The short answer
If your car has never had a Florida plate, expect to pay the $225 initial registration fee, a $28 plate fee, a title fee of about $75 to $85, the first year's registration of roughly $28 to $46 for a passenger car, and, if you are buying the car, 6% sales tax plus your county's surtax on the first $5,000.
The one-time fees
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Initial registration fee | $225.00 | The first time a license plate is purchased for the vehicle |
| License plate | $28.00 | When you need a new plate |
| Title, original new | $77.25 | A brand-new vehicle |
| Title, original used | $85.25 | A used vehicle being titled in Florida for the first time |
| Title, transfer | $75.25 | A used vehicle that already has a Florida title |
| Paper title | +$2.50 | Only if a paper title is printed; the fees above are for electronic titles |
| Lien recording | +$2.00 | If the car is financed |
Title amounts are FLHSMV's state fees. County tax collector offices can show slightly different totals; Seminole County, for example, lists a Florida title transfer at $75.75 electronic.
How to avoid the $225
The $225 is charged when a plate is bought for the vehicle for the first time. If you already own a Florida plate from a car you sold or traded, transferring that plate to your new car avoids it. Seminole County lists a plate transfer at $4.60 (electronic) or $9.10 (mailed).
Annual registration (by weight)
FLHSMV publishes the base registration tax by weight; other statutory fees are added on top. Seminole County publishes the full annual totals for passenger cars:
| Car's net weight | FLHSMV base tax | Annual total (Seminole County) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2,499 lbs | $14.50 | $28.10 |
| 2,500 – 3,499 lbs | $22.50 | $36.10 |
| 3,500 lbs and up | $32.50 | $46.10 |
Other counties may add small service charges, so your county's total can differ slightly.
Sales tax and the $5,000 surtax cap
Florida's sales tax is 6%. Most counties add a discretionary sales surtax, but on a motor vehicle it applies only to the first $5,000 of the price. The county is the one where the buyer lives, based on the address on the title or registration.
For calendar year 2026, county surtax rates run from 0% (Citrus and Collier) to 2% (Hamilton). Some large counties:
| County | 2026 surtax | Maximum surtax on a car |
|---|---|---|
| Duval | 1.5% | $75 |
| Hillsborough | 1.5% | $75 |
| Broward | 1% | $50 |
| Miami-Dade | 1% | $50 |
| Orange | 0.5% | $25 |
| Palm Beach | 0.5% | $25 |
Palm Beach changed this year: its 1% surtax was repealed at the end of 2025 and a new 0.5% surtax began January 1, 2026.
Worked example: $20,000 used car, Florida title, new plate
Car weighs 3,000 lbs, buyer lives in a 1% surtax county:
| Initial registration fee | $225.00 |
| License plate | $28.00 |
| Annual registration (2,500 – 3,499 lbs) | $36.10 |
| Title transfer (electronic) | $75.25 |
| Sales tax (6% × $20,000) | $1,200.00 |
| County surtax (1% × first $5,000) | $50.00 |
| Total | $1,614.35 |
Transferring an existing Florida plate instead would remove the $225 and $28 and add the small transfer fee. On renewal the next year, this car would cost only the $36.10 annual registration.
Frequently asked questions
I'm moving to Florida with my car. Do I pay the $225?
Yes, if the car has never had a Florida plate, because the fee is charged the first time a plate is purchased for the vehicle. Ask your county tax collector about any credit for sales tax you already paid in another state; we have not found an official figure to publish for that here.
Why does the surtax only apply to the first $5,000?
That is how Florida law applies the discretionary surtax to motor vehicles. On a $50,000 car in a 1% county, the surtax is still $50.
How do I estimate my own total?
Use our Florida calculator: choose the weight, title type and county surtax, and tick whether you need a new plate.
Run the numbers
General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.