Buying in Florida, Registering at Home—The Clean, No-Stress Plan
Here’s how to buy a scooter in Florida and register it in your home state without surprises. The short version: decide whether you’ll drive it home on a Florida temporary tag or ship it; make sure sales tax is handled correctly for nonresidents; leave with the right ownership documents; and book your home-state title/registration appointment. When in doubt, confirm details with Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and your home DMV—links below.
Step One: Will You Drive It Home or Ship It?
If you plan to drive it home, Florida can issue temporary tags so you’re legal on the road while you head to your state to title and register. Dealers generally issue 30-day temps through the Electronic Temporary Registration system, and county tax collector offices can issue 10/30/60/90-day tags for specific purposes. Read the state’s temp-tag rules here: FLHSMV Procedure RS-31 (Temporary Tags) and the statute itself: F.S. 320.131. For a plain-English county page: Temporary Tags—Hillsborough Tax Collector.
Driving Home on a Florida Temporary Tag (Dealer vs Private Sale)
Dealer sale to a nonresident: The dealer can issue a 30-day temp tag so you can drive to your home state. You’ll provide ID and, for motorcycles, Florida does not require proof of insurance to issue the temp tag—but you’re still financially responsible on the road, so arrange liability insurance with your carrier before you roll. See the issuance and insurance notes inside RS-31 and the state’s insurance overview: FLHSMV Insurance.
Private (casual) sale: The rules are different. If you buy a vehicle in Florida from a private party who holds a Florida title, the tax collector may issue a temp tag so you can drive it home, provided sales tax is handled (details below). If the private sale involves an out-of-state title, Florida will not issue a temp tag to drive it back—use a trailer, arrange shipping, or obtain a temp from your home state instead. See the FAQs at the end of RS-31 (questions 7–8).
Shipping Instead of Driving? Pack the Right Paper
When a dealer ships your scooter to your home state (common carrier to your driveway or to a freight terminal), keep copies of the Bill of Lading and make sure your ownership documents are complete: a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MSO) for new scooters or a properly assigned title for used units, plus a bill of sale and, when required, a federal odometer disclosure. Florida’s title/ownership documentation is outlined here: FLHSMV—Liens & Titles. The odometer rule changed in 2021—most 2011+ vehicles require disclosure for 20 years: NHTSA Odometer Requirement. If the dealer ships out-of-state, certain sales can be tax-exempt with a Bill of Lading; see FLHSMV TL-08 (tax section).
Sales Tax for Nonresidents (The DR-123 Form)
Florida allows a partial sales tax exemption when a nonresident purchases a vehicle in Florida for titling/registering at home. In practice, Florida collects your home state’s rate (capped at Florida’s 6% state rate), and you complete the DR-123 Affidavit promising to license the vehicle in your state within 45 days. Dealers use this at the point of sale; private-sale buyers bring it to the tax collector if seeking a temp. Start with the current Department of Revenue guidance: TIP 25A01-01 (Jan 31, 2025) and the form itself: DR-123 Affidavit. FLHSMV procedure also covers how the partial exemption and temp tags tie together: see TL-08.
What Your Home DMV Will Ask For
Once home, you’ll title and register the scooter in your state. Expect to bring proof of identity, proof of ownership (MSO or assigned title plus bill of sale), proof of insurance meeting your state’s minimums, and possibly a VIN verification if your state requires it for out-of-state titles. Each state’s rules differ; use this official directory to jump straight to your DMV: USA.gov—State Motor Vehicle Services.
If You’re Riding It Home, Don’t Skip Insurance
Even though Florida doesn’t require motorcycle insurance to register, you’re still financially responsible on the road. Get a binder or add the scooter to your policy before taking possession, especially if you’ll cross multiple states on a temp tag. Review Florida’s insurance basics here: FLHSMV Insurance, and confirm your own state’s minimum liability limits via USA.gov DMV directory.
Dealer Paperwork, Clean Exit
With a licensed Florida dealer, most out-of-state buyers leave with a 30-day temp tag and a packet containing the MSO or endorsed title, a bill of sale, and tax paperwork (including a completed DR-123). Dealers issue temp tags through Florida’s ETR system and remit the $2 tag fee, while tax collectors can issue different durations for specific scenarios. Details live in RS-31 (see durations and sales-tax requirements).
Private-Party Walkthrough, Without the “Uh-Oh”
Meeting a private seller? If the title is a Florida title, you can handle the transfer at a county tax collector office and, if you’re driving it home, ask about a temp tag after sales tax is handled; if the title is from another state, Florida won’t issue a temp tag to drive it home—arrange shipping, bring a trailer, or seek a temp from your home state. This exact distinction is spelled out in RS-31 FAQs (questions 7–8). To keep ownership tidy, FLHSMV recommends completing private transfers at a county office: Paper Titles—FLHSMV.
Plain-English Disclaimer
This page is general information for scooter buyers, not legal or tax advice. Rules and tax rates change; always confirm with FLHSMV, the Florida Department of Revenue, and your home DMV before you ride away.
