Florida Dealer License Renewal— FLHSMV, Bond, CE & Form HSMV 86720
FLHSMV does not run one universal dealer renewal cycle the way some states do. Your deadline, fee, and required documents depend on the license class you hold. This page walks Florida dealers through every class's renewal calendar, the bond continuation process, the 8-hour CE requirement for VI dealers under Fla. Stat. §320.27(4)(b), and the late and reinstatement consequences when something slips.
Renewal Deadlines by License Class
Florida's dealer license system uses class codes (VF, VI, VW, VA, EH, SD, MH, RV) and each has its own statutory renewal date under Florida's motor vehicle dealer statute. The single biggest mistake Florida dealers make at renewal time is assuming the deadline is the same as last year's — or the same as a friend's. The producer has reviewed the current statute language to keep this calendar accurate. Pull your license and match it to the table below before doing anything else.
| Class | License Type | Renewal Deadline | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| VF | Franchise / New Motor Vehicle | December 31 (annually) | 1-year |
| VI | Independent / Used Motor Vehicle | April 30 (annually) | 1-year |
| VW | Wholesale Motor Vehicle | April 30 (annually) | 1-year |
| VA / EH | Auction / Auto Exchange | April 30 (annually) | 1-year |
| SD | Salvage Motor Vehicle Dealer | April 30 (annually) | 1-year |
| MH | Mobile Home Dealer | Begins October 1 (1- or 2-yr term) | 1 or 2-year |
| RV | Recreational Vehicle Dealer | Begins October 1 (1- or 2-yr term) | 1 or 2-year |
New to Florida dealing instead of renewing? See how to get licensed in Florida for the initial application path.
Renewal Fees by Class
The renewal fee itself is modest. The real costs in a Florida renewal are the bond continuation premium, garage liability renewal, and (for VI dealers) the continuing education course. Plan for those in your renewal budget alongside the FLHSMV filing fee below. Dealers operating around the Caribbean export market in Fort Lauderdale commonly bundle MH and VI renewal cycles to consolidate paperwork.
| License / Status | FLHSMV Fee | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VF, VI, VW, VA, EH, SD | $75 | Annual | Form HSMV 86720 renewal |
| MH / RV — 1-year | $100 | 1 year | Term begins October 1 |
| MH / RV — 2-year | $200 | 2 years | Term begins October 1 |
| Any class — late | +$100 | Within 45 days of expiration | Delinquent fee added to base fee |
| Any class — past 45 days | $300+ | License has expired | Full new application required |
Renewing on Form HSMV 86720 at least 30 days before expiration is the cleanest path. Late filing within 45 days is recoverable; past 45 days, the license is gone and a new application is required at $300 plus the full initial-licensing checklist.
Required Documents for Renewal
Florida renewal is a document-completeness review. Form HSMV 86720 is the cover sheet, but the bond continuation, garage liability COI, and CE certificate are what FLHSMV actually checks. Missing any one of these will pause the renewal until you resubmit, which is why so many dealers end up in the 1-45-day late window with a $100 delinquent fee they didn't budget for. Our Form HSMV 86020 line-by-line walkthrough also covers the continuation-versus-replacement distinction, especially for dealers running JAXPORT military vehicle redistribution who often switch sureties mid-term.
Form HSMV 86720
The Florida dealer license renewal application itself. Confirms ownership, business address, supplemental locations, and class code. Submit at least 30 days before expiration to the FLHSMV regional office serving your county.
Bond Continuation Certificate
One-page certificate from your surety extending the existing dealer bond ($25,000 for VI/VF, $5,000 for VW, applicable amount for MH/RV) into the next license term. Must be received before expiration so coverage is unbroken.
Garage Liability COI
For VI, VF, VW, and VA classes: $25,000 combined single limit plus $10,000 personal injury protection, certificate holder listed as FLHSMV. Coverage dates must cover the entire renewal term — not a 30-day binder.
CE Certificate (VI Dealers Only)
Dated certificate from a FLHSMV-approved provider showing 8 hours completed in the breakdown required by §320.27(4)(b): 1 hr FLHSMV issues, 2 hrs legal/legislative, 5 hrs industry. Required every 2 years.
Updated Supplemental Locations
If you opened, closed, or relocated any supplemental sales location during the prior term, include updated supplemental license filings. Mismatch between FLHSMV records and operating locations is a common renewal hold.
Updated Officers / Owners List
Any new partner, corporate officer, or material change in ownership must be disclosed and processed before renewal. New principals are subject to the same background check requirements as original applicants.
Continuing Education: 8 Hours Every 2 Years (VI Dealers)
Independent (VI) motor vehicle dealers in Florida are required to complete 8 hours of continuing education every two years under Fla. Stat. §320.27(4)(b). The course must come from a FLHSMV-approved provider, and the 8 hours have a fixed internal breakdown — you cannot pick 8 hours of any topic and call it done.
CE applies in your renewal year only when it falls on the 2-year mark of your prior CE completion. Many VI dealers schedule CE early in year one of the cycle, file the certificate with FLHSMV, and then renew normally for two cycles before doing it again. Procrastinating until renewal week is the most common reason VI renewals stall — approved providers book out, certificate formats vary, and a non-approved course does not count.
Franchise (VF), wholesale (VW), auction (VA), salvage (SD), mobile home (MH), and recreational vehicle (RV) dealers are not subject to the VI 8-hour rule. If you hold a VI plus another class, the VI obligation governs the renewal of that VI license.
See our Florida dealer education course guide for approved providers and the pre-licensing course (different from the CE renewal course).
The 8-Hour Breakdown (§320.27(4)(b))
- 1 hourFLHSMV issues and rule changes affecting dealers
- 2 hoursLegal and legislative updates (state and federal)
- 5 hoursIndustry topics — sales practice, titling, consumer protection, recordkeeping
- Total: 8 hoursEvery 2 years, from a FLHSMV-approved provider, certificate kept on file with FLHSMV
Bond Continuation: How It Works
A continuation certificate is the standard way Florida dealers renew the bond requirement without buying a new bond. It is the cleanest path — same surety, same bond number, same underwriting, no gap in coverage.
Continuation Certificate (most common)
Your surety issues a one-page continuation certificate extending the existing $25,000 motor vehicle dealer bond (or $5,000 wholesale, or the applicable mobile home or recreational vehicle amount) into the next license term. The bond number does not change. The continuation is filed directly with FLHSMV and attached to your Form HSMV 86720 submission.
Premium is billed automatically by your surety 30-60 days before the bond term ends. If your credit improved over the prior license term, ask whether you qualify for a re-rate at continuation — small reductions on the same bond are common.
New Bond (when switching sureties)
If you are switching sureties — usually for a better rate, after a service problem, or because the prior surety exited the Florida dealer market — the new carrier issues a fresh bond with a new bond number, effective the same day the old one ends. No gap is allowed. Switching triggers a full new application: credit pull, financial review, indemnity from each owner.
Start a Florida dealer bond quote if you are shopping for a replacement surety.
Material changes force a re-underwriting either way
Even a continuation can be denied if something material changed during the prior term: new owner, new address, new business entity, new bond claim filed during the prior period. Tell your surety about any of these at least 60 days before bond expiration. Surprises that surface during the continuation process are the single most common cause of an emergency new-bond purchase at renewal time.
Renewal Filing Details
Garage Liability Re-Filing
Florida requires continuous garage liability coverage for VI, VF, VW, and VA dealers — $25,000 combined single limit plus $10,000 personal injury protection. A new certificate of insurance, with FLHSMV listed as certificate holder, must be on file before renewal is approved.
The COI's effective dates must cover the entire renewal term. A 30-day binder is not enough — FLHSMV checks that coverage runs through the end of the renewed license. If your P&C carrier issued a short-term policy, get an updated full-term COI before submitting Form HSMV 86720.
A lapsed garage liability policy is one of the top three causes of a renewal hold. Dealers often discover the lapse only when their renewal is rejected. Verify with your P&C agent 60 days before expiration that the policy is paid, in force, and the COI has been re-issued for the new term.
Detailed coverage requirements at our Florida garage liability insurance page.
Coverage Checklist
- $25,000 combined single limit minimum
- $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP)
- FLHSMV listed as certificate holder
- Effective dates cover full renewal term
- Updated COI received before expiration
- Required for VI, VF, VW, and VA classes
Step-by-Step Renewal Walkthrough
The six steps below cover the full Florida dealer renewal from 90 days out to license-in-hand. Each step assumes the prior one is done — if anything is out of order, fix it before moving on.
Confirm your license class and expiration date
Pull your current dealer license from FLHSMV records. Florida runs separate renewal calendars by class — franchise (VF) dealers expire December 31, independent/used (VI), wholesale (VW), auction (VA/EH), and salvage (SD) dealers expire April 30, and mobile home (MH) and recreational vehicle (RV) dealers run a term that begins October 1 with either a 1- or 2-year option. Knowing your exact class and expiration date is step zero — every other step keys off of it.
Request your bond continuation certificate
Contact your surety at least 60 days before expiration and request a continuation certificate that extends your $25,000 motor vehicle dealer bond (or applicable amount for MH/RV) into the next license term. The surety issues a one-page certificate showing the renewed effective and expiration dates. Continuation keeps the same bond number — there is no lapse in coverage. Learn more on our Florida motor vehicle dealer bond page.
Confirm garage liability insurance is current
VI, VF, VW, and VA dealers must show continuous garage liability coverage of at least $25,000 combined single limit plus $10,000 personal injury protection. Get an updated certificate of insurance from your P&C carrier listing the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as certificate holder. The COI dates must cover the entire renewal term — not just a 30-day binder.
Complete the 8-hour CE requirement (VI dealers only)
Independent (VI) motor vehicle dealers must complete 8 hours of continuing education every 2 years per Fla. Stat. §320.27(4)(b), from a FLHSMV-approved provider. The breakdown is fixed: 1 hour on FLHSMV issues and rule changes, 2 hours on legal and legislative updates, and 5 hours on industry topics. Save the dated certificate of completion — FLHSMV requires it on file for the renewal year.
File Form HSMV 86720 at least 30 days before expiration
Form HSMV 86720 is the Florida dealer license renewal application. Submit the completed form along with your bond continuation certificate, garage liability COI, CE certificate (if VI), and the applicable renewal fee ($75 for MV classes, $100 or $200 for MH/RV). The 30-day-prior submission window gives the regional FLHSMV office time to process without forcing you into the late window.
Confirm renewal approval and update your office documents
Once FLHSMV processes the renewal, you receive an updated license certificate. Post it visibly at the dealership and at every supplemental location. Update your wall postings, dealer plate confirmations, and any temporary tag inventory documentation to reflect the new term. If you operate supplemental locations, each gets its own updated posting.
Renewal Timeline at a Glance
Working backward from the renewal deadline that applies to your license class, here is when each task should be in motion.
| Timing | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days out | Pull your FLHSMV license record; confirm class (VF/VI/VW/VA/SD/MH/RV) and exact expiration date | Recommended |
| 75 days out | For VI dealers in a renewal year: confirm 8 hours of CE are scheduled or complete | Required (VI only) |
| 60 days out | Contact your surety for a bond continuation certificate; confirm garage liability is current | Required |
| 45 days out | Update supplemental locations, officers, owners, and DBA on file if anything changed | Required if changed |
| 30 days out | Submit Form HSMV 86720 with continuation, insurance, CE certificate (VI), and fee to FLHSMV | Required |
| Expiration day | VF = Dec 31, VI/VW/VA/SD = Apr 30, MH/RV term renewal = Oct 1 | Hard deadline |
| 1-45 days late | Renewal still accepted, but a $100 delinquent fee is added; do not sell during the lapse | Penalty window |
| 46+ days late | License is expired — full new dealer application, $300 fee, repeat 8-hr course, new inspection | Forced re-application |
Late, Lapsed, or Reinstating
Florida draws a hard line at 45 days past expiration. Inside that window, you can still recover with a delinquent fee. Outside it, the license is gone and FLHSMV treats you as a new applicant.
1-45 days late
FLHSMV accepts the renewal with a $100 delinquent fee added to the base fee (so $175 for MV classes, $200 or $300 for MH/RV). You are not authorized to sell during the lapse — sales made between expiration and reinstatement can be treated as unlicensed dealer activity and exposes you to consumer claims.
Submit Form HSMV 86720 plus all standard renewal documents plus the $100 delinquent fee at the regional office.
46+ days late = expired
Past 45 days, the license is officially expired and there is no renewal pathway. To return to business you must file a brand-new dealer application: $300 application fee, fresh $25,000 bond, garage liability, all owner background checks, the 8-hour pre-licensing course again, and a new dealership facility inspection.
A 46-day lapse can extend the time you are off the lot by 2-3 months waiting on the new application cycle.
Reinstatement after suspension
If FLHSMV suspended your license (separate from a renewal lapse), reinstatement requires resolving the underlying cause — paying outstanding fines, clearing a bond claim, fixing a facility violation, or completing additional CE. Reinstatement is reviewed case-by-case and can take longer than a normal renewal.
Suspensions often come with a current bond claim attached. Resolve the claim with your surety before requesting reinstatement.
Reinstating After a 45+ Day Lapse
Once 45 days have passed, FLHSMV does not reinstate the prior license — you start over as a new applicant. This is not a paperwork formality. It is a full re-licensing cycle, and it can take 8-12 weeks depending on the regional office and how clean your submission is.
You repeat everything an original applicant submits: the $300 application fee, the 8-hour pre-licensing dealer course (different from the 8-hour CE renewal course), a brand-new $25,000 dealer bond effective on the new license issue date, fresh garage liability, fingerprints, background checks for every owner and officer, and a new dealership facility inspection. Any prior bond claims, suspensions, or consumer complaints carry into the new application file.
During the gap, you cannot legally sell vehicles, hold dealer plates, or issue temporary tags. Any inventory you held before expiration has to be parked. The cost of a 45+ day lapse is rarely just the application fees — it is the lost months of sales, the rebuilding of the bond underwriting relationship, and the friction of starting from scratch on a process you already completed once.
What 46+ Day Reinstatement Requires
- $300 new application fee
- 8-hour FLHSMV pre-licensing course (repeated)
- New $25,000 motor vehicle dealer bond
- Garage liability ($25K CSL + $10K PIP)
- Owner / officer background checks and fingerprints
- New dealership facility inspection
- No sales activity allowed during the gap
Avoiding Common Renewal Denials
Most Florida renewal "denials" are really document holds — FLHSMV pauses the renewal until something is fixed, and the dealer ends up in the late window because of it. The patterns below are the ones we see most often.
Bond continuation not received before expiration
Most common denial cause. Surety did not issue continuation in time, or sent it to the dealer but not directly to FLHSMV. Confirm filing 30 days out.
Garage liability lapsed
P&C carrier dropped coverage, premium not paid, or COI not refreshed before renewal. VI/VF/VW/VA cannot renew without a current $25K CSL + $10K PIP certificate.
CE certificate not on file (VI dealers)
Independent dealer did not complete 8 hours, used a non-approved provider, or completed CE outside the 2-year renewal cycle. Fla. Stat. §320.27(4)(b) is strict on the timing.
Late filing past the 45-day window
Filing 1-45 days late triggers the $100 delinquent fee but is still accepted. After 45 days, the license is expired — renewal is no longer an option.
Ownership or officer changes not disclosed
New partners, sold interests, or new corporate officers must be reported. FLHSMV cross-checks against the original application; undisclosed changes pause renewal.
Outstanding consumer complaints or bond claims
Unresolved DMV complaints, pending bond claims, or DAVID system flags can delay or block renewal pending review by the regional office.
Supplemental location not updated
A second display lot added without a supplemental license filing, or a closed location still on record, triggers a compliance hold during renewal.
Florida Dealer Renewal: Common Questions
Bond continuation, CE, fees, deadlines, and what to do when something goes wrong
When does my Florida dealer license expire?
It depends on your license class. Franchise (VF / new motor vehicle) dealers expire December 31 every year. Independent (VI), wholesale (VW), auction (VA/EH), and salvage (SD) dealers expire April 30 every year. Mobile home (MH) and recreational vehicle (RV) dealers run a term that begins October 1, with the option of a 1-year or 2-year license. Confirm your exact class and expiration on your current license certificate or in your FLHSMV records before you start the renewal process.
How much is the Florida dealer license renewal fee?
Motor vehicle classes (VF, VI, VW, VA, EH, SD) pay a $75 renewal fee per license, filed on Form HSMV 86720. Mobile home and recreational vehicle dealers pay $100 for a 1-year renewal or $200 for a 2-year renewal. If you file within 45 days after expiration, FLHSMV adds a $100 delinquent fee to whichever base fee applies. Past 45 days the license is fully expired, and you cannot renew at all — you must file a new dealer application with the standard $300 application fee plus everything else a new dealer would submit.
Do I need a new bond, or can I continue my existing one?
Most dealers continue the existing bond. Contact your surety at least 60 days before your license expires and request a continuation certificate — this extends the same $25,000 motor vehicle dealer bond (or $5,000 wholesale, or applicable MH/RV amount) into the next license term with the same bond number. Continuation is faster, keeps the same underwriting, and avoids any gap. You only need a new bond if you are switching sureties, if the original surety left the Florida market, or if a material change (new owner, new entity, claim against the prior bond) triggers a re-underwrite. See our Florida motor vehicle dealer bond page for current rates.
How much continuing education does Florida require for dealer renewal?
Independent (VI) motor vehicle dealers must complete 8 hours of continuing education every 2 years from a FLHSMV-approved provider, per Fla. Stat. §320.27(4)(b). The 8 hours break down as 1 hour on FLHSMV issues and rule changes, 2 hours on legal and legislative updates, and 5 hours on industry topics. CE applies in the renewal year that falls on the 2-year mark — not every renewal. Franchise (VF), wholesale (VW), auction (VA), salvage (SD), mobile home (MH), and recreational vehicle (RV) dealers are not subject to the 8-hour VI requirement, though they may have other class-specific obligations.
What happens if I miss the renewal deadline?
There are two outcomes depending on how late you are. Within the first 45 days after expiration, FLHSMV still accepts the renewal — you pay your base fee plus a $100 delinquent fee. You are not authorized to sell or operate during the lapse, but the license itself can be brought current. After 45 days the license is officially expired, and there is no renewal path. To get back in business you must file a brand-new dealer application: $300 application fee, fresh $25,000 bond, garage liability, all owner background checks, the 8-hour pre-licensing course again, and a new dealership facility inspection.
My bond expired but my license is still active — what now?
Treat this as an emergency. Florida statute requires a current bond at all times that the dealer license is in force. If FLHSMV discovers a bond gap, they can suspend or revoke the license even before its scheduled expiration, and any sales made during the gap can be treated as unbonded sales by claimants. Contact a surety the same day, request a replacement bond effective immediately to close the gap, and file it directly with FLHSMV. Document the timeline in writing. The fastest path is a same-day Florida dealer bond — see our Florida motor vehicle dealer bond page.
I sold a partial interest in my dealership — does that affect renewal?
Yes, and you cannot wait until renewal to disclose it. FLHSMV requires updated ownership filings when any officer, owner, partner, or corporate structure changes. The new owner is subject to the same background checks and fingerprinting as an original applicant, and the surety must be told because indemnity changes when the principals change. Disclose ownership changes to FLHSMV and to your surety within the required window — typically 30 days — then handle the renewal normally once the change is on file. Surprises at renewal time are one of the most common reasons VI and VF renewals stall.
Can I renew online, or do I have to mail Form HSMV 86720?
Florida dealer license renewal is primarily handled through your FLHSMV regional office using Form HSMV 86720. Some submissions can be made electronically depending on regional office capability, but the bond continuation certificate, garage liability COI, and CE certificate (for VI dealers) typically have to be submitted in original or scanned form acceptable to that regional office. Confirm the current submission method with the regional office that serves your county before filing — methods have shifted over recent years as FLHSMV continues to digitize. Filing 30 days before expiration gives you a buffer if any document gets bounced for resubmission.
Related Florida Dealer Resources
Bond, garage liability, CE provider list, and the initial licensing path — all from the Florida dealer hub.
Florida Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
$25,000 dealer bond overview and rates
How to Get Licensed in Florida
Initial FLHSMV dealer application walkthrough
Florida Dealer Education Course
Approved providers, pre-license, and CE basics
Florida Garage Liability Insurance
$25K CSL + $10K PIP requirement explained
Florida Auto Dealer Bonds Hub
All Florida dealer bond classes
Auto Dealer Bond Cost
Premium ranges and credit-tier rates
All Auto Dealer Bonds
State-by-state dealer bond requirements
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and verified before publication. BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-certified, A-minimum rated surety carriers serving all 50 states.
Renewing Your Florida Dealer Bond?
Continuation, replacement, or recovering from a bond lapse — one form, same-day quote, FLHSMV-ready document.