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.

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 approximately 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 Division of Motorist Services includes eight bureaus.

Bureau of Commercial Vehicle and Driver Services
Bureau of Credentialing Services provides driver license, identification card, and motor vehicle issuance services to the public.
Bureau of Customer Service handles calls, emails, faxes, and correspondence from the public, county tax collectors, and state driver license offices relating to driver license and motor vehicle issues.
Bureau of Dealer Services licenses motor vehicle, mobile home and recreational vehicle dealers, manufacturers and manufactured home installers and investigates consumer complaints against any licensed or unlicensed dealer or installer. The bureau also enforces regulations involving dealer sales and mobile home construction and installation.
Bureau of Issuance Oversight
Bureau of Motorist Compliance
Bureau of Motorist Services Support serves as liaison to county tax collectors, providing training as well as technical and day to day operational support for the issuance of driver licenses and motor vehicle title and registration services. The bureau also performs investigations of driver license and motor vehicle fraud.
Bureau of Records is the official custodian of Florida driver license records and manages all records for the state's licensed drivers. The bureau prints, distributes, and accounts for all uniform traffic citations issued in Florida and ensures they are recorded on the corresponding driver record.

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 2019-20, the department reported that 77.93% 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 13:16 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 89.16%, above the department's standard of 85%.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2022-23

	Fund	Dollars	Positions
HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES, DEPARTMENT OF
PROGRAM: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
	EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES	25,723,533	263.00
PROGRAM: FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL
	COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT	42,996,688	294.00
	EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES	3,315,264	24.00
	HIGHWAY SAFETY	303,092,470	2,186.00
PROGRAM: INFORMATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
	INFORMATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION	57,478,711	155.00
PROGRAM: MOTORIST SERVICES
	MOTORIST SERVICES	134,040,466	1,418.00
TOTAL		566,647,132	4,340.00

Source: www.transparencyflorida.gov

Updates

The 2022 Legislature enacted Ch. 2022-175, Laws of Florida, which, among other provisions,

requires any operator of a motor vehicle to provide proof of insurance upon request of a law enforcement officer; any operator, owner or non-owner of the vehicle, who fails to provide proof of insurance, commits a nonmoving traffic infraction;
prohibits individuals who have registration stops associated with toll violations from either renewing their registrations or replacing their license plates until satisfying the toll violation; and
makes changes to align Florida’s commercial vehicles’ law with federal law by removing the exemption for charter buses from the International Registration Plan and establishing minimum insurance requirements for commercial vehicles that carry passengers.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

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 2020-2021, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Seat Belt Violations 2020 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

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

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

Whom do I contact for help?

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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