Driving Tests

Moving to Florida: Get Your Florida Driver's License Within 30 Days

informational·how to guide·Published May 13, 2026

How long do you have to get a Florida driver license after you move to Florida?

You have 30 days. FLHSMV says you must get a Florida driver license within 30 days of becoming a resident. State law also gives 30 days from the start of a Florida job or your child's public school enrollment, if you drive. FLHSMV accepts a valid out-of-state license in place of the written and driving exams, but you take a vision test. An original Class E license costs $48.

Where the Florida new-resident facts come from

The 30-day rule, the resident list and the temporary permit come from the FLHSMV Visiting Florida FAQ. The job, school, military, commuter and student rules come from section 322.031 of the Florida Statutes. The test and motorcycle rules come from the FLHSMV What to Bring FAQ, the FLHSMV General Information page and section 322.12; the visitor rule comes from section 322.04, the invalid-license rule from section 322.033, the fee from section 322.21, and the address rules from the FLHSMV What to Bring page for U.S. citizens. The resident definition in the Official Florida Driver License Handbook is older than the FLHSMV pages. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov) before you drive.

Who counts as a Florida resident

FLHSMV says you are a Florida resident if you do one of five things: enroll your children in public school, register to vote, file for a homestead exemption, accept a job, or live in Florida for more than six consecutive months. The Official Florida Driver License Handbook gives a shorter list: more than six consecutive months, voter registration, a statement of domicile, or a homestead exemption. A job is not on that list. The handbook adds that a Florida resident must have a Florida driver license to drive on public roads.

Job or school: the 30 days in state law

Section 322.031 sets the rule for a newcomer who takes a job in Florida or enrolls children in a Florida public school. If you drive on Florida roads, you must get a Florida driver license within 30 days after the job or the school starts. The count starts on the first day of the job or the school. Test yourself with the free practice question on the 30-day licensing period for a new employee.

Do you take tests with a valid out-of-state license?

Do you take tests with a valid out-of-state license?
Source	What it says
Florida law, s. 322.12	FLHSMV may waive the knowledge, endorsement and skills tests if you surrender a valid license from another state, a province of Canada or the U.S. Armed Forces and apply for an equal or lower class.
FLHSMV What to Bring FAQ	A valid out-of-state license is accepted in exchange for the written and driving exams. Every out-of-state driver takes the vision test. Other tests may apply if there are signs that you may not drive safely.
FLHSMV General Information page	A new resident who exchanges a valid out-of-state license passes the vision and hearing tests only.

What the test rules mean for you

Plan for a vision test and a hearing test. The General Information page names both, and the law lists both tests in the Class E examination. Other tests can apply if there are signs that you may not drive safely. The waiver applies when you surrender a valid license, so bring your out-of-state license to the office.

What to bring to the Florida driver license office

Proof of your legal name, lawful presence in the U.S. and Social Security Number. Our guide to documents for a Florida driver license lists the accepted papers.
Two different documents that show your Florida residential address. Printouts and faxes are accepted. Florida no longer accepts an out-of-state or U.S. territory address for a Class E license.
Documents for every name change, if your name changed by marriage, divorce or court order.
Your valid out-of-state license. It does not count as primary identification or as proof of address.

How to get your Florida license after you move

1
Count your 30 days
Start the count when you become a resident, or when your job or your child's public school starts.
2
Gather your documents
Collect proof of name, lawful presence, Social Security Number and two Florida address documents.
3
Choose an office
Look at the FLHSMV list of offices. Some offices take appointments only; at others you can walk in.
4
Surrender your out-of-state license
Hand in your valid license, and take the vision and hearing tests and any other test that the office asks for.
5
Pay the fee
Pay $48 for an original Class E driver license.

What a Florida Class E license costs

Section 322.21 sets the fee for an original Class E driver license at $48. The fee includes the driver education fee. If you must take the knowledge test and you fail it, each later test costs $10. For the full list of fees, see our guide to Florida driver license costs.

Who does not need a Florida license: military, commuters and students

Active duty U.S. Armed Forces members in Florida, their spouses and dependents living with them, if they hold a valid military ID and a valid license or learner's permit from another state, or a valid military driving permit. This also holds when they take a job or enroll children in public school.
A nonresident migrant or seasonal farm worker.
A person who lives in another state and commutes into Florida to work, with a valid license from another state.
A nonresident who is a full-time student at a college or university in Florida, for the length of the enrollment.

Out-of-state licenses that Florida does not accept

Under section 322.033, a license from a class that another state issues only to people who cannot prove lawful presence in the U.S. is invalid in Florida and does not let the holder drive here. FLHSMV must keep a list of these license classes on its website.

Key takeaways

Get your Florida license within 30 days of becoming a resident, or within 30 days after a new Florida job or your child's public school starts, if you drive.
Bring proof of name, lawful presence, Social Security Number and two documents with your Florida address.
A valid out-of-state license can replace the written and driving exams, but you take a vision test.
An original Class E license costs $48.
Next step: review Florida road rules on the free Florida Class E Knowledge practice test.

Moving to Florida: common questions

Can I drive in Florida on my out-of-state license before I get a Florida one?

Yes, for a time. Under section 322.04, a nonresident who is 16 or older and carries a valid noncommercial license from the home state may drive in Florida, unless the license class is invalid in Florida. This exemption stops when the 30-day rule for a new job or a child in public school applies to you.

What if I do not have all my documents on the day?

FLHSMV may issue a 60-day temporary permit if your out-of-state license is valid or expired 60 days or less. The permit lets you drive for 60 days while you get the missing documents.

Does my motorcycle endorsement transfer to Florida?

Yes, in most cases. If your license from another state has a motorcycle endorsement, Florida accepts the endorsement and you do not need the motorcycle course. Alabama is the exception: Florida accepts an Alabama endorsement only with a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse completion card.

Do my spouse and teenagers need Florida licenses too?

Yes, if they drive. Under section 322.031, the spouse or dependent child of a newcomer who takes a Florida job or enrolls children in public school must get a Florida license within the same 30 days before driving. If your teen is under 18 and not married, a parent or legal guardian must sign the license application.

Do I need an appointment at the driver license office?

Appointments are recommended, but not required, at most offices. Some offices take appointments only, so look at the FLHSMV list of offices before you go. At the other offices, you can walk in.