Where and how to change your address

You can update your address on a Florida driver's license through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) in three ways: online, by mail, or in person at a driver's license office. The online method is the fastest and requires no documents if you are straightforward moving within Florida and your license is not expired. You go to the DHSMV website, enter your driver's license number and date of birth, confirm your new address, and pay a $7.50 fee by credit or debit card. The change takes effect when ready.

If you prefer to handle it by mail, print the Change of Address form (Form HSMV 14-010) from the DHSMV website, fill in your new address, sign it, and mail it with a check or money order for $7.50 to the address listed on the form. Processing takes about two weeks. In person, you can walk into any Florida driver's license office with your current license and proof of your new address — a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days all work. You pay the $7.50 fee and leave with your updated license the same day.

Key Takeaways

  • Online address changes cost $7.50 and take effect when ready if your license is not expired and you are staying in Florida.
  • By mail, you send the DHSMV Change of Address form (HSMV 14-010) with a check or money order and wait about two weeks.
  • In person at any Florida driver's license office, you need your current license and one document showing your new address dated within the last 60 days.
  • If your license is expired or you are moving out of state, you must renew your license instead of straightforward updating your address.

What counts as proof of your new address

The DHSMV accepts a narrow list of documents to verify a new address. A utility bill (electric, gas, water, or internet) is the most common. A lease or rental agreement, a mortgage statement, a property tax bill, a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, a bank or credit card statement, or a government check or benefit statement all work. The document must show your name and your new address, and it must be dated within the last 60 days.

Documents that do not work include a post office change-of-address form, a cell phone bill, mail from a doctor's office, or anything addressed to "Resident" or "Current Occupant." If you have just moved and do not yet have a utility bill or lease in your name at the new address, ask your landlord or utility company for a letter on their letterhead confirming your move-in date and new address. Some will provide this within a day or two.

Updating your address if your license is expired

If your Florida driver's license has expired, you cannot straightforward update your address — you must renew your license instead. The renewal process includes the address change. You can renew online if your license expired fewer than five years ago, or you can renew in person at a driver's license office. The online renewal costs $48 and takes about two weeks to arrive by mail. In person, you pay $48, provide proof of your new address, and receive your renewed license with the updated address on the same day.

If your license expired more than five years ago, you must renew in person and may need to retake the written test and vision test, depending on how long it has been. Call your local driver's license office or check the DHSMV website to confirm what is required for your situation before you go in.

Updating your address if you moved out of state

If you have moved out of Florida and no longer live in the state, you cannot update your Florida address — you must surrender your Florida license and obtain a license in your new state. Florida does not issue licenses to people who do not live in Florida. You can surrender your Florida license by mail (send it to the DHSMV with a signed letter stating you no longer live in Florida) or in person at a driver's license office if you are still in the state.

Your new state's motor vehicle department will issue you a license with your new address. The process and timeline vary by state. If you still own property in Florida or plan to move back, you may want to keep your Florida license active by updating your address to a Florida address (a friend's or family member's home, for example) until you are certain you are leaving permanently.

What happens after you update your address online

When you update your address through the DHSMV website, the change is recorded in the state's system when ready. Your driver's license itself does not change — the physical card still shows your old address. However, law enforcement and government agencies can see your current address in the DHSMV database when they scan or look up your license. This is sufficient for most purposes, including traffic stops, voting, and banking.

If you need a physical license card with your new address printed on it, you must renew your license. Renewal costs $48 and takes about two weeks if done online, or you can renew in person at a driver's license office and receive the new card the same day. Most people do not renew just to update an address — they wait until their license is due for renewal anyway.

Updating your address at the same time as other changes

If you are changing your name, correcting your date of birth, or updating your sex designation on your license, you cannot do those changes online. You must go to a driver's license office in person. You can update your address at the same time you make any of these other changes. Bring your current license, proof of your new address, and any documents required for the other change (such as a marriage certificate for a name change). The office will process all changes together, and you will pay only one fee.

If you are updating your address and renewing your license at the same time, the cost is $48 for renewal, which includes the address change. You do not pay an additional $7.50 for the address change when you renew.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to update my address before I move or after?

You can update your address before or after you move. Many people update online a few days before moving day so the change is in the system. Others wait until they have received a utility bill or lease at the new address to use as proof. There is no penalty for updating early or late, as long as you update within a reasonable time.

What if I do not have a document showing my new address?

If you have just moved and do not yet have a utility bill or lease in your name, ask your landlord, property manager, or utility company for a letter on their official letterhead confirming your new address and move-in date. Some will email or fax this same day. A notarized affidavit from a family member or friend stating your new address may also work — call your local driver's license office to confirm before you get it notarized.

Can I update my address if I am out of state?

Yes. You can update your address online from anywhere as long as you have your driver's license number and date of birth. You can also mail in the Change of Address form from anywhere. If you have moved permanently out of Florida, you should obtain a license in your new state instead of keeping a Florida license with an out-of-state address.

How long does it take to update my address by mail?

The DHSMV typically processes mailed Change of Address forms within two weeks. Mail delivery time is not included in this estimate, so allow an extra week on either end for your form to reach the DHSMV and for any confirmation to reach you. If you need the change recorded quickly, use the online method or visit a driver's license office in person.

Will my insurance company know about my address change?

No. Updating your address with the DHSMV does not automatically notify your car insurance company. You must contact your insurance company separately and provide your new address. Failing to update your insurance company can affect your coverage and rates, so do this at the same time you update your driver's license.