How do I title my car in FLORIDA?

[Jeff's First FFR]

Hello everyone,
I hope everyone is well and staying home and working in their garages.
My car in still in gel-coat, but the time is getting close when it will hopefully be street legal.
Has anyone recently titled a Factory Five car in Florida? I have been reading conflicting stories on how to title a kit car, replica, custom, assembled from parts, car in Florida. It seems like the rules have recently changed and apparently Dave Smith had talked to the government office here. I would like it titled as a 1965 or so, not a 2020, and don't want to have to add stuff to it to qualify like windshield wipers, backup lights, etc.
Thank you in advance,
Jeff

[wallace18]

Type Florida title in the search box at the top right of this page. It list all the info you have available in this forum. Search tool is very helpful.

[Papa]

Here is a good starting point:

https://www.semasan.com/resources/everything-you-need-register-and-title-your-hobby-car-all-50-states

Click on Florida and you get this:

https://www.semasan.com/semaga/TagTitleToolbox_FL.pdf

If all else fails, contact your local DMV office and ask to speak to someone that is familiar with the specific process in your state.

[Jeff's First FFR]

Thank you so much.
Jeff

[Avalanche325]

Florida is probably the easiest state to register in. You don't even have to have a car, just some paperwork.
The biggest thing - DO NOT say or even think the term "kit car". An FFR is a "replica". If the person starts going down the kit car road at all, snap up your papers and go somewhere else. A kit car in FL is a rebody like a Bradly GT, a replica is a ground up build.

One of the forms listed below, Florida instructions TL-48 "Application for certificate of Title for a replica motor vehicle", tells the DMV person what they need to do. That keeps them on track for success since they likely have never done one before. The lady at mine thanked me for having that.

One other trick that may or may not still be in effect. The computer won't take 0 miles. Put 1 or more on the form.

Here is what I wrote up after I did mine in 2013 from this thread - https://www.ffcars.com/threads/easy-steps-to-title-in-florida-ffr5310rd-is-legal.175115/page-6 There are a few little tricks to get you in and out fast.



I just went this morning to the Tax Collectors office on Altantic Blvd. In and out in less than 45 minutes with an antique plate in hand and 1965 title on the way!!!

I had the following paperwork:
Certificate of Origin
HSMV 82040 "application for a title"
Florida instructions TL-48 "Application for certificate of Title for a replica motor vehicle"
FFR invoice.
Proof of insurance.
Printout of FFR "completed vehicle specs" from the MKIV brochure. They used this to get the weight. I actually put 2150 on the form. The brochure says 2250, but they used 2150.

I had the Florida form TL-06 "mandatory use designations and brands on Florida certificates of title with me, but is was not needed. There was no "kit car" vs replica discussion at all.

I have been to this office twice and it is BY FAR the best DMV experiences I have ever had.

[Jeff's First FFR]

There is a new revision Dated March 6, 2020 to TL-41:
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTOR- CYCLE ASSEMBLED WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE KIT
I am reading it to see if it applies.

[wallace18]

Here is link to TL-41

https://www3.flhsmv.gov/dmv/Proc/tl/tl-41.pdf

[jlfernan]

I had no issues. A friend building the truck did. The problem was that no version of Factory Five shows up on the drop down menu of recognized vehicle manufacturers in Florida's database. The person at the tag agency ca push it through manually. It'll show an error when they run the VIN on their computer, but it still will go through. I went with my friend with my title and registration to show them it's possible. Mine is titled as a 1965 FACT ROADSTER. After about a half hour he walked out with a title and tag. This was in Seminole county. Another friend used an agency on Merritt Island. Similar issues, but they eventually figured it out.

[Jeff's First FFR]

I had no issues. A friend building the truck did. The problem was that no version of Factory Five shows up on the drop down menu of recognized vehicle manufacturers in Florida's database. The person at the tag agency ca push it through manually. It'll show an error when they run the VIN on their computer, but it still will go through. I went with my friend with my title and registration to show them it's possible. Mine is titled as a 1965 FACT ROADSTER. After about a half hour he walked out with a title and tag. This was in Seminole county. Another friend used an agency on Merritt Island. Similar issues, but they eventually figured it out.

Hi there,
What forms did you use?
Replica?
Kit Car?
Assembled from parts?
Custom?
I hope I can have as good luck in St. Augustine.
Jeff

[Jeff's First FFR]

Here is link to TL-41

https://www3.flhsmv.gov/dmv/Proc/tl/tl-41.pdf

Hi there Wallace,
In TL-41 one place (in bold type recently revised) says it will be titled "year of assembly" and in another place just below says "year it was built to resemble". And if it is a KitCar AND a Replica "year of the replica." Confusing.
I hope they interpret this doc loosely.
Thanks for your help,
Jeff

[Jeff's First FFR]

Here is link to TL-41

https://www3.flhsmv.gov/dmv/Proc/tl/tl-41.pdf

Hi there Wallace,
In TL-41 one place (in bold type recently revised) says it will be titled "year of assembly" and in another place just below says "year it was built to resemble". And if it is a KitCar AND a Replica "year of the replica." Confusing.
I hope they interpret this doc loosely.
Thanks for your help,
Jeff

[JOE A]

Hi there Wallace,
In TL-41 one place (in bold type recently revised) says it will be titled "year of assembly" and in another place just below says "year it was built to resemble". And if it is a KitCar AND a Replica "year of the replica." Confusing.
I hope they interpret this doc loosely.
Thanks for your help,
Jeff

I just finished the process in Palm Beach County. Admittedly there is a plethora of experiences throughout Florida. Remember, the purpose is to get a VIN number for title before you get plates. The VIN number is assigned at the "Motorists Services Office", not the Licensing Office. You do need the car as they will apply the VIN number on the vehicle.
This is a paperwork exercise. Fill out the form as you wish. They will revise as they see fit. I filled out as a Replica and they filled it out as an "Assembled by Parts" with a 2020 model year. This was because FFR was not found to be a registered manufacturer in Florida.
Bring your MSO, and receipts for all major components (Kit, engine, trans, rear). They want to get their tax money on anything that you did not pay Florida Tax. BTW, I also needed a weight slip.
Nothing was checked on the car. No start, no lights, no nothing. I do not have wipers, no discussion.
When you submit the paperwork, they will take some time to review (in my case 10 days) in give you an appointment to bring in your car.
Then you will get the VIN number applied and the paper work back in a sealed envelope to take to your licensing office for the title, registration and plates.
That was my experience, Good Luck, be patient and have all your paperwork in order.

[wallace18]

OK, here is what I know to be what is going on in FL. as of today. Most DMV's or Regional Motorist Services Offices are doing as assemble by parts for the title of FFR cars. It will be the year you bought the kit on the title. Some places are asking for air bags, back up cameras, ETC. Most are not. I have contacted Dave Smith of FFR and he is going to get SEMA involved to see if the State will allow FFR kits to be titled as Kit cars or Replica's. At the very least it should be the same anywhere in the state to get a title and tag for one of these kits we in Florida build. This IMO will take time. There seems to be no same way for any 2 of us builders to get a title. I get at least 2-4 calls a week about FL title and tag. I hope this helps and I hope better days are to come for this situation. TW:cool:

[Avalanche325]

Of course they had something that ran smoothly and have now messed it up.
My title says:
year - 1965, Make - FFR, body - 2D, Primary Brand - REPLICA

I think you guys getting registered as year of the build is incorrect. Here is what the form says:

Section 320.0863(2), Florida Statutes, provides that the model year and year of manufacture
which the body of a custom vehicle or street rod resembles is the model year and year of
manufacture listed on the certificate of title, regardless of when the vehicle was actually
manufactured.

And...

The motor vehicle was built from a kit which was manufactured to resemble a motor
vehicle 25 years old or older, the year would be the year the motor vehicle was built to
resemble.

Both of those say that you should be able to still get it titled as a 1965 and get an antique tag.

Assembled from parts is also not correct. That would be if you did a complete scratch build.

A car built from scratch (no kit) to look like a replica vehicle is an “Assembled From
Parts” vehicle and titled as such (see Procedure TL-43 for additional information).

It does look like it would be "Replica and Kit Car" now. Replica would be a Superformance or BackDraft. But since we build ours from a kit, but is is not a re-body of another car, it is in the both categories. Since there is a kit, assembled form parts is not correct.

You need to make sure you can reasonably guide them to the right outcome by pointing out the correct statements before you go in. I would have the appropriate sections highlighted.

[LOBO 302]

Of course they had something that ran smoothly and have now messed it up.
My title says:
year - 1965, Make - FFR, body - 2D, Primary Brand - REPLICA

I think you guys getting registered as year of the build is incorrect. Here is what the form says:

Section 320.0863(2), Florida Statutes, provides that the model year and year of manufacture
which the body of a custom vehicle or street rod resembles is the model year and year of
manufacture listed on the certificate of title, regardless of when the vehicle was actually
manufactured.

And...

The motor vehicle was built from a kit which was manufactured to resemble a motor
vehicle 25 years old or older, the year would be the year the motor vehicle was built to
resemble.

Both of those say that you should be able to still get it titled as a 1965 and get an antique tag.

Assembled from parts is also not correct. That would be if you did a complete scratch build.

A car built from scratch (no kit) to look like a replica vehicle is an “Assembled From
Parts” vehicle and titled as such (see Procedure TL-43 for additional information).

It does look like it would be "Replica and Kit Car" now. Replica would be a Superformance or BackDraft. But since we build ours from a kit, but is is not a re-body of another car, it is in the both categories. Since there is a kit, assembled form parts is not correct.

You need to make sure you can reasonably guide them to the right outcome by pointing out the correct statements before you go in. I would have the appropriate sections highlighted.

Avalanche is SO SPOT ON! I havent dealt with a FFR yet but I went through the same thing with a ORV I had in Florida. If you know and understand the rules and guidelines better than the folks at the DMV, you will get it done. Yes its a PITA to research and research but in the end it is worth it. Do your Homework, have the forms prepped and use the ole' jedi mind tricks to guide the DMV clerks where you want them go with your paperwork. Good Luck everyone

[Tampa33Build]

Just spent 2 hours at the Motorist Services Regional Office, 5701 E. Hillsborough Ave. Suite #2228, Tampa. Was told by the local DMV they are the only ones in the Tampa area that can perform this type of vehicle registration. This was a preregistration to ensure all the paperwork was correct.
They were at a loss on how to register it. I had it as a “1933 Replica” on the HSMV 84490 in accordance with TL-48 that I had printed out and showed the first individual assisting me. After two hours and 4 different people I was told it had to be registered as a “2020 assembled from parts”. Of coarse the same person that was adamant that it had to be titled as "2020 assembled from parts" stated “Factory Five has been out of business for many years”.
TL-48 states to be registered as a “1933 replica” Factory Five would have to be registered as a car manufacturer which apparently they are not.
So guess I will wait and see if Dave Smith is able to resolve the apparent differences throughout the Florida DMV.
Bummer after waiting 45 days for the appointment.

[cv2065]

I just registered mine in Orlando about 7 weeks ago, and it was literally a 30 minute process. I had a relatively new guy at the window and I didn't say a word as they registered it in the computer. They didn't need to see the car and walked out with tag, registration and it was registered as a 1965 Factory Five. If I were you, I would go to a different office.