
Failure to surrender vehicle or vessel 320.1325
Registration required for the temporarily employed 320.3201
Legislative intent 320.3202
Definitions 320.3203
Requirement for a written manufacturer/dealer agreement 320.3205
Termination, cancellation, and nonrenewal of a manufacturer/dealer agreement 320.3206
Transfer of ownership 320.3207
Warranty obligations 320.3208
Inspection and rejection by the dealer 320.3209
Coercion of dealer prohibited 320.3210
Civil dispute resolution 320.3211
Penalties 320.6403
Distributor agreements 320.6405
Franchise agreements 320.6407
Recall notices under franchise agreements 320.6412
Franchise termination based on fraud 320.6415
Changes in plan or system of distribution 320.6975
Procedures and remedies applicable to distributor agreements 320.6992
Application 320.08001
Electric vehicles 320.08015
License tax surcharge 320.08035
Persons who have disabilities 320.08046
Juvenile programs surcharge on license tax 320.08047
Voluntary contribution for organ and tissue donor education 320.08048
Sample license plates 320.08053
Establishment of specialty license plates 320.08056
Specialty license plates 320.08058
Specialty license plates 320.08062
Audits and attestations required 320.08068
Motorcycle specialty license plates 320.8225
Mobile home and recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, and importer license 320.8231
Establishment of uniform standards for recreational vehicle-type units and park trailers 320.8232
Establishment of uniform standards for used recreational vehicles and repair and remodeling code for mobile homes 320.8245
Limitation of alteration or modification to mobile homes or recreational vehicles 320.8249
Mobile home installers license 320.8251
Mobile home installation products 320.8255
Mobile home inspection 320.8285
Onsite inspection 320.8325
Mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers 320.8335
Disclosure of manner used in determining length of mobile homes 320.69915
Severability

Current through Fall 2025

§ 320.03. Registration; duties of tax collectors; International Registration Plan's source at flsenate​.gov