Should you buy a car in Florida? The math for Canadians (2026)

Updated October 11, 2026 · Driving in Florida · By the Escale Floride editorial team (how we work)

Short answer For a stay of one or two months, renting or driving your own car down is almost always simpler. Buying a car in Florida starts to make sense mainly if you spend several months there every winter, for several years, and have somewhere to keep it. It's a real commitment, though: Florida registration, insurance all year (or turning in the plate), storage, and the risk of buying a flood-damaged car.

Leave without forgetting anything: the 2026 checklist (65+ items) and its Excel calculator for OHIP, RAMQ and IRS days. See the checklist ($9)

Rent, drive down or buy: the 3 options

Option	Best for	Main costs	Watch out for
Rent locally	Stays of a few weeks	US$40 to $90 a day, often US$1,200 to $2,000 a month in high season	Your credit card insurance is often limited to 31 or 48 days; rental-company toll plans
Drive your own car down	Stays of 1 to 6 months	About $700 to $1,400 each way (gas, hotel, meals, wear)	2 to 3 days on the road; Florida insurance rules after 90 days; I-94 or registration for 30+ days without NEXUS
Buy in Florida	Several months a year, several winters	Car price + sales tax + registration fees + insurance + storage	Continuous insurance while the plate is active; resale; flood damage

The first two options are covered in fly or drive: the comparison and driving your car to Florida.

How much does a car bought in Florida cost?

On top of the car's price, budget for these (in US dollars):

Item	Amount	Note
Florida sales tax	6% of the price	Plus the county surtax (often 1%, for example in Broward and Miami-Dade), charged only on the first $5,000
Dealer fee	About $910 on average	No cap in Florida; the dealer only has to disclose it
Initial registration fee	$225	One time, when you first register in Florida (if you have no Florida plate to transfer)
Title	$85.25 (used car)	Plus $2.50 if you want a paper title
License plate	$28	One time
Annual registration	$14.50 to $32.50	Based on weight, plus local fees
Insurance	Depends on the insurer and your profile	Required continuously while the plate is active (see below)

Example: a US$15,000 used car bought from a Broward dealer. Tax: $900 + $50 surtax. Dealer fee: about $900. Registration, title, plate and first year: about $360. Total: about US$2,200 on top of the price, before insurance. Compare that with 3 months of high-season rental: US$3,600 to $6,000, every winter.

So buying can pay off after a few winters. But add insurance all year (or turning in the plate), off-season storage, maintenance and the loss in value when you sell.

The rules to know before you buy

Insurance first. To register a car in Florida, you need a policy from an insurer licensed in Florida: at least US$10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and US$10,000 of property damage liability (PDL). Some insurers may ask for a US licence or charge more: get quotes before you buy.
Canadian ID is enough to register. The county tax collector accepts a passport or a Canadian driver's licence.
Insurance must stay active all year. As long as the plate is active, Florida requires continuous coverage, even if the car isn't driven. To stop insurance over the summer, turn in the plate first at a tax collector's office. Otherwise: suspension and reinstatement fees of up to US$500.
Your Canadian licence is enough to drive in Florida as a visitor. The Florida licence is explained in Canadian or Florida driver's licence.
If you work in Florida or your children attend public school, a Canadian car must be registered in Florida within 10 days.

What about leaving your Canadian car in Florida all year?

A Canadian-registered car enters the US as a temporary import. A non-resident can keep it there for one year at most, for personal use, and can't sell it in the US. After a year, the car would have to meet US standards and duty would apply. Your provincial registration and insurance must also stay valid: ask your insurer, in writing, whether it covers a car parked in the US for months without you.

Bringing a Florida car back to Canada?

It's possible, but rarely worth it for an inexpensive used car:

Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) fee: $325 plus tax; the car must be admissible and its recalls cleared.
6.1% duty if the car wasn't built in North America, a $100 excise tax on air conditioning, and GST or HST.
With current trade tensions, check with the CBSA whether counter-tariffs apply when you import.

5 traps to avoid when buying

Flood damage. After every hurricane, flooded cars come back on the market, sometimes far from Florida. Check the VIN with NICB's free VINCheck tool and the federal vehicle history registry (NMVTIS). Watch for a musty smell, water stains, rust or mud under the carpets. Always have the car inspected by an independent mechanic.
Hidden dealer fees. Ask for the out-the-door price in writing before you go.
The title. Walk away from a title branded salvage, rebuilt or flood. With a private seller, the title must be in their name. FLHSMV's vehicle check tool shows a Florida car's title history.
Paying in US dollars. A US-dollar wire or bank draft costs exchange fees: see paying in US dollars.
Resale. If you stop going to Florida, you'll have to sell it there: a car bought for one or two winters often sells at a loss.

Our method to decide

Count your months in Florida per year and how many winters you plan.
Work out the cost of each option over 3 winters: renting (monthly price × months), driving down (round-trip cost × winters), buying (purchase fees + yearly insurance + storage + estimated loss in value).
If buying only wins after 3 or more winters, ask yourself whether you'll still be going in 3 years.
Before you buy: insurance quotes, a place to keep the car (condo rules matter) and a plan for the plate between seasons.

Key takeaways

One or two months: rent or drive your own car down.
Buying pays mainly for several months a year, several winters in a row.
Purchase costs: 6% tax, dealer fee, $225 initial registration, title and plate.
Active plate = active insurance all year. Turn in the plate before cancelling.
Always check the title and flood history before you buy.

Leave without forgetting anything

The complete checklist: more than 65 items to tick off, from 2 months before you leave until you're back. 8-page PDF, 2026 rules.

See the checklist ($9)

Official sources

General information current as of October 2026. Fees and rules change: check with your county tax collector, your insurer and the CBSA. This is not legal, tax or financial advice.