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Florida Transporter and Dealer Plates: How They Work and the Insurance You Need
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Dealer plates and transporter plates both let a business move vehicles that are not registered to a customer, so people often treat them as interchangeable, but Florida issues them under different statutes, to different kinds of businesses, for different uses, and the insurance proof the state asks for is different too. The insurance behind the vehicle, the driver and the trip also has to fit how the plate is actually used.
FLHSMV and your county tax collector or license plate agency decide plate eligibility and issuance. Our role is the insurance side: we can review how your business uses plates and help you compare coverage options that fit that use. The carrier decides eligibility, terms and price after underwriting.
Dealer plates vs. transporter plates at a glance
- Florida statute: dealer plates are issued under s. 320.13, and transporter plates under s. 320.133.
- Who they are for: dealer plates go to licensed motor vehicle dealers and certain other dealer types. Transporter plates go to a business that, incidental to its business, transports vehicles that are not currently registered and have no plate.
- Vehicles they may be used on: dealer plates go on dealer-owned vehicles in inventory and for sale, or operated in connection with the dealer's business. Transporter plates go on any motor vehicle in the transporter's possession while it is being transported in the course of the business.
- Insurance proof: the dealer license requires garage liability evidence (or general liability plus business auto for non-franchise dealers) under s. 320.27. A transporter plate requires proof of liability coverage of $100,000 or more.
- Not valid for: dealer plates are not valid for use for hire, on tow trucks or wreckers unless being demonstrated for sale, or on a vehicle used to transport another vehicle for the dealer. Transporter plates are limited to transporting in the course of the business.
- Plate period: transporter plates run 12 months, January 1 through December 31. For dealer plates, confirm the period with your tax collector.
What Florida law says about dealer plates
Section 320.13, Florida Statutes, lets a licensed motor vehicle dealer, after paying the license tax, secure one or more dealer license plates. The statute says those plates are valid on motor vehicles owned by the dealer while the vehicles are in inventory and for sale, or while being operated in connection with the dealer's business. The same sentence says they are not valid for use for hire.
Two limits catch dealers off guard. First, a dealer plate may not be used on a tow truck or wrecker unless that truck is being demonstrated for sale. Second, a dealer plate may not be used on a vehicle used to transport another motor vehicle for the dealer. A pickup and trailer or a car carrier that hauls the dealership's inventory to and from auctions generally needs its own registration, and it should be scheduled on a commercial auto policy as its own unit.
Heavy truck dealers have a narrower rule. Their dealer plates are for in-state demonstration of heavy trucks in inventory, for no more than 24 hours at a time, validated on a department form that must stay in the vehicle.
Who cannot use dealer plates
A dealer license does not automatically come with dealer plates. According to the FLHSMV dealer FAQ, wholesale dealers are not allowed to use dealer plates, and a dealer that deals exclusively in mobile homes does not get the benefit of dealer plates either. If you hold a salvage, auction or other specialty license, confirm with FLHSMV before assuming plates are available to you.
Dealer plates also should not be treated as a household tag. The statute ties the plate to dealer-owned vehicles and to operation connected with the dealer's business. A family member's daily driver, a car loaned to a friend for the weekend, or a vehicle used to carry passengers or goods for pay raises questions under the plate law and under the insurance policy. If vehicles go home with owners, managers or salespeople, tell your agent who, how often and why, so the driver list and the policy's use provisions can be reviewed.
What Florida law says about transporter plates
Section 320.133 authorizes FLHSMV to issue a transporter license plate to an applicant who, incidental to the conduct of its business, transports motor vehicles that are not currently registered to any owner and do not have license plates. The applicant pays the license tax for each plate and must show proof of liability insurance coverage in the amount of $100,000 or more.
Once issued, the plate is valid on any motor vehicle in the transporter's possession while that vehicle is being transported in the course of the transporter's business. The plate is a distinctive color with the word "transporter" in place of the county name. It runs for 12 months, January 1 through December 31, and the license tax is not refunded for an unused part of the year, so the timing of a mid-year application matters.
Businesses that ask about transporter plates may include operations that shuttle unregistered vehicles between ports, auctions, reconditioning shops, body shops and dealer lots. The issuing office decides whether your specific business qualifies.
How to apply for each plate
For a transporter plate, FLHSMV Form 83065 (Application for Transporter License Plate) is filed at your local county tax collector's office or license plate agency. The form lists what goes with it: the application, proof of insurance, a copy of your business tax receipt and the fees. The applicant also certifies that the plate will only be used on a vehicle in the business's possession while it is being transported in the course of the business.
For dealer plates, the dealer license comes first. Once FLHSMV licenses the dealership, plates are obtained by paying the license tax under s. 320.13 through the plate issuing office. Our dealer license guide walks through the license, bond and insurance steps.
See also: How to Get a Car Dealer License
Insurance: what the state asks for vs. what the operation needs
The state sets the minimum insurance for each plate type. What your business actually does may need more, so we check both.
Dealer plates
A Florida dealer license application must include evidence of a garage liability policy, or, for dealers other than franchise dealers, a general liability policy coupled with a business auto policy, with at least $25,000 combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage and $10,000 of personal injury protection (s. 320.27(3)). That amount is only the minimum for licensing. One test-drive crash with injuries can exceed a minimum limit quickly, and lenders, floor plan providers and auctions may ask for higher limits. Confirm any contract requirement with the other party and review the policy.
The questions that shape a dealer policy are practical: who is allowed to drive plated vehicles, whether customers test-drive alone or with an employee, whether vehicles go home overnight, whether you move inventory between lots, and whether you also repair, detail or store vehicles for others.
Transporter plates
The statute asks for proof of liability coverage of $100,000 or more. What needs checking is which vehicles your policy treats as covered autos. A vehicle on a transporter plate is usually not owned by your business and is not on your vehicle schedule. Depending on the policy form, covered auto symbols and endorsements, liability for driving that vehicle may or may not apply the way you expect, so ask your agent to walk through the wording before the first trip.
Damage to the vehicle being moved is a separate issue. Auto liability generally responds to injury or damage to others. Damage to a customer's vehicle in your care may call for garagekeepers or a similar coverage, and whether that applies while the vehicle is being driven on the road depends on the form and its exclusions.
See also: Garage Liability Insurance · Garagekeepers Insurance · Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance
Scenarios that show where gaps appear
For example, if a salesperson takes a plated inventory car home and is rear-ended on a Saturday errand, the claim may be reviewed against both the plate rule (was the car being operated in connection with the business?) and the policy's driver and use provisions.
If a customer test-drives alone on a dealer plate and causes a crash, the carrier may look at whether the customer's own auto policy applies and how your garage policy treats customers as drivers. The answer depends on the policy form and Florida law, which is one reason a written test-drive procedure matters.
If a transporter driver moves an unregistered vehicle from a port lot to a reconditioning shop and strikes a guardrail, the guardrail damage may be reviewed under liability, while damage to the vehicle itself may be reviewed under garagekeepers or a physical damage coverage, if the policy includes one.
If a dealer puts a dealer plate on its own car carrier to haul inventory, s. 320.13 says the plate is not valid for that use, and a claim could raise registration questions on top of coverage questions.
How to reduce risk when you use plates
- Keep a plate log with plate number, vehicle, driver, date, purpose and return time.
- Store plates in a locked place with limited key access, and report a lost or stolen plate promptly to the issuing office and law enforcement.
- Copy and check the driver license of every test-drive customer, and use a written route and time limit.
- Keep a current list of employees authorized to drive plated vehicles, and send it to your agent when it changes.
- Do not let plates follow vehicles off the lot for personal errands or for any use for hire.
- Keep proof of insurance in plated vehicles and keep your certificates current for each license period.
What to gather before we review your plate operation
- Dealer license number and type, or your business tax receipt if you are applying for transporter plates.
- How many dealer or transporter plates you hold or plan to request, and who controls them.
- Names, dates of birth and license numbers for everyone who drives plated vehicles.
- Owned vehicles used in the business, including trucks, trailers and car carriers.
- Your written test-drive and overnight-use procedures.
- Typical routes, radius of operation and how many vehicles you move each month.
- Current policy declarations and at least five years of claims history, if available.
- Any limits required by a lender, floor plan provider, auction or customer contract.
See also: Florida Commercial Auto Quote Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you drive with a transporter plate in Florida?
Yes, but only within the use the statute describes. Under s. 320.133, the plate is valid on a motor vehicle in the transporter's possession while it is being transported in the course of the transporter's business. It is not a general-purpose tag for errands or for vehicles that already have their own registration.
Can a dealer plate be used for personal use?
Section 320.13 makes dealer plates valid on dealer-owned vehicles in inventory and for sale, or while operated in connection with the dealer's business, and not valid for use for hire. Use with no connection to the business falls outside that description. If anyone takes plated vehicles home, confirm the practice with FLHSMV and describe it to your agent so the driver and use provisions of the policy can be reviewed.
Do dealer plates come with insurance?
No. The plate is a registration item, not a policy. The dealership carries its own insurance, and the dealer license application requires evidence of garage liability (or, for non-franchise dealers, general liability with a business auto policy) that meets the minimums in s. 320.27(3).
How much insurance do you need for a transporter plate?
Florida law asks for proof of liability insurance coverage of $100,000 or more to get a transporter plate. The limit your operation should carry depends on what you move, how far, how often and on any contract requirements, so review limits with your agent.
How long is a Florida transporter plate valid?
Section 320.133 says a transporter plate is valid for 12 months, January 1 through December 31, and the license tax is not refunded for any unexpired part of the period. For dealer plate renewal timing, check with your county tax collector or license plate agency.
Can a wholesale dealer get dealer plates?
According to the FLHSMV dealer FAQ, wholesale dealers are not allowed to use dealer plates. Dealers that deal exclusively in mobile homes also do not get the benefit of dealer plates.
Can I put a dealer plate on my tow truck or car hauler?
Section 320.13 says dealer plates may not be used on a tow truck or wrecker unless it is being demonstrated for sale, and may not be used on a vehicle used to transport another motor vehicle for the dealer. Those trucks generally need their own registration and should be listed on a commercial auto policy.
What does "dealer" or "transporter" on a Florida plate mean?
It identifies a plate issued for a specific business use. A transporter plate shows the word "transporter" in place of the county name. Neither plate means that any driver or any trip is automatically permitted or insured.
This guide is general information, not legal advice or a coverage decision. Your policy’s terms, limits, deductibles and exclusions control what is covered, and coverage, eligibility and price are set by the insurer after underwriting.
About the Author
Raymundo Guzman
I’m Raymundo Guzman, an independent insurance agent and the owner of Covered by Guzman. I help business owners across Tampa Bay and central Florida find commercial auto, general liability, workers’ compensation, and related business coverage that matches how they actually operate, comparing options across the carriers available to me rather than selling one company’s product.
Independent Insurance Agent · License #W512374 | NPN #18906048 · 813-302-7151
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