Driver License
Getting a driver license in Broward County starts with identifying the right transaction: a first Florida license, renewal, replacement, address or name change, commercial credential, or license status question. This article explains where to go, which official online services may be available, what documents to prepare, and which common mix-ups can delay a visit.
Which Office Handles Driver Licenses?
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) maintains the state driver license system. Its Broward County driver license service centers handle licenses, identification cards, reinstatements, and written and skills exams. The Broward County Tax Collector driver license page explains local documentation and online renewal requirements, while the FLHSMV Broward County locations page identifies offices and the services assigned to them.
Choose an office by its service type, not simply by distance. The FLHSMV listing separates driver license service centers from motor vehicle offices that handle such matters as registrations, titles, and license plates. A motor vehicle only location is not the place to visit for a driver license transaction. The Broward listing identifies Lauderdale Lakes, Margate, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines, and Pompano Citi Centre as driver license locations. It also marks Margate, Pembroke Pines, and Pompano Citi Centre for CDL HazMat services. Review the location listing before visiting because office services and appointment arrangements can differ.
Online Transactions and Office Visits
Some existing Florida credential holders can renew, replace a lost or stolen card, or update an address through the official MyDMV Portal. Eligibility depends on the transaction and the information FLHSMV has on file. The Tax Collector’s online renewal criteria say the current license or REAL ID must have been renewed in person, the current license must be REAL ID compliant, and there must be no stop, hold, or other violation on the license. FLHSMV describes online convenience renewal as available every other renewal period.
An office visit is required for a first Florida driver license or ID card, a credential that is not REAL ID compliant, a name change, a new photo, a commercial driver license, or a license marked “TEMPORARY.” A person who used online convenience renewal last time must also renew in an office. For the full distinction between online and in-office service, see FLHSMV’s renewal and replacement instructions.
Documents for a Florida License
Florida’s REAL ID compliant licenses and ID cards have a star in the upper right corner. If you are applying for your first credential, your current card lacks the star, or your legal name has changed since your last issuance, plan to visit an office with documents establishing your identity, Social Security number, and Florida residential address. FLHSMV’s What to Bring instructions organize acceptable documents by citizenship or immigration status. Original or certified documents are generally required; an ordinary photocopy is not a substitute unless specifically authorized.
Identity and Social Security Proof
For a U.S. citizen, examples of identity documents include a valid U.S. passport or passport card, a government-issued certified U.S. birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship. A lawful permanent resident must present a valid Permanent Resident Card as proof of lawful presence. The document must establish the full legal name to be placed on the credential.
Examples of Social Security number proof include a Social Security card, W-2, pay stub showing the full number, SSA-1099, or non-handwritten 1099. The name on the Social Security record must match the name intended for the Florida license or ID card. If the names differ after a legal change, update the Social Security record before applying for the changed credential.
Two Florida Address Documents
Applicants must provide two documents showing their Florida residential address. Depending on the transaction, accepted examples include a residential lease, mortgage statement, deed, Florida vehicle registration or title, property tax bill, recent pay stub, insurance document, or government correspondence. Some examples have date limits: the Tax Collector’s instructions specify utility bills and bank or credit card statements dated within the last 60 days for several application types.
Match the documents to your particular transaction and credential type before going to an office. If you lack two approved address documents in your own name for a Class E license or ID card, you may be able to use a Certification of Address with qualifying documents from the person named on the address proof. That form cannot be used for a Commercial Learner Permit or Commercial Driver License.
Legal Name Changes
If your identity document shows a different name from your current legal name, bring the original or certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that establishes the change. Documents must connect the name on the identity record to the name requested on the credential. Multiple name changes may require multiple documents if the final document does not show the full connection.
Name changes on a Florida driver license are completed in person. FLHSMV says to update your name with the Social Security Administration first and allow 24 to 48 hours after that update before changing the name on your Florida credential. A marriage certificate or court order brought to the license office does not replace the Social Security update.
First Licenses for New Residents
A new Florida resident who drives on Florida roads must obtain a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency. FLHSMV identifies circumstances that may establish residency, including starting work in Florida, enrolling children in Florida public schools, registering to vote, filing for a Florida homestead exemption, or living in the state for more than six consecutive months. Its new resident instructions explain the in-person application and related requirements.
Apply at an office offering driver license services. A new applicant receives a vision test and may be eligible for a Florida license without a written or road test. Bring the identity, Social Security, and Florida address documents that apply to your status, along with documents connecting any legal name changes. Do not assume that an out-of-state license by itself satisfies Florida’s documentation requirements.
A driver license application and a vehicle title or registration transaction are separate. The FLHSMV Broward locations page directs driver license applicants to driver license service centers and vehicle transactions to motor vehicle service centers. If you need both after moving, identify the office and requirements for each transaction before visiting.
Renewals and Replacement Cards
Florida driver licenses and ID cards generally renew every eight years; the expiration date appears on the card. A driver license may be renewed up to 18 months before expiration, while an ID card may be renewed up to 12 months before expiration. A replacement can be requested before expiration when a card is lost or stolen or when information on it needs updating.
MyDMV Portal offers eligible customers an online renewal or replacement. FLHSMV must be able to verify the customer’s Social Security number for an online renewal or replacement; otherwise, the customer must follow up with the Social Security Administration. FLHSMV says customers using the portal should receive the credential by mail within two to three weeks. The portal states that most transactions include a nonrefundable $2 convenience fee and that an order cannot be canceled once placed.
If online service is unavailable for your transaction, an FLHSMV driver license service center can handle an in-person renewal or replacement. A new photo, legal name change, first Florida issuance, commercial license, or missing REAL ID documentation calls for an office visit. Check the document requirements for the reason you are replacing the card; an address change, for example, calls for proof of the new residential address.
Address Changes and Deadlines
Florida driver license and ID card holders must update their address within 30 days of moving. Eligible customers can change a driver license or ID card address and obtain a replacement credential through MyDMV Portal. Others must visit a driver license service center. Bring your current Florida license or ID card and two approved documents showing the new Florida residential address for an in-person change.
Do not confuse a driver license address update with a registration, title, or license plate transaction. The FLHSMV Broward directory directs driver license address changes to a driver license service center or MyDMV Portal, while motor vehicle address transactions are associated with motor vehicle services. If your identity information has changed or FLHSMV does not already have the necessary REAL ID documents, additional identification documents may be required when changing your address.
License Status and Holds
Before attempting an online renewal, a driver with a possible stop, hold, or violation can use the official Driver License Check. The public check asks for a Florida driver license number, with or without hyphens, and the displayed security code. FLHSMV also describes its driver license system as a way to review certain items connected to a license, including driver status.
A status inquiry and a renewal are different transactions. If the check identifies a suspension or another issue, follow the requirements associated with that issue before assuming a renewal will be available. FLHSMV states that reinstatement requirements vary with the reason for a suspension or revocation. The Broward locations listing separately identifies a Bureau of Administrative Reviews office in Lauderdale Lakes for formal reviews and hardship license matters; it says the relevant request form may be submitted by email without visiting that office.
Commercial Licenses and Permits
Commercial applicants have requirements beyond those for a standard Class E license. Before applying for a Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) or Commercial Driver License (CDL), an applicant must hold a valid Florida Class E driver license. FLHSMV says CDL applicants must meet vision requirements, be at least 18 years old, and establish Florida residency. Applicants younger than 21 are restricted to intrastate operation.
Commercial Application Documents
A CLP or CDL applicant should prepare acceptable identity and Social Security documents plus two Florida residency documents that meet the commercial requirements. The standard Certification of Address form is not accepted for a CLP or CDL. A lawful presence document, legal name change record, or current out-of-state CDL may also be needed when applicable. The Tax Collector’s driver license instructions distinguish these commercial requirements from the address documentation used for a Class E license.
Most CDL applicants must complete a Department of Transportation physical examination, obtain a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate from a certified medical examiner, and self-certify the type of commercial driving they will perform. Applicants seeking their first Class A or Class B CDL, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or obtaining a first Hazardous Materials, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement are subject to the entry-level driver training requirement described in the Tax Collector’s instructions.
Commercial Testing Sequence
Applicants must pass the required knowledge examinations to obtain a CLP, hold that permit for the federally required period, and complete the CDL skills test before receiving a CDL. Confirm the service offered at the selected Broward location before planning a commercial transaction. The FLHSMV Broward directory specifically marks Margate, Pembroke Pines, and Pompano Citi Centre for CDL HazMat services; that marking should not be treated as a general description of every CDL service at every office.
Exam Language and Current Fees
Effective February 6, 2026, the Broward County Tax Collector states that Florida driver license knowledge and driving exams are administered in English only. Translation devices, interpreters, and other language assistance are not allowed for written or road tests under that policy. Review the testing requirement before arranging an exam, especially if you previously relied on an interpreter.
FLHSMV’s motorist services fee schedule lists $48 for an original or renewed Class E license, $75 for an original or renewed commercial driver license, $25 for a replacement license, and $7 for an endorsement. It also lists a $10 knowledge retest and $20 skills retest. An additional $6.25 service fee may apply to a credential issued in a tax collector office. The fee schedule distinguishes these charges from the online portal’s convenience fee, so consider the transaction and service channel when reviewing the amount due.
Driver License Office Locations
FLHSMV Lauderdale Lakes Driver License Service Center — 3718-3 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33311. 954-497-1570.
FLHSMV Margate Driver License Service Center — 1135 Banks Road, Margate, FL 33063. 954-497-1570.
FLHSMV Sunrise Driver License Service Center — 3511 N. Pine Island Road, Sunrise, FL 33351. 954-497-1570.
FLHSMV Pembroke Pines Driver License Service Center — 8001 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, FL 33025. 954-497-1570.
FLHSMV Pompano Citi Centre Driver License Service Center — 1955 Federal Hwy, Unit J209, Pompano Beach, FL 33062. 954-497-1570.
Bureau of Administrative Reviews, Lauderdale Lakes — 3718-3 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33311. 954-677-5800.
Driver License FAQs
My replacement license never arrived. What should I do?
If you ordered through MyDMV Portal, allow the two to three weeks FLHSMV says delivery usually takes. If the card still has not arrived, use the FLHSMV driver license service portal and choose the option for a license that was never received. The portal has separate options depending on whether you also need a temporary driving permit. Select the one that matches your situation so FLHSMV can review the missing card and permit request together.
Why does Driver License Check say “VALID” after I received a notice?
FLHSMV says a “VALID” result can mean it has received the information needed to clear your record. In that situation, you may disregard the earlier notice and print the result from Driver License Check as your latest official FLHSMV receipt. Enter your license number and the security code shown on the page. If the result displays a sanction instead, follow the instructions for that specific issue; a renewal request will not resolve it.
Does a teen need to bring a course certificate to the license office?
FLHSMV says completion of a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course through a registered provider is sent to the department automatically, so a paper completion certificate is not required at the office. Applicants under 18 who are unmarried do need a parent or legal guardian to sign the license application; a stepparent cannot sign unless they have legally adopted the applicant. If a parent or guardian will not be present for an online test proctoring form, FLHSMV says the form must be notarized. Review the official handbook and office preparation instructions before the visit.
What if my immigration documents are close to expiring?
The Broward County Tax Collector says immigration documents generally must remain valid for more than 30 days when you apply. Bring your documents establishing lawful presence and any additional paperwork tied to your status, such as an I-20 for an F-1 or M-1 student or a DS-2019 for a J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor. If you are unsure which records apply, bring all immigration documents you have received from USCIS. FLHSMV may issue a temporary paper credential while it verifies lawful presence; the final credential’s expiration may depend on your authorized period of stay. Check the FLHSMV immigrant document requirements for your circumstances.