I just finished listening to the email show and there was a lot of misinformation about getting a Florida State ID (also called a "resident ID" on the show) or a Florida Driver's License.
When I first started visiting Florida many years ago I decided to obtain a State ID. It was easier back then because it was pre-9/11. Things are a little more difficult now but not tremendously so.
To obtain either a State ID or Driver's License, you need (this is from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website):
Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth, proof of residential address, and proof of social security number (if issued, Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department see proof of social security number for the issuance of driver license and identification cards) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued. The name assigned to the social security number must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver license or identification card.
You can get all the details at http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/faqkeys.html#USC
I had my Florida State ID for a few years before becoming a Florida resident. I then simply had to show my out of state drivers license and my Florida State ID and I was issued a Florida Driver's License. Florida has reciprocal agreements with most state so you don't even have to take a driving test. Of those states that Florida does not have a reciprocal agreement, you'll have to take a driving test before being issued a license.
When you make Florida your state of domicile and you are issued a Florida Driver's License, you must give up your out of state driver's license. However, if you have a home in Florida and also in another state and you do not want to make Florida your state of residency, you can get a "Florida Only" driver's license. It is a driver's license that is good only in Florida. It looks just like a Florida Driver's License (it's green instead of State ID orange) but it clearly states it is valid only in Florida. If you get one of these "Florida Only" Licenses, you do not give up your out of state license. I'm not sure why anyone would need one of these since a Florida State ID accomplishes that same function.
The problem I believe the person on the email show had was that he had a timeshare or vacation ownership. This is not proof of a residential address. You need a place of residency that is yours exclusively, whether owned or rented. I understand the person's frustration when he mentioned that he pays property tax on his timeshare but he does not meet the requirement of proof of a residential address.
I hope this clears things up a bit.
____________________
Armand
When I first started visiting Florida many years ago I decided to obtain a State ID. It was easier back then because it was pre-9/11. Things are a little more difficult now but not tremendously so.
To obtain either a State ID or Driver's License, you need (this is from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website):
Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth, proof of residential address, and proof of social security number (if issued, Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department see proof of social security number for the issuance of driver license and identification cards) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued. The name assigned to the social security number must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver license or identification card.
You can get all the details at http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/faqkeys.html#USC
I had my Florida State ID for a few years before becoming a Florida resident. I then simply had to show my out of state drivers license and my Florida State ID and I was issued a Florida Driver's License. Florida has reciprocal agreements with most state so you don't even have to take a driving test. Of those states that Florida does not have a reciprocal agreement, you'll have to take a driving test before being issued a license.
When you make Florida your state of domicile and you are issued a Florida Driver's License, you must give up your out of state driver's license. However, if you have a home in Florida and also in another state and you do not want to make Florida your state of residency, you can get a "Florida Only" driver's license. It is a driver's license that is good only in Florida. It looks just like a Florida Driver's License (it's green instead of State ID orange) but it clearly states it is valid only in Florida. If you get one of these "Florida Only" Licenses, you do not give up your out of state license. I'm not sure why anyone would need one of these since a Florida State ID accomplishes that same function.
The problem I believe the person on the email show had was that he had a timeshare or vacation ownership. This is not proof of a residential address. You need a place of residency that is yours exclusively, whether owned or rented. I understand the person's frustration when he mentioned that he pays property tax on his timeshare but he does not meet the requirement of proof of a residential address.
I hope this clears things up a bit.
____________________
Armand
