Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

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For assistance, call 850-617-2000 or visit https://www.flhsmv.gov/

What is the purpose of the department?

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides services by partnering with county tax collectors and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to promote a safe driving environment. The department coordinates with its partners to issue drivers licenses and identification cards, facilitate motor vehicle transactions, and provide services related to consumer protection and public safety.

What activities are performed by the department?

Who does the department serve?

The department serves the driving public, including problem drivers; motor vehicle and boat owners; commercial drivers and trucking companies; automobile, mobile home, and recreational vehicle dealers and buyers; and mobile home manufacturers. The department serves much of Florida's population, with almost 18 million licensed drivers and over 23 million registered motor vehicles, motorcycles, mobile homes, travel trailers, and vessels.

How is the department organized?

The department is organized into two major operating divisions: the Florida Highway Patrol and the Division of Motorist Services. The department also includes the Division of Administrative Services and Information Systems Administration. The Division of Administrative Services is responsible for the oversight of all department administrative functions including accounting, purchasing, and facilities' maintenance and operation. The Division of Information Systems Administration provides and supports critical systems that store information used throughout the state by government agencies, private businesses, and residents, including issuing and storing information for driver licenses, vehicle registrations, and vehicle and vessel titles.

How well does the department perform?

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, the department reported that 68.55% of drivers license office customers waited 30 minutes or less for service. The department's standard is 95%. Additionally, the average customer service call center wait time was 21:17 minutes, while the approved standard wait time was 12 minutes or less. While the department did not meet these performance measures, the percent of customers that rated these services as satisfactory or better was 90.35%, above the department's standard of 85%.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2024-25

	Fund	Dollars	Positions
HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES, DEPARTMENT OF
PROGRAM: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
	EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES	28,002,535	240.00
PROGRAM: FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL
	COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT	45,973,423	291.00
	EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES	3,477,971	23.00
	HIGHWAY SAFETY	317,013,504	2,171.00
PROGRAM: INFORMATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
	INFORMATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION	57,813,682	152.00
PROGRAM: MOTORIST SERVICES
	MOTORIST SERVICES	148,067,775	1,366.00
TOTAL		600,348,890	4,243.00

Source: www.transparencyflorida.gov

Unique Question

Updates

School Zone Speed Detection Systems. The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-174, Laws of Florida, which among other provisions, requires signage warning motorists that speed detection systems are in use in school zones and imposes fines for violations. The speed detection system is an automated portable or fixed system, similar to traffic infraction detectors, commonly known as red light cameras, used to detect the speed of a motor vehicle and capture a photograph or video of the rear of a vehicle that exceeds the speed limit active during the violation. The law also bans such violation from imposing points to the violator’s driver’s license and from influencing motor vehicle insurance rates.

Additional Resources

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Other Reports
Impaired Driving Campaign Report, January 2022, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Texting While Driving Report, February 2021, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Red-Light Camera Summary Report Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Seat Belt Violations 2021 Annual Report, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports including driver, vehicle, and crash statistics are available on the departments' resource page

Websites of Interest
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Driver Licenses and ID Cards General Information
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Fees
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Office Locations
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, General Reports & Statistics
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Useful Web Links
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Performance Information

Applicable Statutes

Chapters 316, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 324, 328, 488, and 627 Part XI and s. 20.24, Florida Statutes

Department Contact Information

DHSMV Customer Service Center, 850-617-2000
Any complaint with any division in DHSMV may be sent to ExecutiveDirector@flhsmv.gov
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