Motorists would no longer have to peel and place yellow vehicle registration stickers on their license plates, under a measure filed Friday for the 2026 regular session that begins Jan. 13. The proposal (HB 841 and SB 982) would still require individuals to follow registration and renewal rules.
The measure’s sponsors — Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes, and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral — maintain that doing away with the sticky labels would save money for motorists and county officials. Law enforcement officers already can verify vehicle registration digitally, the legislators noted in a press release. “In an era of real-time digital verification, clinging to physical decals is outdated. This common-sense change reduces burdens on taxpayers, prevents fraud, and streamlines government, exactly what Floridians expect from their leaders,” Rodriguez said in the release. The proposal also would reduce fraud and theft of stolen decals, according to the bill’s sponsors.
“Families should not be forced to wait for mailed stickers, pay replacement fees, or risk theft when technology does the job better,” Fabricio said. Other states have started eliminating registration decals “with zero issues,” according to the release. “Florida families deserve efficient, modern government, not relics from the past,” Fabricio added, calling the elimination of the decals a “slam-dunk for savings and security.”
–News Service of Florida
Ron says
I think this is a perfectly fine idea and cannot think of any reason to not do it.
IDK says
IDK- how would a police officer know to digitally see if a registration is up to date if they can’t visually see an outdated tag sticker? Also, don’t they come in different colors by year, so it makes the visualization of violations even easier? I’d like the police department perspective on this, please.
A Concerned Observer says
Different colors for the stickers would initially sound plausible, but as Floridians can reregister their vehicle for one OR two years, and the reregistration period is 12 or 24 months from the previous years registration it becomes problematic (individual month & year and not simply on January 1st of each year as is with other states). Easier to leave it as is and not cause any more confusion for any possible financial benefit for the state.
R.S. says
I suspect that there will be a considerable number of stops to check and a considerable number of forgetful drivers who’ll miss the renewal date. Either we should do away with the entire system of renewals or leave the system as it is now.
A Concerned Observer says
It seems that some folks just like to hear the sound of their own voice. Just how much money would the state save by eliminating these tiny stickers? Pennies I would be sure. Weighing any minuscule savings against law enforcement no longer able to ascertain the registration status of a moving vehicle quickly become obvious. Hopefully, drivers might occasionally check their stickler when they walk up to their vehicle to remind them to reregister their vehicle but experience dictates otherwise.
Failing to reregister a vehicle comes with a fine. Would you bet anyone receiving a citation for a non-registered car would loudly cry out “Why doesn’t the tax office let me know when my registration must be renewed?” Eliminating these stickers is a really, REALLY dumb idea resulting in far more problems than any financial savings resulting in their demise.
FedUp says
Opinions are like anal cavities. Everybody has one.