A Florida antique license plate is available for a privately owned vehicle that is at least 30 years old and was manufactured after 1945. You apply at a county tax collector or authorized license plate agent with proof of ownership and Florida insurance, and the license tax is a flat $7.50.1Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.0862Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.08
Which Vehicles Qualify
The antique classification is for private-use motor vehicles that are 30 years old or older and were built in a model year after 1945. The vehicle can be operated on Florida streets and highways, and the general antique plate does not require the owner to show that the vehicle is kept only for exhibitions.1Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.086
Antique, Horseless Carriage, or Year-of-Manufacture Plate
Florida offers three related options, and the right one depends on how old the vehicle is.
- Antique plate: for qualifying vehicles built after 1945. Registration can be renewed every six months, every year, or every two years.3Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.07
- Horseless carriage plate: for vehicles manufactured in 1945 or earlier. It is permanent and does not require renewal for as long as the vehicle exists.1Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.086
- Historical Florida plate: owners of vehicles built in 1974 or earlier may apply to use an original plate from the model year, subject to state approval and authentication.1Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.086
Documents You Need
You will need proof of ownership, such as a title, and proof of the Florida insurance coverage the state requires. If the vehicle is being titled in Florida for the first time, a physical inspection of the vehicle identification number is also required, and it must be performed by an authorized verifier such as a law enforcement officer, a licensed motor vehicle dealer, a Florida notary, or a state license inspector.4Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 319.23
The paperwork is submitted on the standard Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration, HSMV form 82040.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Motor Vehicle Registrations – Section: Initial Registrations
Where to Apply and What It Costs
Turn in the application package at a local county tax collector’s office or an authorized license plate agent.6Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.03
The $225 initial registration fee that usually applies to a new plate is waived for ancient or antique automobiles and trucks used privately. The license tax on an antique automobile is a flat $7.50.7Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.0722Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.08
Driving and Renewing
A standard antique plate lets you use the vehicle for general purposes on public roads. Renewal is flexible: every six months, every year, or every two years, whichever you prefer.3Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.07
One boundary to be aware of. Certain historical motor vehicles, such as former military vehicles, are restricted by statute to parades, exhibitions, and other public displays, so the general driving allowance for antique plates does not extend to those categories.1Florida Senate. Florida Statute § 320.086