Driver license, title, and registration issuance are administered jointly by 16 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles field offices and 219 tax collection offices. Local tax collector and license plate agency offices located throughout the state issue these documents; fees are listed on the department's website.

The bureau issues and cancels motor vehicle and vessel titles, records liens, and maintains records of motor vehicle and vessel title transactions. It also maintains the inventory of license plates, registration decals, and parking permits for tax collector and license plate agencies statewide. In addition, the bureau is responsible for specialty license plates and voluntary contributions and reporting functions. 

Service Changes Due to COVID-19.  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles initially closed its offices to the public. It has since re-opened offices but requires customers to make an appointment for services. In addition, customers may continue to use the department's Go Renew website or mobile device application (on Google Play or the App Store) to replace or renew a driver license or ID card; replace or renew registration for a motor vehicle, vessel, or mobile home; or obtain a paper title. Information on tax collector or tag agent office closures is available on their websites. 

Motorist Modernization. The department is implementing its Motorist Modernization initiative, a multi-year phased plan for re-engineering its driver license and motor vehicle systems to create efficiencies in department work processes, enhance safety features for law enforcement, and streamline interactivity for customers. The initiative intends to modernize driver license and vehicle registration systems to serve Florida's growing population.

Digital Driver Licenses and Identification Cards. The 2021 Legislature enacted Chapter 2021-235, Laws of Florida, which requires the department to create a secure and uniform system for issuing optional digital proofs of driver licenses and identification cards. Among its provisions, the law

• authorizes the department to contract with one or more private entities to develop an electronic credentialing system;
• provides that a digital proof comprises a limited profile that includes only the information necessary to conduct a transaction on an electronic credentialing system;
• prohibits a private entity that scans a digital proof of a license or identification card from storing, sharing, or selling personal information collected from such scanning; and
• limits the issuance of digital proofs to persons who have satisfied statutory requirements for issuance of a printed driver license or identification card, and have been issued such a printed license or card.

Integration with Tax Collectors' Data Systems. The 2021 Legislature enacted Chapter 2021-139, Laws of Florida, which authorizes the department, upon a tax collector's request, to provide ancillary technology to integrate other tax collection systems so that tax collectors may have data access and uniform interface functionalities for registration renewal transactions performed at a tax collector's office or online via a tax collector's website. The department is to administer this program so that all involved ancillary systems and tax collection systems protect consumer privacy and data. Such data and functionality may only be used to fulfill tax collectors' statutory duties and may not be resold or used for any other purpose. The data access and uniform interface functionalities are to be developed no later than July 1, 2023.

Other Reports
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles - Selected Administrative Activities and Prior Audit Follow-Up - Operational Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2020-191, April 2020.
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles - Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System - Operational Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2018-022, October 2017.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' Office of Inspector General reports are available by contacting the inspector general at inspectorgeneral@flhsmv.gov.

Websites of Interest
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Office Locations
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Open Government/Public Records
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Cabinet and Legislature Reports & Statistics
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Related Links
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, National Motor Vehicle Title Information System

Performance Information
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' Performance Dashboard tracks the department's performance in meeting the goals and standards associated with accomplishing its mission of safety and security through excellence in service, education, and enforcement. 

DHSMV Customer Service Center, 850-617-2000

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