Information of Interest About Driver Licenses and Identification Cards

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS NOW: Florida residents wishing to obtain a new driver license or identification card, legally change their name prior to their renewal date, or immediately replace a lost or stolen license or ID card, are required to visit a driver licenses office and show the following:


1) Identification – A certified U.S. birth certificate (hospital birth certificates are not accepted); a valid U.S. passport; a consular Report of Birth Abroad; a certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570); or a certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561).
2) Social Security Number – Card, W-2 form, paycheck or any 1099 form.
3) Residential Address – Two (2) items mailed to you that contain your address. Acceptable is a mortgage statement, voter ID card, a utility bill or a car insurance policy.

Anyone who has changed their name must bring marriage certificates, court orders or divorce decrees to connect the name on the primary identification to the name of the customer and the name in which the license or ID card will be issued. The complete list of acceptable documents is available online at http://www.gathergoget.com/.

Immigrants and non-immigrants can secure a complete list of documents to bring to one of our offices by visiting http://www.gathergoget.com/, or www.ReunaVengaObtenga.com in Spanish, or http://www.rasanblealepran.com/ in Creole.

PUERTO RICO EXTENDS VALIDITY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES: The Governor of Puerto Rico has signed into law an extension of validity for current Puerto Rico birth certificates. Puerto Rico birth certificates, which were scheduled to become invalid July 1, 2010, will now continue being valid until Sept. 30, 2010. New birth certificates will begin being issued on July 1, 2010 as originally planned, and will have indefinite validity. More information on developments regarding Puerto Rican birth certificates is available on the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) web site at http://www.prfaa.com/.

WHERE TO GET ASSISTANCE: DHSMV continues its focus on GatherGoGet, a campaign dedicated to assisting Floridians with new driver license and identification card requirements. The campaign’s website is designed to help residents understand the new requirements. DHSMV encourages all Floridians to gather your documents, go to a driver license office and get your new card. The website, www.GatherGoGet.com, will enable residents to:

• Determine when they will need to visit a driver license or tax collector’s office.
• Create a personalized checklist detailing documents they will need.
• Obtain contact information showing where to get required documents.
• Browse a list of driver license offices in their local area.
The campaign and its tools are also available in Spanish at http://www.reunavengaobtenga.com/ and in Creole at http://www.rasanblealepran.com/.


EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATION: DHSMV’s award-winning Emergency Contact Information program, a tool that law enforcement can use to quickly contact loved ones in case of an accident. The system allows licensed drivers and identification card holders to submit two contacts to notify in the event of an emergency. The information can then be accessed only by law enforcement officers to find designated contacts in case of emergency. Visit www.flhsmv.gov/eci to register your Emergency Contact Information.


GET AN APPOINTMENT, SAVE TIME! All customers who must visit one of our offices to renew, replace, or file a change of address to their driver license or identification card, are urged to secure an appointment prior to their visit. Connect via Internet at http://www.flhsmv.gov/oasis for an appointment to greatly reduce the length of the visit. Also link to the on-line pre-application and complete it before coming to one of our offices.

OFFICE SCHEDULE: Driver license offices in Florida are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Testing guidelines, that continue to provide excellent customer service, call for the start of the last oral examination and CDL test to begin each day at 3:30 p.m. The last written examinations and driving tests begin each day at 4:30 p.m. Please check our website at www.flhsmv.gov/offices/ for the most up-to-date information on office locations and schedules.