Starting this Thursday, registering a vehicle in Florida requires more documents than before, and the change hits thousands of newly arrived Cubans hard.
The SB 488 law, which takes effect on October 1st, establishes that an foreign passport alone is no longer sufficient to complete the vehicle registration process in the state.
Under the previous legislation, it was possible to register a car by presenting only a Cuban passport and using the address of a relative or friend as the residence.
Both options disappear with the new regulation, approved during the 2026 legislative session and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
What documents does the law now require?
The SB 488 requires the applicant to provide two elements: a satisfactory proof of residence for the department, and additionally, one of these three identification documents:
- A valid driver's license or REAL ID identification card issued by Florida or another state.
- A valid and current U.S. passport.
- A valid and current foreign passport accompanied by the current Form I-94 issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The key lies in that third option: the foreign passport only works if accompanied by the I-94. Without that form, the document does not meet the requirement.
Who can and who cannot register their car?
Applicants who hold a valid foreign passport and an unexpired Form I-94 can use both documents as one of the identification options required by law, in addition to providing satisfactory proof of residence for the department. The I-94 can be verified on the official CBP portal.
The situation is more complicated for holders of I-220A, the order of supervised release issued by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
That document is not equivalent to an I-94 and does not, on its own, satisfy any of the three identification options established by law.
Those who only have an I-220A, without a REAL ID, a valid U.S. passport, or a combination of a valid foreign passport and an unexpired I-94, would not meet the identification options established in this section of the law.
It is important to clarify that not having a REAL ID does not automatically exclude anyone: if the applicant has a valid foreign passport accompanied by an unexpired I-94, they can meet the identification requirement, as long as they also provide proof of residence accepted by the department.
The law eliminates the option to use the address of a relative or friend
The second significant change is the removal of the option to use a relative's or friend's address.
Previously, those without a recognizable permanent residence could provide the name and address of a relative or acquaintance residing in Florida. That provision has been removed from the statute.
Now the application must include the physical address of the owner's permanent residence in Florida or that of their permanent place of business.
This especially affects those who are temporarily living with relatives, have recently changed their residence, or do not have documents in their name that reflect their current address.
The law does not specify which documents are accepted as proof of residency; it only requires that they are "satisfactory to the department."
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has historically accepted utility bills dated within the last 60 days, lease agreements, bank statements from the past 90 days, and property tax bills, among others.
Other changes of SB 488
The same law raises the threshold for damages from 500 to 2,000 dollars, above which a driver must notify the Police after an accident without injuries. If there are injuries or fatalities, the obligation to report still applies regardless of the amount.
It also clarifies that decorative frames for plates are legal, as long as they do not cover the alphanumeric number or the registration sticker in the upper right corner.
It also authorizes the FLHSMV to send notifications—including those regarding the revocation or suspension of licenses—via email.
For Cubans in South Florida, the practical advice is to arrive at the tag agency with all documents in order and, if there are any doubts about immigration status and applicable requirements, consult with an immigration attorney before attempting the process.
Este cambio es uno de los muchos que afectan a los cubanos que llegan a Estados Unidos. Sigue todas las novedades sobre leyes, documentos y trámites en nuestra sección de
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