Any thoughts on Florida regulations

BBTC2K · 11-17-2009, 10:20 PM

I am relatively new to the state of Florida, and I am still wanting to do my bus conversion. I am looking for for another bus to convert, and I was wondering if there are any specific things that FL requires...such as Paint, lights, stop sign, plates...anything at all would be really helpful...I knew PA law...but haven't found much on FL, other than there are no inspections here...lol

I would appreciate any help...

Shawn

bikeforthelight · 11-19-2009, 11:03 AM

Hey there shawn. Welcome to the sunshine state. where are you at? i am in lakeland. i just spent some time at the tag office and talked with a supervisor about this. to legally convert it to an rv you have to have at least one of these three things: lp run appliances, some sort of plumbing, or 110 electrical. you cant just stick in an extension cord, it must me a legitimate install, but you only need one outlet. all you have to do is make you own affidavit up and sign it stating you did that and take it with the title to the tax collectors office and they will change the title to rv. so easy huh?

bikeforthelight · 11-19-2009, 06:08 PM

i am just swapping out a tag from the old rv. not sure on the cost. i probably should have asked haha. but i am delivering the old rv to the new owner this weekend and pulling the old tag off of it for the bus. its a vanity plate for my organization so i want to keep her.

kamoo · 11-19-2009, 06:21 PM

In Florida before they will change the title but you have to get it weighed after the conversio and provide a print out from the scale. They say that Florida will not give temp tags but they did give me one after I asked them how I would drive the bus to the scale without a plate. As said above, you have to sign an affidavit for the conversion and there is no inspection, at least when I did it. When I tried to get a temp tag for my new bus and told her it was going to be converted she said I might have to have it inspected but still no temp tag to transport.

bikeforthelight · 11-20-2009, 12:57 AM

the sup at the office told me i didnt have to get it weighed. when was it they made you do that? maybe it changed. i asked specifically if i would have to weigh it to get the new title and transfer the tag and they told me no. just wondering.

Redbear · 11-20-2009, 06:19 AM

Quote:

The only thing otherwise I have been told on other projects is keep receipts.

This is not only useful for registration, but it helps determine value if someone hits you, causes a fire, etc.

A while back, we had a rebuilt engine installed in my wife's 14-year old 4x4. She wrecked it in an accident that was the other driver's fault. The cost of the engine was almost 3x the current book value for a total loss, but after a couple of letters their insurer paid us what the receipts showed we had put into it.

BBTC2K · 11-20-2009, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the info...thats very interesting...do you still have to paint it different in FL? and I really thought about making the rear school bus lights into brake and turn signal bulbs...much dimmer, of course...

Shawn

kamoo · 11-20-2009, 10:17 PM

I just went through it in September and am about to do it to my other bus. You dont register it for a max weight like you would a CMV. When you change the title to the RV, the net weight changes from its original on the title which is why they make you weigh it. The toughest thing I had was finding someone at the DMV that actually knew how to change the title and what was actually required.
In Florida you do have to change the color and cover/change the red lights.

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