Scooter registration process FL

[tango]

Greetings again gang.

I'm interested in finding out the process of registering a 50cc in the Sunshine State. I visit there pretty often and my last trip was murder since I was dependent on other people to shuttle me around. I figure I would do myself a favour and get a scooter there. I've been trying to find some information all over the net and I've only been somewhat satisfied with what I found.

I'd like to know from the guys around those parts what's the process from purchase to registration? Here's the scenario:

Let's say I find a scooter on Craigslist and I go check it out. I like what I see and I have cash in hand. What's my next set of moves? I do know that a 50cc doesn't require an endorsement on the d/l and doesn't need insurance either (unless one wants to ride without a helmet), but what I am trying to figure out is the process required to get her road legal.

(I'm from Jamaica so our set up different, I would assume).

Thanks for the input guys, really appreciate it.

[Goosey]

www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqmotor.html#27

Go to the very bottom of this page for the links to the information you need that is provided by the DMV florida site. There is a link in the last paragraph to a PDF file with reguirements for registering motorcycles and mopeds.

[jmkjr72]

are you a us resident
do you have a seasonal adress in fl

you will have to take the title to the local dmv
fill out the paper work
it asks for an adress and your socialsecurity number
we travel to fl and have looked into buying a car to leave down ther
our family owns time share there and we were told to bring in our timeshare papers and they would be able to send our paper work to wi
if you are not a citizen and dont have a us adress i dont know what you will need or if they will even do it

[Bong]

Just make sure anything you buy has the MCO/Title or at least a Bill of Sale!!!! If a 50cc requires insurance, registration you NEED this paperwork!!!! Or, you bought a nice lawn ornament no one else wants to buy.

Then again who's to stop ya from riding!!!!

Contact the local DMV because you may need to be a "Resident" in that state to have it registered there. Just my 2 cents. I know nothing about Florida except I would love to ride with an ocean view.

[tango]

@ Goosey: Thanks a lot. I think I had a look at that document but I was (and still am) a bit lost as to the process timeline. Let me describe the Jamaican situation.

1) Purchase motorcycle (ie, hand over cash and get a receipt)
2) Collect registration certificate, certificate of fitness, and title (which must have been signed and stamped at a tax office by the previous owner) from the seller. (Motorcycle cannot be moved legally yet, unless the previous owner allows you to take it to home with his plates/documents/insurance).
3) If the certificate of fitness is still valid, take the documents to the insurance company and get the scoot insured.
4) Take the insurance certificate and the other documents to the tax office and fill out the change of ownership form. Then, pay the required fees for transfer of title and licence plates. If the registration certificate has expired YOU have to pay for the time between the day when it was last registered and the day of new registry. Bummer.
5) With the documents in hand the scoot is now ready for the road.

I am thinking that it would be pretty similar (leaving out the insurance and fitness parts) but I just wanted confirmation.

@ jmkjs72: I'm not a resident, but my girlfriend is. I suppose she could do the paperwork for me then, right? A joint ownership if possible? I do have a temporary address there (hers or my pal's should suffice) so that part is not an issue. Thanks.

@ Bong: I've been paying attention to the sellers who have no title. I would steer clear of them even in Jamaica where I know the system, much less FL where I don't. Thanks.

[Goosey]

Some states are very simular I think. I don,t have the certificate of fitness here in Wisconsin. Here we purchase from seller, you give him money, he gives you the signed title. Doesn,t matter how fit the vehicle is, it can be in pieces in a box. You take the vehicle home, it's yours now if it,s fit or not. From there you can contact your insurance company, it,s insured sight unseen based on vehicle and year, and your driving record. And you mail in the new registration information and title, with payment ( you can go to DMV but most are not open more than a couple days a week around here). Cost under $150 for new title and plates, insurance varies.
That,s Wisconsin though. I don,t have emissions testing, I know several states do.
I,m not sure how you would go about the insurance either, or what,s required for a 50cc in FL. It,s different everywhere.

[motorhead]

I live Orlando and I have titled 5 scooters here.

You don't need insurance on motorcycles or scooters here.

If you buy a scooter that doesn't have a title or MSO you "will not" be able to register it. Period. I don't care what anybody tells you.

As for ownership, before you buy a bike, go to the Tag office in person "not the dmv" and ask the clerk if your jamaican license will be sufficient for you or you and your girlfriend to tag it.

Once you know that you can tag a bike here, then look into getting a bike. You and the seller have to completely fill out the title. no bill of sale is necesairy here, except for pedal mopeds. I repeat, completely fill out the front of the title, don't touch the back unless its an MSO. You will come out paying about $150 - $200 total for the registration process. Its costs $40 to rnew the tag annually.

Welcome to the sunshine scoot state. with a 9-10 month scooting season.

[tango]

Thanks a lot Motorhead. I think you added the icing on the cake that was already fresh out the oven. In fact, you added an entirely new dimension to the whole mix. I'm probably gonna get flamed for this, but I've been seeing a few 50cc cruiser type bikes (marketted by Roketa, I think) that really have my attention. I'm not a cruiser fan, but those knock-offs are far more convincing than the ones that are supposed to look like sport bikes. Anyway, I was also considering getting one of those cruisers, but turned my back on it because I was figuring that I had to get insurance on a cycle that had manual shifting gears. Insurance is the main reason (though there are others) why I'm not interested in a motorcycle. The motorcycle endorsement I can get around because I have a Jamaican d/l. It doesn't have an endorsement either but but I get around that here in Jamaica by maintaining a current learner's licence and putting a red L on the front and rear. I can't get an endorsement with a scooter here anyway. So let me get this clear, I don't need insurance for a 5 speed manually shifted 50cc motorcycle?!?

As for the titling, I would be more than satisfied to have my g/f title it because she has a FL licence. She won't ride it so it'll be in storage for long periods until I visit (STA-BIL here I come!). The prices you are mentioning are pretty much what I was expecting based on what I did manage to decipher from the DMV site.

Thanks again brother. Do me a favour if you can. When next you pass by the title office, could you ask the lovely, patient lady behind the window (you know, the one with the mean look on her face that has a sarcastic remark to everything you say...) about a Jamaican registering a bike there? I'd appreciate it lots.

Thanks again!