Anyone familiar with FLORIDA smog, DMV, and registration procedures?

[bcmbcmbcm]

Hello Everyone,

Is anyone famililiar with FLORIDA smog and vehicle registration laws? Specifically, I would like to know:

1. Does the vehicle need to be in Florida to register it, or can one go to the DMV with the title?
2. Are smog checks and or inspections required? If so, what happens if they are not done?

Basically, my mom lives in Florida, and I trust her, so I could ask her to go to the Florida DMV to register my car. I don't mind putting it in her name if this is necessary (she did GIVE me the car, after all!) I would like to know my options if I decide I don't want to deal with California smog any more.

Thanks!

 

[Zero_chance]

If youre trying to have your california car registered in Florida so you wont have to pass Cali stuff I dont think itll work. I was stationed in FL for a while and got my first mustang there. Didnt have a sticker but Im not sure if its because they dont need them or because I left before needing to get one. Got pulled over a few times and the cops never looked for one and I cant recall ever seeing one one someone else car. This was 5 years ago though so I may be wrong. The only problem I think youll face if you actually live in Cali is that most states require you to switch registrations after being there so long (30 days in Mass) As for the registration, I got plates without bringing my car there you just have to have proof ofFL insurance.

 

[stang22]

No smog checks or inspections. I believe you can take the title and insurance down to the DMV and register it. Do you have a Florida address to use?

Tim

 

[bcmbcmbcm]

Yes, I have my mom's address

I sure do, I have my mother's address. Since I won't be there do you know if she can register the car for me, in my name, if I provide her with the appropriate forms and signatures in advance? (California, despite their strictness on smog, will let you do this!)

I am not worried in the slightest about not having Florida plates in California- this is not my main car, and it will be registered and insured. Lots of people have multiple addresses.

 

[jerry beach]

There is no more smog inspections in FL that I am aware of. I think it was around 10 years ago they ditched the whole thing.


To register a car here you simply take the title (completely filled out and signed or you will have a problem)to the tag office and show them proof of insurance. They will give you a FL plate since its registered here.

In FL you can drive an out of state car (or canada) with non FL plates providing that you dont live here more that 6 months out of the year. At least thats how it used to be, I dont keep up with this stuff too well. I dont know anything about Cali, except you couldnt pay me enough to live there.

 

[Whytry91]

I don't know if this a county thing or not but, I moved from North Carolina to Florida and went to register my car, I brought all the forms with me that the website told me to bring, no problems right.....wrong, I was registering it in Flagler County, and apparentlythey started this thing last year that if you are registering a car that was previously registered in another state, you have to have a signed form (available in the DMV tag place) from the sheriff stating the correct mileage, vin number color, yada yada yada. The sheriff had to come to my house and verify all my information and see the physical car. The reason they say is..."it's easy to register a stolen car!". I had to do this even though I had the title, proof of insurance and everything. Like I said it may be a county thing, but it sure was a pain in the ass!

 

[RYC CUKR]

Smog in FL is done on a county by county basis. Orange County where I live has no smog or inspections but I believe that Duval County, Jaxsonville does have smog or they did not long ago.

 

[5.0's 4 ever]

When I moved down to florida from st. louis I had to bring my car to the dmv for them to look at as a process of registering it. I have bought another two mustangs here since then and both times registering those cars I only had to bring the title and show proof of insurance and they gave me the plates.
I don't see it being possible unless your mom has it insured here under her name and address, along with having the car here at the sametime.

 

[mjbtv]

If Mom already has a tag here then adding another car is no problem.