Moving to Florida: what is different for newcomers

Most first steps are the same in every U.S. state, and our first 30 days checklist covers them. A few things work differently in Florida, and it helps to know them early.

Your license has a 30-day deadline. As a new Florida resident, you must get a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency to drive on Florida roads, says the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) (FLHSMV). FLHSMV may consider you a resident once you start a job, enroll your children in public school or have lived in Florida for more than six months in a row, among other things (FLHSMV). The knowledge exam for a car license is available in English only (FLHSMV). Documents, the first-time driver course and each step: Florida driver license and ID.

There is no personal income tax. The Florida Department of Revenue says Florida does not impose a personal income tax, so individuals have no Florida income tax return to file (Florida Department of Revenue). For federal income tax, the department points you to the IRS (Florida Department of Revenue). How state taxes work: state income taxes.

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. That is the Atlantic season, and Ready.gov says storm surge has historically been the leading cause of hurricane deaths in the U.S. (Ready.gov). The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) asks residents to check every year whether they live in an evacuation zone, using its Know Your Zone map (FDEM). Zone A is generally the most vulnerable and the most likely to be evacuated first (FDEM). If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and local officials tell you to leave, Ready.gov says to do so immediately (Ready.gov). Make your plan with our emergency preparedness guide.

Flood insurance is a separate policy. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage (FloodSmart). FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers two types of coverage, for the building and for its contents (FloodSmart), and insures property owners, renters and businesses (FEMA). A new NFIP policy typically has a 30-day waiting period (FEMA), so FDEM warns that waiting until a storm threatens your home may be too late (FDEM). Renting? See renting your first apartment.