The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic
Development
BILL: CS/SB 574
INTRODUCER: Transportation Committee and Senator Gibson
SUBJECT: Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate Cards
DATE: January 25, 2022 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Proctor Vickers TR Fav/CS
2. Wells Hrdlicka ATD Recommend: Favorable
3. AP
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 574 requires the application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of
registration to include language permitting an applicant to request a registration certificate card
in addition to the required registration certificate. The bill defines a registration certificate card to
mean a card, the approximate size of a driver license, which contains all of the information
provided on a motor vehicle certificate of registration.
The bill also amends several statutes to allow for a registration certificate card to be used in place
of a motor vehicle registration certificate.
The bill will have a negative fiscal impact to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles (DHSMV). CS/SB 576 is linked to this bill and authorizes the imposition of certain
service charges related to the issuance of a registration certificate card which may offset costs
incurred by the DHSMV. See Section V. for the fiscal impact.
The bill is effective July 1, 2022
BILL: CS/SB 574 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Motor Vehicle Registration Requirements
Except as otherwise provided in ch. 320, F.S., every owner or person in charge of a motor
vehicle that is operated or driven on the roads of Florida must register their vehicle. The owner
or person in charge must apply to the DHSMV or to its authorized agent for registration of each
such vehicle on a form prescribed by the DHSMV. A registration is not required for any motor
vehicle that is not operated on the roads of this state during the registration period.1
A vehicle must have a valid registration to operate on Florida roads, and vehicles with out-of-
state registrations are required by law to be registered within 10 days of the owner either
becoming employed, placing children in public school, or establishing residency in Florida.2 A
complete registration consists of the following and is evidence of having paid the registration
taxes and fees on a motor vehicle:
A plate (the number on the plate must match the number provided on the registration
certificate and decal) attached to the vehicle in the designated area;3
A registration certificate in the possession of the operator of the motor vehicle or carried in
the vehicle at all times;4 and
A registration decal, which is a sticker that is provided on the registration certificate. The
validation decal should be affixed in the square provided in the upper right-hand corner of
the Florida license plate.5
The owner of a motor vehicle may renew his or her vehicle registration for a period of one or
two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. The
registration period may not exceed 27 months.6
If transferring a license plate or decal to another vehicle, the applicant must submit the previous
vehicle registration or license plate and decal number.7
Except for certain migrant and seasonal workers, any person who is not a resident of Florida and
is temporarily employed in the state is required to register their motor vehicle.8 Upon payment of
the required fees and proof of insurance coverage as required by the applicant's resident state, the
DHSMV must provide a temporary registration plate and a registration certificate valid for 90
days to an applicant who is temporarily employed in this state. The temporary registration plate
may be renewed one time for an additional 90-day period. At the end of the 180-day period of
temporary registration, the applicant must apply for a permanent registration if there is a further
need to remain in this state.9
1
Section 320.02(1), F.S.
2
DHSMV, License Plates & Registrations – Motor Vehicle Registrations, available at https://www.flhsmv.gov/motor-
vehicles-tags-titles/license-plates-registration/motor-vehicle-registrations/ (last visited January 20, 2022).
3
Section 316.605, F.S.
4
Section 320.0605, F.S.
5
Section 320.06(1)(b), F.S.
6
Section 320.071(1)(a), F.S.
7
Section 320.0609, F.S.
8
See s. 320.38, F.S.
9
Section 320.1325, F.S.
BILL: CS/SB 574 Page 3
The DHSMV appoints license inspectors and supervisors to enforce the registration and other
related motor vehicle laws and issue uniform traffic violations as appropriate. Any person who
fails or refuses to surrender his or her driver license, registration certificate, and license plate
upon lawful demand of a license inspector, supervisor, or authorized agent of the DHSMV
commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in ss. 775.082 or
775.083, F.S.10
Motor Vehicle Registration Certificates
Upon the receipt of an initial application for registration and payment of the appropriate license
tax and other fees required by law, the DHSMV must assign to the motor vehicle a registration
license number consisting of letters and numerals or numerals and issue to the owner or lessee a
certificate of registration.11 The certificate of registration is printed on a paper material with
dimensions of 8 ¼ inches across and 4 inches high, and may be folded.12
The registration certificate or an official copy, a true copy or an electronic copy of rental or lease
documentation issued for a motor vehicle or issued for a replacement vehicle in the same
registration period, a temporary receipt printed upon self-initiated electronic renewal of a
registration via the internet, or a cab card issued for a vehicle registered under the International
Registration Plan must, at all times while the vehicle is being used or operated on the roads of
Florida, be in the possession of the operator or be carried in the vehicle for which issued.
The registration certificate must be exhibited upon demand of any authorized law enforcement
officer or any agent of the DHSMV, except for a vehicle registered under s. 320.0657, F.S., as a
fleet vehicle. This does not apply during the first 30 days after purchase of a replacement vehicle.
A violation is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided
in ch. 318, F.S.13
The DHSMV collects a registration service charge of $2.50 for each application that is handled
in connection with transfer or duplicate issuance of a registration certificate. The service charge
is retained by the DHSMV or by the tax collector, as the case may be, as other fees accruing to
those offices.14 The tax collector may impose an additional service charge of up to 50 cents on
the transfer or duplicate issuance of a registration certificate if the transaction occurs at a tax
collector’s branch office.15 In addition, if a tax collector elects to exercise its authority to contract
with a license plate agent, the tax collector may determine additional service charges to be
collected by privately owned license plate agents approved by the tax collector. Additional
service charges must be fully itemized and disclosed to the person paying the service charges to
10
Section 320.58(2), F.S.
11
Section 320.06(1)(a), F.S.
12
Email from Kevin Jacobs, Legislative Affairs Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Registration
Certificate Dimensions (November 29, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee on Transportation).
13
Section 320.0605(1)(a), F.S.
14
Section 320.04(1)(a), F.S.
15
Section 320.04(1)(c), F.S.
BILL: CS/SB 574 Page 4
the license plate agent. The license plate agent must enter into a contract with the tax collector
regarding the disclosure of additional service charges.16
The registration service charges collected by the DHSMV on all applications handled directly
from its office and any fees returned to it by the tax collector must be paid into the Highway
Safety Operating Trust Fund.17
The DHSMV and tax collectors may at the request of the applicant use United States mail
service to deliver registration certificates and renewals.18 A mail service charge may be collected
for each registration certificate and validation sticker mailed by the DHSMV or tax collector.
Each registration certificate and validation sticker must be mailed by first-class mail unless
otherwise requested by the applicant. The amount of the mail service charge is the actual postage
required, rounded to the nearest 5 cents, plus a 25 cent handling charge. The mail service charge
is in addition to any other service charge and must be deposited into the Highway Safety
Operating Trust Fund.19
A person may not alter the original appearance of a motor vehicle registration certificate. To do
so is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in
ch. 318, F.S.20
Some entities advise against keeping a vehicle registration certificate inside of the vehicle in
order to help protect against identity theft, property theft, and home invasions.21
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Section 1 of the bill amends s. 320.01, F.S., to provide for a definition of a registration certificate
card to mean a card, the approximate size of a driver license, which contains all of the
information provided on a motor vehicle certificate of registration.
Section 2 of the bill amends s. 320.02, F.S., to require the application form for motor vehicle
registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting an applicant to request
a registration certificate card in addition to the required registration certificate.
Sections 3 through 15 of the bill amend several statutes to allow for a registration certificate
card to be used in place of a vehicle registration certificate, including amending s. 320.031, F.S.,
to allow a registration certificate card to be delivered by U.S. mail; and amending s. 320.0609,
F.S., to provide that no additional tax, other than the $4.50 transfer fee, applies to the transfer or
exchange of a new license plate and the issuance, at the request of the owner, of a new
registration certificate card.
16
Section 320.04(3), F.S.
17
Section 320.04(2), F.S.
18
Section 320.031(1), F.S.
19
Section 320.031(2), F.S.
20
Section 320.061, F.S.
21
Jim Gorzelany, Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Registration In The Car, Carfax, (June 8, 2020) available at
https://www.carfax.com/blog/never-leave-registration-in-your-car (last visited January 5, 2022).
BILL: CS/SB 574 Page 5
The bill is effective July 1, 2022.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
This bill does not appear to require counties or municipalities to spend funds or take
action requiring the expenditure of funds; reduce the authority that counties or
municipalities have to raise revenues in the aggregate; or reduce the percentage of state
tax shared with counties or municipalities.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
CS/SB 576, which is linked to this bill, authorizes the collection of a mail service charge
and a $2.50 registration service charge in connection with the issuance or transfer of a
registration certificate card, similar to other transactions under current law.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Individuals may elect to receive a registration certificate card in addition to their vehicle
registration certificate, which may be used in place of a vehicle registration certificate.
Should individuals make this election they will incur a $2.50 registration service charge
in connection with the issuance of each registration certificate card and a mail service
charge.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill will have a negative fiscal impact to the DHSMV. The DHSMV will incur a
nonrecurring cost of $167,245 for the purchase of equipment to be provided to the tax
BILL: CS/SB 574 Page 6
collectors and $465,567 in recurring costs for card paper, printer maintenance, and
supplies.22
CS/SB 576 (2022), which is linked to this bill, authorizes the DHSMV and tax collectors
to also collect a mail service charge and a $2.50 registration service charge in connection
with the issuance or transfer of each registration certificate card, similar to other
transactions under current law. The service charges may offset any fiscal impact to the
DHSMV and tax collectors.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
The DHSMV may need additional time beyond the July 1, 2022, effective date of the bill for
implementation due to required programming of the Florida Real-Time Vehicle Information
System and distribution of equipment and materials necessary to print the new registration
certificate card.23
CS/SB 576, which is linked to this bill, authorizes the collection of a mail service charge for
delivery of a registration certificate card and provides that a registration certificate card
application is subject to a registration service charge of $2.50, similar to other transactions under
current law.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 320.01, 320.02,
320.031, 320.055, 320.06, 320.0605, 320.0609, 320.061, 320.07, 320.0843, 320.086, 320.1325,
320.58, 320.27, and 322.121.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Transportation on December 1, 2021:
Provides for a definition of a registration certificate card to mean a card, the approximate
size of a driver license, which contains all of the information provided on a motor vehicle
certificate of registration.
22
2022 Agency Legislative Bill Analysis, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, SB 574, December 2, 2021.
23
Conversation with Kevin Jacobs, Legislative Affairs Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
(November 22, 2021).
BILL: CS/SB 574 Page 7
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Statutes affected: S 574 Filed: 320.031, 320.055, 320.06, 320.0605, 320.061, 320.07, 320.0843, 320.086, 320.1325, 320.58, 320.27, 322.121
S 574 c1: 320.031, 320.055, 320.06, 320.0605, 320.061, 320.07, 320.0843, 320.086, 320.1325, 320.58, 320.27, 322.121