FLORIDA · automotive-tech
Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Shop Registration
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — Division of Consumer ServicesScope of Work
Florida Statutes Chapter 559, Part IX (the Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act, §§ 559.901-559.9221) requires every motor vehicle repair shop in Florida to register with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The registration is a facility/business credential rather than an individual technician license. Florida does not license individual automotive technicians. Florida ended its individual Glass and Glazing Contractor license in 2012 and similarly does not license individual mechanics; the shop registration is the only Florida-issued credential that gates the right to operate a repair shop. Source: FDACS Motor Vehicle Repair (https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Motor-Vehicle-Repair) and Fla. Stat. § 559.904 (https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0559/Sections/0559.904.html).
Who Must Register
Any person who, for compensation, engages in the business of motor vehicle repair must register the shop with FDACS before performing repairs. Registration is by location: each separate place of business requires its own registration certificate. Source: Fla. Stat. § 559.904.
Exemptions
No registration application or fee is required for an individual with no employees and no established place of business (the sole-proprietor mobile mechanic exemption). Motor vehicle dealers licensed under Chapter 320 are exempt because the dealer license already covers repair activity. A repair shop with a local municipal or county license is exempt from the biennial state registration fee, where the local ordinance contains standards that the Department determines are at least equal to the requirements of Chapter 559 Part IX. Source: Fla. Stat. § 559.904.
Application and Fee Structure
Applicants submit Form FDACS-10900 (Motor Vehicle Repair Registration Application) with a fee calculated on a per-year basis with biennial renewal. Applicants must list copies of all licenses, permits, and certifications obtained by the applicant or the applicant's employees, and must report the number of employees the applicant employs or intends to employ. Source: Motor Vehicle Repair Registration Application (https://forms.fdacs.gov/10900.pdf).
Registration Certificate
The Department issues each applicant a registration certificate showing the name and address of the motor vehicle repair shop and the registration number for that place of business. The certificate must be displayed at the shop. Source: Fla. Stat. § 559.904.
Renewal
Each registration must be renewed biennially on or before the expiration date of the current registration. A late fee of $25 is assessed for any renewal application received by the Department after the expiration date. Source: Fla. Stat. § 559.904.
Note on Scope
Florida readers seeking an individual auto-tech career path will work under a registered shop. The closest individual-level credential available in Florida is voluntary ASE certification. There is no Florida-issued individual mechanic license.
Verified May 1, 2026 · compiled from public sources, verify current rules with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — Division of Consumer Services before acting