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Topic: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida? (Read 1209 times) previous topic - next topic

Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

I have a choice between Florida and Maryland registration. Florida doesn't have a state inspection. Not sure about other differences such as do they charge an annual personal property tax like Virginia?
Build 5477
99 3602 WTFE U270C

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #1 –
I would check into it carefully before pulling the trigger.  I don't know anything about registering a motor home in Florida, but if it is the same as a boat, there are a bunch of Gotcha's in there that aren't evident.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #2 –
I have an rv  in florida. when I purchased it I simply payed sales tax had proof of insurance and purchased a license plate. I live in the Villages Fl and that was it.
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #3 –
There is a one time fee if your transferring the title from another state. I believe its $250. + sales tax. no personal property tax here. I believe you will need to  be a property owner to title in Florida.
Rick and Wendy Green
1998 U270 3600 The Coach Formerly known as Princess
Build# 5336
2007 Ford Explorer

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: goldbehen –
I have a choice between Florida and Maryland registration. Florida doesn't have a state inspection. Not sure about other differences such as do they charge an annual personal property tax like Virginia?
"goldbehen",
One doesn't have to have FL as primary residence, but one has to either own property in FL, or receive a paycheck from a FL employer, in order to register your vehicle in FL
    • If you bought the vehicle in FL, you must have proof of FL sales tax having been paid. 

    • If the vehicle has been registered in your name in another state for 6 months or more, no proof of tax is required.

    • Then one must have FL insurance on the vehicle that is being registered.  Due to hurricane and flood, etc. specific dangers, the FL "garaged" location may cause the insurance premium to vary considerably

    • Then the vehicle VIN must be verified by a local or state law enforcement officer (any state), or a FL DMV certified individual (dealerships generally have a certified individual and all county tax collector offices do). No cost for this.

    • Then one pays an initial registration and a one time/vehicle title transfer fee (the vehicle title must either be currently titled in FL or the title must be transferred to FL at the time of registry).  When we first registered our 1998 U270 in FL, this was about $100.  The standard fee is up to $225 now.

    • Then one "buys" the initial plate plus registration (good until the end of the month of one's next birthday).  Plate is $14 plus pro-rated cost of one year's registration.

Going forward;
    • No state inspection requirements, physical or environmental.

    • No annual taxes

    • About $100/year total cost, currently, for our coach

Our primary residence has been in NH.  NH is a "Property Tax" state and all vehicles are taxed, annually, at the same rate as a house or land is taxed.  Once we owned property in FL, starting in 2004, it has been to our advantage to register the coach in FL (FL coach registration has risen from about $45/yr to about $100/year now) but that is a whole lot better than the several thousand $'s/yr in NH, and avoids the "every six month" NH  mandatory inspections which run $250 plus per inspection.  The downside of course is that NH has safer vehicles and FL definitely has a whole bunch of highly UNSAFE vehicles on the road, just from casual observation.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell, but one has to wade through the FL DMV regulations (they are online and available in all county tax collector's offices) to be sure in your own circumstance --  or just go to the applicable FL County tax collector's office and they will gently lead you through the tangle.
Hope this helps,
Neal


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Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #5 –
Here is another resource, The Mail Room ยป Features & Services. This is a mail forwarding service we used for many years. Their web page has a tab "Vehicles", which gives a step by step process for registering your vehicles. When we did this we were able to transfer title and register from Oregon; as Neal says VIN must be properly verified. We did have to be present at Florida DMV to get a driver's license, vision test only.
As a little plus the Florida driver's license will get you a discounted annual pass to Disney World. DW had an unlimited pass with parking, mine blacked out holidays. But, that is a great way to visit the park; stay a couple hours or all day!
Dick
Dick, '03 U320 40' Tag, 2 slides, Coach #6075
Full Timers
2009 Honda CR-V

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #6 –
We do have property in Broward county. Sounds like a better place to register. Hopefully I can use the address. The RV soon to be Foretravel will be living in Maryland. Insurance doesn't need to know our condo doesn't allow rvs. Thanks for the great and detailed responses. Hope one day to answer questions instead of asking them.
Build 5477
99 3602 WTFE U270C

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #7 –
FL vs WI insurance coverage, same carrier, quite  but higher in FL
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #8 –
At time of registration Maryland will charge you 6% sales tax. That sales tax is on the purchase price. You will need to provide proof of insurance. You will pay a one time title fee that is under $50.00. You will pay for a set of license plates, with month and year expiration stickers, for $200.00. That $200.00 dollars will cover you for two years. You will have to have your coach inspected by a state of Maryland approved inspection completed before registration. The inspection is a one time requirement. After all that it is $200.00 for your two year tags every two years.
I have heard that Florida insurance has a windshield breakage replacement requirement that is good for all vehicles in the state. Maybe no deductible. Do not know much about that. In Maryland you will pay your full deductible for each occurrence of breakage. Can get expensive. I'm sure others will let you know about the windshield breakage advantage in Florida if there is anything to it.
Best of luck,
Raymond

Raymond & Babette Jordan
1997 U 320
1998 Ford Explorer XLT

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #9 –
The windshield issue is real, I cracked my SUV windshield in MT but then drove the car to FL, had it insured in FL but as it was broken (yes I told them) in MT they did not cover it. Had it been cracked while in FL, they'd have paid in full. USAA is my insurance co. And yes, insurance in FL is much higher than other places due to congestion & poor/aged drivers. I have 2 cars, 1 insured in FL & 1 in MT, FL is definitely higher for the same car. (SUV is back in MT now & costs much less to insure.)

On the licensing of RV's, I do not own property in FL (own house in MT) but my permanent mailing address is in FL, + have a FL driver's license, also my pension check is sent (from a national employer) to the FL address.

Paid approximately 7% in FL sales tax, dealer applied for & sent initial registration then I renewed easily after 1 year, by mail I think, & not expensive. Coach insurance is no doubt higher in FL (no experience elsewhere on an RV) due to same driving conditions. Insurance co. did ask for an address (at the time of purchase) for where the coach was parked which was different from my street address, but also primarily in FL.

The final good thing about FL residency is no state income tax on paychecks/retirement funds/pensions. That's what makes it 1 of the top 3 states (along with TX & SD) for being RV (& retirement) friendly. So with the FL address, (Neal, do you have a FL driver's license or just the property?) & registering the coach at the FL address, you should be set to go! They don't seem to care whether or not it's in or out of the state for any given length of time, mine only stays in FL during the winter.

Sorry this is so wordy, but it does hit all the high points of both cars & coach......

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #10 –
Just an FYI, it's always a balance between fees, taxes, inspections, insurance, etc to get a total cost, be aware of Georgia:

HB 1055
As of the 2016 tax year, all pensions and other retirement income will be exempt from Georgia income taxes, advises Sam Bromberg in the "Atlanta Business Chronicle." In 2010, Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue signed HB 1055 into law, which phases out Georgia's income tax on pensions and other retirement income by 2016. The retirement exclusion for Georgia taxpayers over the age of 65 increases to $100,000 in 2013, $150,000 in 2014 and $100,000 per person by 2015.

Regards,
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #11 –
Georgia has a GOTCHA in that if you have property in GA and register a vehicle in another state the penalties can be severe.  You may have to pay taxes retroactively, plus a penalty and If you have a homestead exemption in GA you can lose that.  Don't know if other states have similar provisions. Typical guvmint greed.
Gary B

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #12 –
     I live in Florida and insure with State Farm Ins.  There is a $1000 deductible on my coach.. Broke a windshield in Washington
State and had it replaced in Nacogdoches: paid no deductible.  Insurance usually follows the vehicle.
Laurel Hill, FL
 To do is to be---- Nietzsche
  To be is to do-----Kant
  Do be do be do----Sinatra

Re: Anyone have experience registering an rv in Florida?

Reply #13 –
Windshield repair is no deductible in FL but have never need it for the coach and am surprised to learn it's no deductible too.  It doesn't cost much to register it here but I'll bet the insurance is higher than elsewhere. 

Gary,  your post is very interesting...thanks.  I have property in Blairsville, GA and am planning to (some day) live half the time there and half the time here in FL.  As we have no state income tax and my property here is of greater value...I was planning to maintain FL residency (once retired) and homestead but wasn't sure that was the best plan given the recent changes in GA taxes for retirees.  You settled that for me.  Thanks.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060