Green Vehicle Laws and Regulations in Florida

Florida's green driver laws benefit all FL residents, even though some regulations only apply to drivers of electric cars, hybrid vehicles, or other fuel-efficient vehicles.

Eco-friendly laws might evolve as Florida increasingly pays more attention to environmental issues, unlike its general traffic laws which rarely change. Keep pace by also consulting your local Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) branch and the Alternative Fuels Data Center.

For more info on saving time and money as an FL green-minded driver, consult our Florida Green Driver Incentives page.

Florida Green Vehicle Registration and Emissions

To operate any vehicle on Florida roadways, residents must register their vehicles (electric, hybrid, and otherwise) through the FL Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles. However at this time, the State does not require smog and emissions testing, yet allows for an HOV lane exemption for inherently low emissions vehicles (ILEVs) and hybrids that are certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult our FL Green Driver Incentives and Florida Smog and Emissions Testing pages for more.

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)

You cannot legally stop, stand, or park your vehicle in a parking space that Florida has designated for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) if it is not capable of using electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). For more on this, refer to Florida Statutes 366.94.

Florida Low-Speed Vehicle Roadway Access

By law, low-speed vehicles have limited access to Florida roadways. Read on for more details.

What is a Low-Speed Electric Vehicle (EV)?

Florida defines a low-speed vehicle as any four-wheel vehicle capable of topping out at speeds between 20 and 25 miles per hour (mph). This includes neighborhood electric vehicles.

Rules for Operating Your Low-Speed Vehicle

In order to legally operate your low-speed vehicle or neighborhood electric vehicle in Florida, you must:

Florida Auto Insurance Regulation for Electric Vehicles (EVs)

If you drive an electric vehicle (EV), double check that your auto insurance provider has not imposed any surcharges based on the following:

  • New technology.
  • Passenger payload.
  • Weight-to-horsepower ratio.
  • Types of material used in manufacturing your EV.

Unless the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation obtains actuarial data justifying such surcharges, your auto insurance company may not add these to your premium. For more info, contact the FL Office of Insurance or refer to Florida Statutes 627.06535.

Authorization for Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Incentives

You might be able to take advantage of loans, grants, or rebates as a residential or commercial property owner to install electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and/or fueling infrastructure for the following types of fuel:

  • Liquefied petroleum gas (propane).
  • Compressed natural gas.
  • Liquefied natural gas.

The funding comes from the infrastructure surtax charged by local governments. For more on this, check out House Bill 579, 2013 and Florida Statutes 206.9951, 212.055.

DMV.ORG BBB Business Review