8 Weeks Before Moving to Florida
Start the process early — Florida movers get booked out significantly during peak season (November–April, when snowbirds and retirees make most moves). Key tasks eight weeks out:
- Get binding quotes from three licensed movers (request USDOT number verification)
- Begin Florida property search if not already complete
- Notify your current state's DMV of your planned move date
- Research Florida homeowners insurance quotes — Florida's market is complex, and this process often takes longer than expected
- Create an inventory of valuables for insurance documentation
6 Weeks Before Moving
- Book your Florida moving company and confirm with a deposit
- Notify utilities (electric, gas, water) of disconnect date at current home
- Contact Florida utilities to set up service start date (FPL, Duke Energy, TECO, etc.)
- Begin the homeowners insurance application process — expect 2–4 weeks for quotes and binding in Florida's market
- Contact Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) about converting your driver's license — required within 30 days of establishing residency
4 Weeks Before Moving
- Schedule transfer of medical records from current doctors to Florida providers
- Research Florida doctors, dentists, and specialists in your area (especially for Medicare-age movers)
- Begin decluttering — donate or sell items not worth moving to Florida (furniture sized for different floor plans, items that don't suit Florida's climate/lifestyle)
- Purchase additional insurance coverage for high-value items being transported (jewelry, art, instruments)
- Arrange temporary storage if there's a gap between your move-out and move-in dates
2 Weeks Before Moving
- File a USPS change of address
- Notify banks, credit cards, investment accounts of new address
- Schedule school transfers if applicable (Florida has specific enrollment procedures — contact the county school district in advance)
- Confirm all moving details with your mover: dates, times, addresses, access codes
- Arrange pet transport and verify any animal health certificate requirements
Florida-Specific Tasks After Arrival
Within 30 days of establishing Florida residency:
- Florida driver's license: Required within 30 days. Bring: out-of-state license, Social Security card, two proofs of Florida residential address, and proof of citizenship/legal status. Visit a DHSMV office (appointments recommended at GoRenew.com).
- Vehicle registration: Florida vehicle registration is also required within 30 days. Bring title, current registration, insurance card showing Florida coverage, and payment for fees (varies by county).
- Voter registration: Recommend doing at the DHSMV office when getting your license.
Florida Homestead Exemption — Critical Tax Benefit
If you own your Florida home and it's your primary residence, you're eligible for the Florida Homestead Exemption — a $50,000 reduction in assessed value (saving typically $800–$1,200/year in property taxes). File by March 1 of the tax year following your move. File at your county property appraiser's office or online. You must have been a Florida resident on January 1 of the tax year. Don't miss this deadline — filing after March 1 delays your exemption by a full year.
Vehicle Insurance in Florida
Florida requires minimum auto insurance: $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 Property Damage Liability. Importantly, Florida does NOT require bodily injury liability coverage — a relic of the no-fault system that means drivers can be seriously underinsured. Recommended coverage: $100,000/$300,000 BI coverage minimum, plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the US — 20%+).
What Out-of-State Movers Commonly Forget
Florida items that commonly require replacement or addition after moving: window treatments (Florida sun is intense and most homes need UV-blocking shades or film), pool service contract if purchasing a home with a pool, pest control contract (FL requires ongoing pest monitoring in most homes), hurricane supplies before June 1, and AC filter subscription (monthly changes are needed in Florida — most northerners are accustomed to quarterly).