FL street legal

Grinch

I just succeeded in getting my cart street legal in FL. It was a great view of our tax dollars at waste. If anyone wants a recap of how it went down with some tips on doing it, respond here an I'll sum it up.

Grinch

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

rifter

Yes please elaborate.

Grinch

Call the tax collectors officce to get the phone number for the compliance office of the HSMV. Most states simply have a DMV, not Florida, that wouldn't be redundant enough. Call the compliance office and have them email you a package of documents. It seems pretty good so far, email, pdfs, pretty modern. Well not so fast. Some of the documents refer to golf carts others are more generic and refer only to vessels, salvaged vehicle and ASPT. Turns out a golf cart is an ASPT vehicle (assembled from parts) but no one seems to know this. The emailed documents have links to other documents that are also necessary. All toghether you'll need a FL form 82040, 84490 and 84491. You also need an Affidavit of cart modified to low speed vehicle. A google search will pull these up fromthe state website. The Affidavit is where you'll want to start. It has a list of the required modifications. Basically, DOT windshield, turn signals, mirrors, brake lights etc. You will need reciepts for each of these items. They need to be in your name, original have the name address and phone number of the seller, the item number and stamped PAID. Yes, stamped. The office I went to failed me the first time because the reciepts were not stamped with a 1950's rubber stamp. They also said that (an I have this in wiriting) that Paypal is not a reciept, it is just a document that states what you purchased, who you purchased it from and how much you paid. This was told to me after a phone call to verify paypal reciepts would be accpted. At least the compliance officer was honest and told me that each officer has their own interpretation; that if you fail with one, reschedule with the same one or you'll get a different answer. The other forms are similar. The 84490 has a place to list all modifications. Make sure you include the part or item number and the name of the seller. I stuck to the one's listed on the affidavit (ie, lift kit, motor upgrade, etc I did not list my second attempt). The paperwork review is in depth and anything you put down, even if not required is a reason to fail. Make sure that the original bill of sale complies with the same rules a reciepts, names, addresses, phone numbers, marked paid. My cart came with headlights and brake lights. Those items, since they aree on the affidavit also needed to be listed on the original bill of sale.

The procedure (after FL called 4 times to reschedule) is simple. You arrive at your appointment time, hand over all you paper work, wait an hour or so while someone in a back room combs through it for any missing item number, date, stamp, etc. Once it is approved the vehicle inspection takes place. This involves walking once around the cart on a trailer and applying the VIN. Then back to the office for another half hour wait while the final paperwork is drwn up. You are required to bring copies of everything and a manila envelope. You are returned one set of copies plus some new papers in your envelope,sealed and signed. You then get insurance (Safeco for me) and take it all to the tax collectors office. The take another hour or so to figure out what to do, make a few calles to Talahassee and then issue you a registration and tag.

I failed the first time because a payal reciept was not allowed, my Plum Quick motor rebuild receipt did not have a serial number for the motor and my $3.95 licence plate holder reciept was not marked PAID. I redid the paperwork, removed the motor (not even required), stamped the plate brakcet reciept paid and wound up buying new seatbelts (the original seller only used paypal).

All in all it was 3 to 4 hours of government employee paper pushing and less than five minutes actually at the golf cart. If the Vin decal was easier to apply, we might have gotten away with 3 minutes at the cart.

ZackMan

Whew! That was a head spin for me. Thanks for sharing. Your preseverance paid off and congratulations!!

rcopeland5

Where in FL are you located??

Grinch

Martin county

sofar-sogood

Im in Palm Beach County. I started the same effort last Oct. and its still ongoing. What a waste of time and $$$. Im about ready to give up. Ive been driving my cart in the neighborhood for over 3 years with no problem... Thought I would get legal but its so difficult. I have NEVER seen such a bureaucratic nightmare.

Grinch

Its not so tought in Palm Beach. Its a lot of red tape that can be waded through. The most important thing is the paperwork. Everything must have names, addresses, phone numbers, price, date, serial number and most important a stamp that says paid. You only need include on the paperwork the items listed by the state (wiper, seatbelts, mirrors etc.). My original bill of sale had to be rewitten to include itemized items already on it like the headlights. The inspection is all about the paperwork.

Grinch

If you need some help just let me know, I'll do what I can to get you through it.

sofar-sogood

Great, I appreciate your offer. I might try it again when I feel like beating my head against the wall for a while. Ill dig out my paperwork and take a look at it to see what I need. Thanks again.