Required documents to drive in Florida
If you wish to drive a vehicle in Florida you must show certain documents to obtain your drivers license. This paperwork must prove both your identity and your citizenship or immigration status.
Generally, state and federal law requires that you provide your Social Security Number, proof of your identity, and two documents that are proof of your residential address before you can obtain your driver's license.
Here, we take a closer look at the documentation you’ll require to legally drive in the Sunshine State.
Real ID Compliance
You may be Real ID compliant already if you’ve supplied ID documents and been issued with a license out of any office since 1st January 2010. You can check for this compliance by examining your existing driving license or ID card for a gold star in its upper right-hand corner.
If this is present, you’re already compliant and don’t need to present any further documentation unless a change needs to be made to the details on your existing card. If you aren’t Real ID compliant you’ll need to provide other documents. These will depend on your current immigration or citizenship status.
I Am A US Citizen
If you’re an non-Real ID compliant US citizen you’ll need to supply one of the following documents:
- An original or certified birth certificate
- A valid US passport/passport card
- An original naturalization certificate
- An original Citizenship Certificate
- An original Consular Report Of Birth Abroad
You must also supply proof of your social security in the form of either your original card, a non-handwritten W2 or 1099, your Medicare card, a letter from Social Security bearing your name and number or self-certification of your number.
You might be interested: Title replacement Florida
Furthermore, you’ll need to supply two forms of proof of address which can be:
- A rental agreement
- A utility bill
- A vehicle registration document
- A bank statement
- A voter registration card
- A self-certification affidavit
If your name has changed from that on your primary form of ID you’ll need to supply evidence in the form of an original or certified marriage certificate, a court order, or divorce decree.
I Am An Immigrant
If you are an immigrant, you will need to supply the same proof of social security and address as above along with one form of primary ID which could be:
- An I-151/I-551/Permanent Resident Card
- A valid passport with an I-551 stamp or I-94.
- An IJO that grants adjustment of your status to permanent.
I Am Neither A Permanent Resident Or US Citizen
Non-immigrants can obtain a one-year license if they supply their immigration documents for review. If you’ve been given a US social security number, you’ll need to show this too.
I Am A Tourist
Read more: Tourist driver license Florida
If you are a tourist who will only be visiting the state of Florida on vacation for a short period of time there is no need for you to supply any complicated documentation in order to be permitted to drive in the state. All you will need is documentation that can prove your identity, for example your driving license from your home country. There is no need to obtain the international driving permit to be permitted to drive in the Sunshine State.
I am Residing with a Relative
Usually, before you can obtain your driver’s license, you need to provide two acceptable proofs of your residential address. But if you don’t have proof of residential address in your name because you are staying with a relative, there is a way around it.
You will be required to provide two documents that show proof of address in your relative’s name, documents certifying your relationship (it could be a marriage certificate, adoption record, birth certificate, or military dependent identification card), and the certification of address form to self-certify.
If you can’t provide a document certifying your relationship, then you must submit a filled certification of address form. Then, the relative you are staying with must sign the form in front of a notary, or if they can accompany you to our office at the time of the transaction, so they append their signature right in front of us.
I am Residing with a Non-Relative
If you are staying with a non-relative, you must provide two documents that show proof of address in the person’s name. Also, you will be required to fill the certification of address form to self-certify. Then, the person you are staying with must sign the form in front of a notary, or if they can accompany you to our office at the time of the transaction, so they append their signature right in front of us.
