Military Extension Card – Florida

The Military Extension Card, described in Technical Advisory DL19-005 dated 04/23/2019 from the Division of Motorist Services, is a card that extends the current Florida driver license of an active duty military member stationed outside Florida, or of a dependent, at no charge.

The advisory explains why the card exists. Beginning January 2018, the Department stopped renewing driver licenses for out-of-state or out-of-country military members and their dependents who are ineligible for a convenience (online or mail-in) renewal. The Military Extension card is the alternative: it extends the current license for 90 days after discharge, return to the state to reside, or the later issuance of a Florida credential at a state or tax collector service center in Florida. The card is carried together with the Florida driver license and the active duty military identification card.

The advisory is not the application itself. The military affidavit/application that certifies active duty status is found on the Department's webpage for military members, https://www.flhsmv.gov/military/. The advisory also points to section LIP01.7.5 of the Driver License Operation Manual (License Issuance Procedure, Non-Commercial Driver License) for further details.

It does not apply to Commercial Driver License holders, who are ineligible for military extensions.

Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces who hold a Florida driver license, are stationed outside Florida and cannot use a convenience (online or mail-in) renewal can request a Military Extension Card. Their dependent(s) can request one as well: the advisory says the active duty member or their dependent(s) complete the military affidavit/application.

Conditions that apply:

• The applicant certifies active duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed outside Florida.
• A copy of the member's current military orders must be provided.
• The extension is for non-commercial licenses. Commercial Driver License holders are ineligible and must renew in person at a state or tax collector service center.

Military members who are in Florida or whose license can be renewed by convenience renewal are not the group this advisory addresses. The advisory states no other eligibility rule for the card.

Request the card while you are out of state on active duty and your Florida license cannot be renewed by convenience (online or mail-in) renewal. The advisory sets no calendar deadline for the request and gives no processing time.

Once issued, the card stays valid until the first of these events:

• you have been discharged from the military for 90 days;
• you return to Florida to reside;
• a Florida credential is issued to you.

When the military member returns to Florida and applies for a renewal, delinquent renewal fees are waived. REAL ID documents must be presented if the customer is not REAL ID compliant.

The completed military affidavit/application is sent to the Bureau of Credentialing Services by e-mail, fax or mail; the advisory says all requests must go to the Department by one of these methods.

• E-Mail: [email protected]
• Fax: (850) 617-5034
• Mail: Bureau of Credentialing Services, 2900 Apalachee Parkway – MS 92, Tallahassee, FL 32399

Include a copy of the member's current military orders with the application. The application is on the Department's military webpage, https://www.flhsmv.gov/military/. The Bureau has a military liaison specialist who handles military-related driver license and motor vehicle inquiries, communicates with military officials about the documentation needed and, when necessary, handles processing and distribution of the extension cards. No fee applies to the card, according to the advisory. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.