Florida’s Yellow License Plate Sticker May Soon Be History

MIAMI-DADE — A long overdue fix to Florida’s vehicle registration system is officially moving forward, and it begins with the end of the yellow license plate sticker as we know it.

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez’s proposal to eliminate Florida’s outdated yellow registration decal is advancing following the formal filing of companion legislation in the Florida House and Senate. The legislation would remove the physical peel and stick sticker while keeping every registration and renewal requirement fully intact.

The message is simple. The yellow sticker has outlived its purpose.

Law enforcement already verifies registration instantly through secure, real time digital systems used statewide. The physical sticker adds cost, delay, and opportunity for fraud without providing any meaningful public safety benefit.

“This proposal grew out of what we see every day in the Tax Collector’s Office,” said Fernandez. “The yellow decal creates unnecessary costs, delays, and opportunities for fraud without improving compliance. Registration is already verified digitally in real time. Eliminating the decal modernizes the system, protects taxpayers, and allows government to operate more efficiently without compromising public safety.”

For drivers, the sticker is a recurring nuisance. It fades, peels, gets stolen, or goes missing, forcing residents to pay replacement fees and wait for mailed stickers. For counties, it means ongoing costs tied to printing, mailing, inventory management, and fraud mitigation. Those costs would disappear under the proposed reform.

Ending the yellow sticker  benefits

• Real savings by eliminating recurring production and mailing costs that add up to millions statewide
• Less fraud and theft by removing a commonly stolen and misused item
• A better customer experience by allowing drivers to renew without managing a fragile sticker
• Modern enforcement that relies on digital verification already trusted by law enforcement

Several states have already moved away from physical registration decals without disruption, relying entirely on electronic verification systems.

“I’m grateful to Representative Fabricio and Senator Rodriguez for filing this legislation and carrying this idea forward,” Fernandez said. “This is a strong example of how local operational experience can inform state policy and deliver real savings and better service for Florida residents.”

The Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office will continue working with state lawmakers, fellow tax collectors, and law enforcement partners as the legislation advances.

If approved, the legislation would take effect July 1, 2026.