Any Florida vehicle owner can order the Support Law Enforcement license plate at their county tax collector’s office; no law enforcement affiliation is required. The plate costs a $20 annual use fee on top of your regular registration, and every dollar of that use fee goes to the Florida Police Benevolent Association Heart Fund, which supports the surviving spouses and children of officers killed in the line of duty.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 320.08058 – Specialty License Plates The plate itself shows a blue-line shield with the PBA logo on the left and “Support Law Enforcement” along the bottom.
What You’ll Pay Each Year
The $20 annual use fee is the specialty charge. On top of that, Florida collects a $5 processing fee that goes to the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, plus the standard license plate fee under Section 320.06(1)(b).2Florida Senate. Florida Code 320.08056 – Specialty License Plates Both the $20 and the $5 are due again at every renewal.
Your base registration tax is separate and depends on vehicle weight. Private automobiles pay $14.50 under 2,500 pounds, $22.50 from 2,500 to 3,499 pounds, and $32.50 at 3,500 pounds or above.3Florida Senate. Florida Code 320.08 – License Taxes If you swap to the Support Law Enforcement plate mid-cycle in place of a current valid plate, you won’t owe the registration tax a second time, but you will owe the applicable fees and service charges.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 320.08056 – Specialty License Plates Some counties tack on a branch fee of around $0.50.
How to Order It
Go to your county tax collector’s office or a license plate agency. Bring:
- Proof of Florida insurance showing personal injury protection and property damage liability coverage (card, policy document, binder, or certificate of insurance)
- Your current registration certificate or renewal notice
- Your existing plate, which you’ll surrender
No special form is required for the standard non-personalized version.4Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Application for Personalized License Plate If your registration is paid up, you’ll walk out with the new plate and current decals. If the plate has to be manufactured and mailed rather than handed over at the counter, keep any temporary registration documentation in the vehicle until the plate arrives.
Adding Personalized Text
You can personalize the plate, but it costs more and takes longer. Personalization adds $15 to the annual fees.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Personalized and Specialty License Plates Because of the shield graphic on the left, you’re limited to five characters with no space or hyphen.4Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Application for Personalized License Plate
Check whether your combination is available using the FLHSMV online plate-check tool before you make the trip.6Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Personalized License Plate Check Then submit HSMV Form 83043 at the tax collector’s office with the same insurance and registration documents. Expect six to eight weeks for manufacturing and delivery, and know that the finished plate ships to your tax collector’s office, not your home.4Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Application for Personalized License Plate
If You Change Vehicles or Want to Give It Up
The plate belongs to you, not the car. Sell your vehicle or buy a new one, and you can transfer the Support Law Enforcement plate to another vehicle registered in your name. You cannot transfer it to a different person.7Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Frequently Asked Questions Bring the plate, your new vehicle’s registration paperwork, and proof of insurance to the tax collector; transfer fees and any difference in registration tax apply.
If you no longer want the plate, surrender it at the tax collector’s office. A plate that stays tied to your name but isn’t on a vehicle can cause problems later if the number shows up in toll or camera systems.
The Ten-Year Replacement Rule
Florida requires every license plate to be physically replaced every ten years under Section 320.06(1)(b).8Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. License Plates and Registration When your Support Law Enforcement plate hits that mark, you’ll get a new one regardless of condition. The replacement cost is built into the license plate fee at renewal, and FLHSMV tracks the issuance date so you’ll be notified when it’s due.
Where Your $20 Actually Goes
Section 320.08058 of the Florida Statutes directs the entire annual use fee to the Florida Police Benevolent Association Heart Fund, Inc., identified in the statute as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 320.08058 – Specialty License Plates The statutory routing means the money can’t be redirected to union administrative costs or general government accounts. The Heart Fund focuses on financial support for the surviving spouses and children of officers killed in the line of duty.
Can You Deduct the $20 on Your Taxes?
Because the use fee flows to a 501(c)(3), the deduction question comes up naturally. The IRS allows deductions for voluntary gifts to qualified organizations when you receive nothing of equal value in return.9Internal Revenue Service. Charitable Contributions You do receive something tangible here, which is the specialty plate itself, and whether the IRS treats the $20 as a charitable contribution rather than a government fee for Florida specialty plates isn’t clearly settled. If you itemize on Schedule A and want to claim it, talk to a tax professional about your specific situation. The deduction only matters if you itemize instead of taking the standard deduction.