Costs for a New License Plate
When you purchase a vehicle in Florida and do not have a license plate to transfer, you must pay for an initial vehicle registration. The state of Florida imposes a one-time initial registration fee for vehicles that have never been registered in your name before. This fee is a significant component of the total tag and title cost. In addition to the initial fee, you must pay the annual registration cost, which is determined by the vehicle's weight.
Heavier vehicles generally incur higher annual registration fees. The state also charges a fee to issue a new metal license plate and a fee to process the certificate of title, which proves your legal ownership. When combining the initial fee, the metal plate fee, the title fee, and the weight-based registration, the total cost for a completely new tag and title typically ranges between three hundred and four hundred dollars.
Costs for Transferring an Existing Plate
If you already own a valid Florida license plate from a vehicle you traded in or recently sold, you can transfer that plate to your newly purchased vehicle. Transferring a plate is significantly cheaper than buying a new one because it allows you to avoid the state's initial registration fee and the cost of a new metal plate.
When you transfer a plate, you only pay the fee to transfer the registration, the title processing fee, and any difference in the annual weight-based tax if the new vehicle falls into a heavier weight class. A simple plate transfer and title application usually costs between eighty and one hundred and fifty dollars, depending on the specific circumstances. Dealerships collect these estimated fees at the time of sale, process the paperwork with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and refund any overpayment if the actual state fees are lower than the estimate.