Moving to FL/Miami (Fort Lauderdale: rental, car registration, insurance)

[Triplea273]

Apologies for my lack of moving knowledge here, but I am moving to the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area for a new job. My situation is I started at a new job in Ft. Lauderdale, about a week ago on 6/29, I am staying in a vacation rental/temp housing till 7/31. I can accept mail there, but I’m not sure if it makes sense to actually use the address as my own in paperwork other than to receive packages etc. I just got my car down here this weekend 7/6. I won’t move to permanent housing till 8/1 (at least that is our plan) and that perm. housing may be in Miami as opposed to FLL, but we aren’t sure. SO my questions are, how should I handle getting my car registered here, auto insurance, becoming a FL resident etc. with this temp address situation. In my research I’ve found that that accepting employment means I need to become a FL resident and FL gives you 30 days for that, but you have to register your car within 10 days. To register my car, I clearly need FL auto insurance, to get FL insurance, I clearly need a FL address.

Curious if anyone has any advice for this, should I get a PO box? Use my temp address at the vacation rental and then do an address change at the end of the month? If so, then I’m using a Ft. Lauderdale zip code for my auto insurance etc. Any thoughts are welcome! Thanks!

[Mr. Lee]

If you are staying in a vacation rental, then you are basically still on vacation and there would be no way for the police to know anything otherwise, unless you tell them, or have already told them. Many snowbirds live part time in Florida and never change anything, so police are used to seeing out of state plates, thus first things first would be for you to find out where you wish to live, one step at a time, and then I would do the other items once you have moved in. You cannot use a PO BOX on your car registration or drivers license in Florida unless you are a police officer or private investigator.

If you will be working in Fort Lauderdale, then it sort of makes sense to live in Broward County and not too far from work in order to cut down on travel times and cost of travel.

Of course the other way would be a lot of work, registration and drivers license at temp address and then have to change them all once you find a perm address.

[Triplea273]

Thanks for the info, one question though - in my online research I found that you have 30 days to become a resident of FL, and accepting/starting employment counts as being a resident, right?

[Mr. Lee]

Originally Posted by Triplea273

Thanks for the info, one question though - in my online research I found that you have 30 days to become a resident of FL, and accepting/starting employment counts as being a resident, right?

I am not sure exactly what you are trying to accomplish but the answer seems easy, rent a place before the 30 days is up and start using that address or use your current address and then do the change of address once you move. Changes of address should be able to be done online for dl and registration. There is always the letter of the law and the intent of the law and some people will get caught in limbo due to no fault of their own. Finding a place IMO should be your number one priority and if not then you have to use your current address and then change it once you move.

You also have the option of filing a Declaration of Domicile if necessary for your job etc.
How to Become a Florida Resident: 12 Steps (with Pictures)
Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

[Nolefan34]

You will need to treat the temporary address as a permanent one. Start switching everything over right away to the Fort Lauderdale address. Then once you know your new address, you can easily change your DL and vehicle registration online. When you purchase insurance, they go by the address you currently reside at, not a mythical future address.

A P.O. box would be useful for 2-3 months until you get settled. You won't be able to use it on your license or registration, but you can use it as your mailing address where the license and registration can be sent to. This way you get these items in a timely manner and prevent them from getting lost in the postal system abyss.