1-800-265-3200
81
CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE
If you have acquired another vehicle and transferred your licence plate from your old vehicle to the
new vehicle, a temporary licence plate may be obtained at a Florida tax collector’s office so you may
demonstrate your old vehicle while it is for sale.
Non-residents also are eligible to secure a temporary licence plate for “in-transit” purposes if they
purchase a vehicle in Florida and wish to drive it home. A temporary licence plate may be acquired
through a Florida tax collector’s office or a regional DMV.
Florida state law requires a motor vehicle to be registered within ten days of establishing residency.
To register a vehicle in Florida, submit the original title and proof of insurance to the local county tax
collector or licence plate agency.
The basic registration fee for private use automobiles is determined by weight, and ranges from
$138.45 USD - $211.95 USD. An initial registration fee is also charged of $225 USD.
Texas Licence Plates and Vehicle Registration
Texas motor vehicle registration and titling is conducted primarily in the individual’s county of
residence. By law, processing of most registration and title transactions is conducted by the County
Tax Assessor – Collector’s Office.
When a vehicle is purchased in Texas, the seller should indicate the purchaser’s name and address,
and the odometer reading and certification in the title assignment and then sign both the title and
the title application (Form 130-U). These should be given to the purchaser, along with the registra-
tion receipt.
The purchaser should then go to the county tax assessor-collector office and file the title application
(proof of insurance required). It is recommended the seller accompany the buyer to the tax office
to ensure the title is transferred into the buyer’s name. This will protect the seller from liability for
certain acts by the purchaser.
The title application fee is either $28 USD or $33 USD, depending on the county in which the applica-
tion for title is filed, plus motor vehicle sales tax (6.25%). There will also be a $2.50 USD registration
transfer fee, or possibly a registration fee, if the licence is not current. The transfer must be recorded
within 20 working days or there will be a $10 USD penalty in addition to other fee requirements.
Contact the county tax assessor collector’s office to determine the correct fees as there are additional
requirements provided by law.
If you buy a vehicle from a licensed Texas dealer, the dealer is required to complete all the papers that
are necessary to title and register the vehicle in your name. The dealer must also file them with the
county tax assessor-collector’s office within 20 days of the date the vehicle was purchased.
Mailing Gifts Back to Canada
Mailing gifts to Canada – particularly during the holiday season – can be costly. The value of the gift
(converted into Canadian dollars) will determine what charges, duty and taxes may be payable on
delivery.
The value threshold of a gift, before customs and brokerage service fees become payable, is different
for shipments sent via a private courier company to that sent using the regular government postal
service – Canada Post or United States Postal Service (USPS). An estimate of brokerage service fees,
payable upon delivery of the item in Canada, should be determined in advance when selecting one
shipping method over another. Broker fees are based on the amount of work that must be done by