What is a pre-sale voucher? Upon approval by the Florida Legislature, a new specialty plate is required to sell a minimum number of reservations or vouchers. This process ensures sufficient interest to warrant the manufacture of the plate. For many new plates, that pre-sale number is 3,000. Out-of-state colleges and universities must sell 4,000 vouchers. Once enough vouchers have been sold, the license plate may then be submitted to the Florida Department of Highway Safety (DHSMV) for production.
What is the cost of a pre-sale voucher? Fees can vary depending on which plate is chosen. Most pre-sale vouchers will cost $33.00. If paying with a credit or debit card, a $1.95 convenience fee will apply. The Tax Collector does not keep any portion of that fee. Paying by eCheck is free.
I've bought a voucher. Should I renew my registration? In most cases, you should renew your existing registration and wait for the new plates to become available.
If you purchase a voucher, it may be a year or more before the plate meets its voucher goal and is manufactured. Don’t wait to renew your registration during this time. Once manufactured, you will receive a letter from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) with instructions on how to exchange your current plate for your newly approved specialty license plate.
Will I receive a printed voucher? No. The voucher will be attached to your driver record in the State of Florida’s registration system. You will be able to redeem it once the plates are produced and you request the plate at time of renewal or as an on-demand plate replacement.
What if the license plate doesn’t meet the pre-sale requirement? If the plate fails to meet the minimum presale requirements, you may apply the presale voucher towards a different specialty license plate. You may also apply for a refund for the specialty license plate fee only. Pre-sale vouchers are non-transferrable.
What should I expect the Fees to be once the plate is available? Your current annual registration (yellow decal renewal) is 46.10. You purchase a pre-sale voucher for $33.00. The plates are manufactured and shipped to your local tag office.
Option A: You decide to replace the plate while your registration is still current: Approximate fee to replace: 36.90 (license plate replacement fee plus branch fee)
Option B: You decide to wait until your tag is up for renewal: Approximate fee 46.10 + 28.00 (license plate replacement) = $74.10
*If your tag is up for a mandatory replacement (every ten years), the $28.00 would not apply.
What is the yearly cost for a specialty plate? Once you have switched to the new specialty plate, the cost will be the annual renewal fee plus the specialty plate fee (which can range from $20-$30 extra a year) May I purchase a voucher as a gift? Yes. Gift certificates are available for pre-sale vouchers. The recipient must have a vehicle titled in their name or plan to acquire a Florida registered vehicle once the plate is manufactured. If you purchase a voucher for someone who does not have a vehicle registered to them, you will not be able to get a refund for this purchase.
Why must I provide purchaser and recipient information? The State of Florida allows anyone to purchase a specialty plate pre-sale voucher for themselves or for another person as long as the recipient is the holder of a Florida driver license or registration. If you are both the purchaser and the recipient, you should enter your information into both sections for the sale to process correctly.
Why do I have to pay extra every year for a specialty license plate? The purpose of specialty license plates is to raise funds for a particular cause. The use of a specialty license plate is a voluntary purchase and can be discontinued at any time.
Where does the money for specialty license plates go? Florida offers more than 100 different specialty plates in support of various organizations and causes. The money raised from the sale of these plates goes directly to the organization or cause. Chapter 320.08058, Florida Statutes, provides direction to the department regarding the distribution of specialty license plate funds. The department provides a Monthly Revenue Collections Report with additional information.