Replace Permit DMV: Lost or Stolen Florida Learner's License

Florida Has No DMV: Start With Your County Tax Collector

Every Florida learner's license replacement runs through a county tax collector office, or a FLHSMV office in the few counties without a tax collector that handles driver licenses. There is no DMV counter to walk into. The document you get is a duplicate of the same credential, not a new permit, which matters for the expiration date and for the 12-month holding period.

Before you do anything, check whether the card is really gone. A learner's license is often left in a parent's car, a backpack, or a school office. If the card turns up, nothing needs to be filed. If it does not, work through the situation and the documents below.

What to Do, Depending on How It Was Lost

For a stolen card, file the report even if the police department will not send an officer. Florida law provides for a replacement without the usual replacement fee when you can show the credential was stolen, and most county offices want the report number or an official document from law enforcement before they apply that. Confirm the county's exact requirement before your appointment, because offices differ on what they accept as proof.

Documents to Bring

Treat this as a full identity transaction, not a quick swap. A duplicate can turn into a longer visit if the record does not line up.

• One primary identity document: a U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or certificate of naturalization or citizenship.
• Proof of your Social Security number: a Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub showing the full number.
• Two proofs of Florida residential address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or lease.
• The police report or case number, if the card was stolen.
• For applicants under 18, the parent or legal guardian who signed the consent form, or a notarized consent if the parent cannot attend.

If your current or previous card was REAL ID compliant, some of this is already on file and the office may not ask for all of it. If it was not, expect to bring documents, because a replacement is also the moment the record gets upgraded.

Online or in Person: Which Replacements Qualify

Some duplicates can be requested online through FLHSMV's MyDMV Portal, which verifies your identity against state records and mails the card. You need the address currently on the license, your date of birth, your Social Security number, and a number from a Florida credential or vehicle record, plus a card for payment.

The online route usually fails for learner's licenses in three situations. The identity check does not match the record, which is common when a teen's address or name has changed since issuance. The card has no REAL ID star. Or the replacement is tied to a theft, which requires an in-person review. In each case the portal will tell you to visit an office, and that is not an error message to work around.

If you are not sure which route applies, call the county tax collector before booking. A two-minute call beats a wasted appointment slot, and many counties now run appointment-only driver license service.

Does a Replacement Change the Expiration Date?

No. A duplicate carries the same expiration date as the original, and it does not restart the learner's license holding period. If your permit was issued in March and you replace it in September, the 12-month clock still runs from March. That is the difference between a replacement and a renewal, and it is the reason never to let a permit lapse on purpose just to get a "fresh" one.

Fees vary by county and by the reason for the replacement, so ask what the total will be when you book. State fees are set separately from any county service charge.

What to Do If the Card Turns Up Later

Keep it. A replacement does not cancel the original in Florida's records, but carrying two credentials invites questions if one is ever checked. Destroy the old card once the new one arrives, and update any place that stores your license number if the replacement changed it.

FAQ

How do I replace a lost Florida learner's license?

Request a duplicate through your county tax collector. If you meet the online eligibility checks you can start it through FLHSMV's MyDMV Portal, but stolen, damaged, and minor-consent replacements usually need an office visit with identity documents.

Is a replacement learner's license free if it was stolen?

Florida law allows a replacement without the usual replacement fee when you can prove the credential was stolen, typically with a police report. The county decides what proof it accepts, so confirm before your appointment.

Can I replace my learner's permit online in Florida?

Sometimes. Online replacement requires that your identity verifies against state records and that the card was REAL ID compliant. If verification fails, or the card was stolen, you will be sent to a county office.

Does a replacement permit expire sooner than the original?

No. The duplicate keeps the original expiration date and the original issue date for purposes of the 12-month learner holding period.

Replace It, Then Keep the Clock Moving

A lost permit is a paperwork problem, not a setback, as long as you replace it before your next appointment or road test. If the replacement visit also surfaces a missing course completion, that is the more common delay: LowestPriceTrafficSchool.com offers the 6-hour DETS course for drivers under 18 and the 4-hour TLSAE course for drivers 18 and older, online, at $29.95 each plus any applicable fees, with completion reported to FLHSMV. One less document to chase at the counter.