My Florida DL experience

[suzukiwookie 1]

Called the DMV and asked them how to go about getting my FL driver's licence.

They told me that I would not have to do a road test (or test of any kind) and that all I needed to bring was:

- Passport with I-94

- Ontario Driver's license

- Proof of residency (bank statement with my name and FL address)

- $32.25 USD.

First lady I spoke with:

Lady:"You'll have to do a road test and rules of the road test."

Me: "No, that's not right. I'm Canadian, all I have to do is submit these documents and get a FL license."

Lady: "Nope."

Me: "Yep."

Lady: "How do you know?"

Me: "Cause I called the DMV before I came. You want to call them?"

Lady: "Just go to window 16 and she'll process you..."

The lady at Window 16 was even more confused. She was trying to give me the option of keeping my canadian DL, or surrendering it. But she kept repeating only one of those options twice... so after correcting her a few times she finally got the options straight.. at this point I was already aggrovated. Then she looks at my I-94 and says, "Oh this expires in 2 months, so we can only give you a 2 month driver's license."

Me: "That has nothing to do with the driver's lience. That's just my I-94. I am Florida resident as far as the DMV is concerned."

Lady: "Well, no, we can only give it to you until your K-1 expires."

Me: "Would you like to pull up the DMV website so that I can show you the procedures? I don't mind directing you to that page."

The lady called the manager over. The manager seemed to be on her last stages of depression... she had to work up her breath to talk! lol But it was good, cause she was just like "(Sighhhhhh) Just process him as a Canadian and give him his 1 year license." So after fumbling around with her computer, asking the near-suicidal manager more questions, and scanning my stuff twice, she finally gave me a license. But then I noticed that they didn't include a motorcyle license in there... I'm not going to bore you with the details, but it took them another half hour and another picture, and $7 extra dollars to add the motorcycle license to the driver's license.

It was painful to deal with them, but at the end of the hour I had a temp florida license (car and motorcycle) and surrendered my Ontario license. I will be receiving my 1 year full FL license within 30 days.

So it pays off to do your homework, because most gov employees do not. And on top of that, they sound 100% confident when they give you mis-information. So thanks again to VJ for arming me with knowledge!!!

Edited April 15, 2009 by suzukiwookie

[^KK^ 3]

Thank God you got it!!! whew...I was getting nervous.

[JillA 2]

Sounds like my experience to get my PA license.... I brought in all the proof from the DMV website and the beeotch working said I was NOT entitiled to a license because my K-1 expired soon. I argued, spoke to the manager and finally they looked at what evidence I brought, couldn't argue with me then!

Edited April 15, 2009 by JillA

[Arabella 4]

It sounds like I should visit the DMV's website and print out whatever it was you found so my fiance can bring it when he goes to get his license.

I live in Florida too.

Crazy Floridians!

[BH45 0]

Wow. Sounds like I had it good here in IL. I just went in, gave them my documents, paid them $10 and wrote the rules of the road test. I passed it and they took my picture. I left with my DL that has to be renewed in 2013.

Go figure!

[Atmi 0]

Wow. Sounds like I had it good here in IL. I just went in, gave them my documents, paid them $10 and wrote the rules of the road test. I passed it and they took my picture. I left with my DL that has to be renewed in 2013.

Go figure!

Now that we have settled in Chicago I am about to do the same thing, exchange my Alberta license for an Illinois one. What driver's license office did you go to? It seems like they knew the procedure for Canadians.

[suzukiwookie 1]

It sounds like I should visit the DMV's website and print out whatever it was you found so my fiance can bring it when he goes to get his license.

I live in Florida too.

Crazy Floridians!

Here is some info...

http://www.dmvflorida.org/drivers-license-...ification.shtml

Also,

http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/faqkeys.html#CanCit

Now comes the part where I have to register my car in the state of Florida... I'll write another post about it after I go through it.

Edited April 15, 2009 by suzukiwookie

[trailmix 77]

It sounds like I should visit the DMV's website and print out whatever it was you found so my fiance can bring it when he goes to get his license.

I live in Florida too.

Crazy Floridians!

Here is some info...

http://www.dmvflorida.org/drivers-license-...ification.shtml

Also,

http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/faqkeys.html#CanCit

Now comes the part where I have to register my car in the state of Florida... I'll write another post about it after I go through it.

Just a little heads up. At least at the registry place in Sanford (Seminole County) when they ask you for 'fair value' on your vehicle, they don't mean the blue book price or anyone elses price...they want to know what you think is the 'fair value'.

[suzukiwookie 1]

It sounds like I should visit the DMV's website and print out whatever it was you found so my fiance can bring it when he goes to get his license.

I live in Florida too.

Crazy Floridians!

Here is some info...

http://www.dmvflorida.org/drivers-license-...ification.shtml

Also,

http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/faqkeys.html#CanCit

Now comes the part where I have to register my car in the state of Florida... I'll write another post about it after I go through it.

Just a little heads up. At least at the registry place in Sanford (Seminole County) when they ask you for 'fair value' on your vehicle, they don't mean the blue book price or anyone elses price...they want to know what you think is the 'fair value'.

Gotcha! I think a 'fair' value for my car is going to be $500 pesos! lol I already know that the DMV is going to charge me $200 to register the car (I really hope that includes the license plate too). And I called the inspection place and they don't charge anything as long as I have the import papers I got at the POE. So thanks for your tip, I'd rather only pay taxes on the 'fair' value of my car.

I really hope that the USA is going to start giving ME money soon... I've been shelling out dollars like they're going out of style just to live here! It feels like I'm buying my way into the country.

Edited April 15, 2009 by suzukiwookie

[DeadPoolX 9]

Doesn't surprise me. I've had the same problems with ICBC. It's rare to find someone in government (no matter where you live) who not only knows the correct procedures, but can actually follow them.

[Carlawarla 1]

Wow. Sounds like I had it good here in IL. I just went in, gave them my documents, paid them $10 and wrote the rules of the road test. I passed it and they took my picture. I left with my DL that has to be renewed in 2013.

Go figure!

Now that we have settled in Chicago I am about to do the same thing, exchange my Alberta license for an Illinois one. What driver's license office did you go to? It seems like they knew the procedure for Canadians.

Here's a link for your Illinois information:

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/

If I remember correctly you have to do a written test, but not a road test. Each state has their own procedures and policies so wookie's experience won't be the same as yours.

[Krikit 1,164]

You got lucky, Wookie. Florida requires that you produce an AOS NOA before they'll issue a license. The rules for Canadians no longer apply when you are immigrating. Too bad they took your Canadian license. I kept mine.

[trailmix 77]

You got lucky, Wookie. Florida requires that you produce an AOS NOA before they'll issue a license. The rules for Canadians no longer apply when you are immigrating. Too bad they took your Canadian license. I kept mine.

With my Husband's Alberta license, they let him keep it but they cut the corner off it.

Anyway, I was a bit confused Suzie when you said you were going to the DMV to register your car - you would go to the tax collector's office to register it - not the DMV. Just making sure, could just be a difference of terms but don't want to go to the DMV if you don't have to!

This is all for Seminole county of course but - I have a receipt for our certificate of title. This does not include plates:

Agency Fee $8.25

Title Fee $32.50

Sales Tax (7% of Fair Market Value)

I don't really remember what we paid for the plates, but apparently it was around $112.00!

Title and Registration Fees

Annual license taxes, for the operation of motor vehicle as defined in Florida Statutes 320.01 shall be paid upon registration or re-registration.

Title and registration fees are determined by several factors (type of plate purchased, vehicle weight, length of registration period, etc.)

The following are 12-month rates with FIRST TIME Initial Registration fee of $100.00 plus a metal plate fee of $12.00:

AUTOMOBILE (Private Use):

Weight under 2500 lbs.- $28.10

Weight 2500 through 3499 lbs.- $36.10

Weight 3500 lbs. And up - $46.10

[MissStacey 1]

My drivers license was such an ordeal in Louisiana. It took almost the whole day- I had to do a written and driving exam.

They did not take my Canadian license or do anything to it. And it was really cheap too- I was surprised by that. I think I paid something like 12 dollars for everything.

[Texanadian 10]

I think it was Florida where the person insisted that miles and kilometers were the same thing. And that the Canadian car's odometer was in miles. Also that all cars came with the same odometers.

So how come the mph and kmh on the speedometer don't like up?

Not sure. LOL

FL sounds about like TX for registration. About $60 a year for us here. But my first year, they dinged me with $177. No sales tax. But they have a $90 "New Texan fee" that they call "sales tax" on your receipt. Oh how lovely.