Welcome Home to South Florida

A New Resident's Guide by The BAAR Group

Congratulations on finding your perfect South Florida home with the expert guidance of Robbi Auerbach and The BAAR Group. Whether you’ve settled in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County, we’re thrilled to welcome you to one of the most vibrant, diverse, and exciting communities in the country.

While your home search and closing went smoothly thanks to our experienced real estate team, the journey doesn’t end at the front door. Settling into a new area comes with its own set of challenges—navigating local services, meeting new neighbors, and discovering everything your new neighborhood has to offer.

That’s why we’ve created the Ultimate South Florida Relocation Resource Guide, your go-to reference for everything you need to get started. From registering your vehicle and setting up utilities to finding the nearest hospital, school district, or cultural attraction, this guide has you covered.

Whether you’ve moved to Coral Springs, Aventura, Parkland, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, or anywhere in between this guide will help you:

Navigate local government services and DMV offices

Locate trusted healthcare providers and hospitals

Explore top-rated schools and family resources

Discover parks, entertainment, and annual events you won't want to miss

Learn about neighborhood hotspots, dining, and local history

Let The BAAR Group help you go beyond the move, get connected, get informed, and live like a local from day one.

The most populous county in Florida, Miami-Dade County is home to 34 incorporated municipalities, cities, towns and villages, as well as to unincorporated communities and neighborhoods.

The City of Miami is the largest municipality, followed by Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Miami Beach, North Miami and Coral Gables. The county's multicultural environment is highlighted by residents from over 121 countries speaking 68 languages.

Oldest Structure The Barnacle

Built 1891

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places 1973

Area: 2,431 Square Miles

Municipalities: 34

2023 Population: 2.69 Million

Number of Parks: 280

Broward County was named for Florida's 19th governor, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, who served from January 3, 1905- January 5, 1909. Prior to his political career, Broward was known across the state for using his steamboat to smuggle guns to Cuban revolutionaries before the start of the Spanish-American War of 1898.

Oldest Structure… Stranahan House

Built 1901

Llisted in the National Register of Historic Places 1973

Area: 1,323 Square Miles

Municipalities: 31

2023 Population: 2 Million

Number of Parks: 50

The first modern-day IBM PC was secretly worked on in Boca Raton under the name “Project Acorn.” The computer was crowned “Machine of the Year” by Time magazine in 1983, overtaking the original cover that was planned to be “Man of the Year” Apple’s Steve Jobs.

Oldest Structure… Jupiter Lighthouse

Opened in 1860

Lighthouse Museum opened in 1973

Area: 2,248 Square Miles

Municipalities: 39

2023 Population: 1.54 Million

Number of Parks: 110

Government & Essential Services

When you move to Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County, Florida law requires that you update your driver license or ID card, register your vehicle, and register to vote within 30 days of establishing residency. This helps ensure you’re compliant with state regulations and able to access essential services in your new community. Taking care of these items early will make your transition smoother and help you start enjoying everything South Florida has to offer.

As you explore our guide, click this icon to return here so you can learn about other items that typically have to be updated within your first 30 days of living in South Florida.

Driver License / ID Card

Register To Vote

Register Your Vehicles

A Florida driver license with a picture of a man on it.

Miami Dade County New Driver License in South Florida

Broward County New Driver License in South Florida

Transferring or Getting a New

Driver License in South Florida

As a new resident of the Sunshine State, you have 30 days once you have established residency to get your Florida driver license or ID card. You may be considered a new resident when you accept employment, engage in a trade, register to vote, enroll a child in a Florida public school, or file for homestead exemption.

When moving to Florida from another state, you must make a reservation for in-person driver license service.

The Class E Knowledge and Driving Skills Exam is waived if you present your valid out-of-state driver license.

A vision test may be required.

Miami-Dade County: (305) 229-6333

Broward County: (954) 357-7000

Palm Beach County: (5 61) 355-2264

Click here to learn about other items that typically must be updated within your first 30 days of living in South Florida.

A vote here sign with an American flag and a check mark

Miami Dade County Register To Vote in South Florida

Register To Vote in South Florida

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA IF:

You are a citizen of the United States of America
You are a Florida resident
You are at least 18 years old
You can pre-register to vote at the age of 16, but you cannot vote until you are 18 years old
You have not been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state
You have not been convicted of a felony, or have been convicted of a felony and had your voting rights restored

Click here to learn about other items that typically must be updated within your first 30 days of living in South Florida

A man with a beard is sitting in a car and smiling.

Miami Dade County Motor Vehicle Registration in South Florida

Motor Vehicle Registration in South Florida

As a new resident of the Sunshine State, you have 30 days once you have established residency to apply for a new vehicle title and registration. You may be considered a new resident when you accept employment, engage in a trade, register to vote, enroll a child in a Florida public school, or file for homestead exemption.

To register a vehicle that was previously titled out-of-state, you will need to make a reservation at a service center. You may be required to bring the following documents & information to your scheduled reservation:

Proof of valid Florida auto insurance
Bring Out-of-state title certificate.
If leased, bring leasing company information.
If you have a lien (financing by monthly payments), bring lienholder name and address
Valid passport or U.S. driver license/ID card

Miami-Dade County: (305) 375-5448

Broward County: (954) 357-7000

Palm Beach County: (561) 355-2264

Click here to learn about other items that typically must be updated within your first 30 days of living in South Florida

Community Resources

Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties

Welcome to Your New Home in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County

Congratulations on your recent home purchase! At The BAAR Group, we know that buying a home is just the beginning. The real journey starts when you begin settling into your new neighborhood and making South Florida your own.

As trusted real estate professionals who live and work in the communities we serve, we’re committed to supporting you beyond the closing table. We’ve created this comprehensive South Florida relocation and community resource guide to make your transition as smooth as possible.

Whether you’re looking to register your vehicle, transfer your driver license, find local schools, healthcare providers, or even the best beaches and events near your new neighborhood—this guide covers it all.

From vibrant cities like Fort Lauderdale and Miami to charming suburbs like Parkland, Plantation, and Coral Springs, we’ll help you connect with essential services and local hotspots, so you feel right at home.