How to surrender your Florida driver's license
You can surrender your Florida driver's license in person at any Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) office, by mail, or online through the DHSMV website. The fastest method is in-person surrender at your nearest office — you hand over your license, get a receipt, and you're done the same day. If you choose to mail it, send your license to the DHSMV address listed on their website along with a signed letter stating you want to surrender it; keep a copy of the letter for your records. Online surrender is available through the DHSMV portal if you have a Florida driver's license number and date of birth.
You do not need an appointment to surrender your license in person, but you do need to bring your current license. If your license is lost or stolen, you can still surrender it — just tell the clerk at the office or mention it in your letter if you're mailing. There is no fee to surrender a license.
Key Takeaways
- You can surrender your Florida license in person at any DHSMV office without an appointment, by mail with a signed letter, or online through the DHSMV website.
- In-person surrender takes minutes and gives you an when ready receipt; mail surrender takes one to two weeks for processing.
- You do not need to pay a fee, and you do not need to provide a reason for surrendering your license.
- If your license is lost or stolen, you can still surrender it by reporting the loss to the clerk or mentioning it in your mailed letter.
- After surrender, you cannot drive legally in Florida or any other state until you obtain a new license from another state or reapply to Florida.
Why you might surrender your Florida license
People surrender their licenses for different reasons. You might be moving out of state and want to get a license from your new state instead. You might have a suspended or revoked license and want to formally end your driving privileges rather than wait for the suspension to expire. You might be aging out of driving and want to stop renewing. Or you might be facing a legal situation where surrendering the license voluntarily looks better than waiting for the state to take action.
Surrendering your license does not erase your driving record or any violations, suspensions, or revocations on it. If your license is suspended or revoked, surrendering it does not clear the suspension or revocation — it just means you no longer hold an active license. If you later want to drive again in Florida, you will have to go through the reinstatement process, which may include paying reinstatement fees, taking a test, or meeting other requirements depending on why your license was suspended or revoked.
Surrendering in person at a DHSMV office
Walk into any Florida DHSMV office during business hours with your current driver's license. Tell the clerk you want to surrender it. They will take your license, process the surrender, and give you a receipt showing the date and time of surrender. Keep this receipt — it proves you no longer hold a valid Florida license. The whole process takes about five to ten minutes.
You do not need to make an appointment, bring any other documents, or explain why you're surrendering. If your license is damaged, expired, or lost, tell the clerk. If it's lost, they will note that in the system. If it's damaged or expired, they will take it anyway. DHSMV offices are open Monday through Friday during standard business hours; some locations have extended hours or Saturday hours. You can find your nearest office and its hours on the DHSMV website.
Surrendering by mail
Put your license in an envelope with a signed letter stating that you want to surrender your Florida driver's license. Include your name, date of birth, and driver's license number in the letter. Address the envelope to the DHSMV address shown on their website — this address changes depending on which region you're in, so check the site before you mail. Do not send cash or a check; there is no fee. Keep a photocopy of your letter and the envelope for your records in case questions come up later.
Mail surrender takes one to two weeks for the DHSMV to process and update their system. During that time, your license is technically still valid until the surrender is recorded. If you need proof that you've surrendered it before the processing is complete, bring your photocopy of the letter to a DHSMV office and ask for a receipt. Once processed, you will not receive a confirmation letter — the surrender is straightforward recorded in the system.
Surrendering online through the DHSMV portal
Visit the DHSMV website and log into the online services portal using your Florida driver's license number and date of birth. Navigate to the license surrender option and follow the prompts. You will confirm your identity and your intention to surrender. Once submitted, the surrender is recorded when ready in the DHSMV system, and you will receive a confirmation number on screen — save or print this number as proof of surrender.
Online surrender is the fastest method if you have access to a computer and your license information. There is no fee, and you do not have to visit an office or wait for mail processing. However, you will still need to physically destroy or dispose of your license card yourself — the online process does not collect the physical card. Some people choose to cut their license in half and throw it away; others keep it as a record. The important part is that the surrender is recorded in the state system, which is what matters legally.
What happens after you surrender your license
Once your surrender is processed and recorded in the DHSMV system, you are no longer a licensed driver in Florida. You cannot legally drive a car, motorcycle, or any other motor vehicle in Florida. If you drive after surrendering, you are driving without a valid license, which is a criminal offense in Florida.
Your driving record does not disappear. Any violations, accidents, suspensions, or revocations remain on your record. If you want to drive again in Florida later, you will have to reapply for a license and may face additional requirements or fees depending on your history. If you're moving to another state, you can obtain a license there, but that state may check your Florida driving record and may impose restrictions or higher fees based on what they find.
If you surrendered your license because it was suspended or revoked, surrendering does not end the suspension or revocation. The suspension or revocation remains active in the system. If you try to get a license from another state, that state may discover the Florida suspension and refuse to issue you a license, or it may issue one with restrictions. The rules vary by state.
If your license is lost, stolen, or damaged
If your license is lost or stolen and you want to surrender it anyway, you can still do so. In person, tell the clerk that your license is lost or stolen; they will note this in the system and process the surrender without the physical card. By mail, mention in your letter that the license is lost or stolen. Online, you may not be able to complete the surrender if the system requires you to confirm details on the card itself — if this happens, go in person or call the DHSMV to ask how to proceed.
If your license is damaged but you still have it, bring it in person or mail it with your letter. The DHSMV will accept it in any condition. Damage does not prevent surrender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my license back after I surrender it?
Yes, but you will have to reapply and pay the process fee. You will also have to pass the written test and vision test again. If your license was suspended or revoked, you may have to pay reinstatement fees and meet other requirements before you can reapply. The process takes several weeks.
Do I have to surrender my license if it's suspended?
No. Suspension is temporary, and your license will become valid again once the suspension period ends and you meet any reinstatement requirements. Surrendering is optional and is usually done only if you do not plan to drive again or want to formally end your privileges before the suspension expires.
What if I move out of state after surrendering my Florida license?
You can get a license from your new state. That state will check your driving record, including the Florida surrender and any suspensions or violations. Some states will issue you a license anyway; others may impose restrictions or require additional steps. Check with your new state's motor vehicle department before you move.
Is there a fee to surrender my license?
No. Surrender is free whether you do it in person, by mail, or online. You do not pay anything to the DHSMV.
Will surrendering my license clear my driving record?
No. Your driving record, including all violations, accidents, and suspensions, stays on file. Surrendering only removes your active license status. The record remains and can affect your ability to get a license in Florida or another state in the future.