[LARC-CQ] FL license plate renewal - ham callsign

[Russ Delaney]

Great info Ed, thanks for sharing.  Also, the guys on 144.200 SSB in the 
evenings mentioned your name when I was on the other day.
On April 21, 2025 12:57:18 Ed Marchese via CQ <cq at lists.lakelandarc.org> wrote:
> OK. Amateur radio license plate renewal issue resolved. It wasn't easy but 
> I finally got it resolved. (took way too much time.)
>
> I'm happy share the details.
>
>
> I received an actual follow-up phone call from a lady in the Polk County 
> DMV call center. (there is such a place) This is the result of a 45 minute 
> phone call with her trying to get it resolved. She even had difficulty 
> reaching out to her internal contact at DMV HQ Talahassee.
>
> Originally she was quoted $150 for renewal. Talahassee eventually figured 
> out that "something" was wrong with that amount. I'd like to hear how much 
> others have paid.
>
> Here's my experience. Hope it is useful for others.
> 73,
> Ed DE N2TE QRT
>
> ========================
>
>
> ~ The process of renewing an amateur radio license plate at the 10-year 
> mark is NOT the same as normally renewing your vehicle registration during 
> years 2-9 because a "replacement" license plate has to be "ordered". Thus, 
> you can NOT renew online at the 10-year mark. You MUST physically go into a 
> DMV office ... so they tell you on the website. (obviously, not entirely 
> true.)  I guess I got lucky as I was able to pay over the phone with a 
> woman from the Polk County DMV call-center office who called me back. She 
> offered to take care of it on the phone for me. She was a big help, obviously.
>
>
> ~ The registration renewal cost for my pickup truck, based on the vehicle 
> weight, was $98.00.
>   The replacement "ordering fee" was $16.10.
>   The credit card fee was $2.85.
>
>
> ~ After you pay for "renewal" and "ordering", the Polk County DMV local 
> office will mail you an updated "renewal" yellow decal that will display 
> your 2026 renewal status. (5-26 in my case) This renewed 5-26 decal will be 
> placed on the "soon-to-be" discarded license plate that is CURRENTLY on my 
> vehicle.
>
>
>
> ~ In about 8-10 weeks (+/-) you will received a brand spanking new shiny 
> amateur radio license plate from the state office. The new license plate 
> will then replace the existing "old" plate. AND ... in addition to the new 
> plate, they will also include another identical 5-26 yellow decal 
> expiration sticker that will be placed on the new replacement license plate 
> that you will install on your vehicle. Old plate off, new plate on.
>
>
>
> ~ FL DMV does NOT publish this detailed process information on their 
> website for the general public. (I guess it's 'secret' .. LOL)
>
>
> ~ FL DMV does NOT publish the associated costs for the process of renewing 
> and ordering a replacement amateur radio plate.
>
>
>
> ~ Depending on WHO you speak with at DMV you are likely to get a different 
> answer regarding both the process and the costs. (I did.)
>
>
> ~ The DMV agent at the Polk County DMV call-center said that the reason 
> that she had NO IDEA how to do this renewal is because "we don't do a lot 
> of these amateur radio license plates. Therefore we're not familiar with 
> the procedure details and the associate costs.
>
>
>
> ~ It is NOT necessary to fill out another application form to "apply" for a 
> "vanity/personalized" license plate. When I first called early this 
> morning, I was initially told that I had to fill out a whole new form. I 
> filled out NOTHING as this was all done over the phone with the lady who 
> was helping me.
>
>
>
> ~ THEY HAVE NO CLUE.
>
>
>
>
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