By Gay Cororaton, MIAMI REALTORS Chief Economist
Key Takeaways
- Out-of-state driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County are 22% higher in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019.
- Out-of-state driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County rose 1% from one year ago, bucking the overall decline in Florida driver license exchanges (-5%).
- Colombia regains top spot for foreign driver license exchanges as the surge in driver license exchanges from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua waned.
Access the 2025 Q2 Southeast Florida Driver License Exchanges Report HERE.
Driver licenses issued by other states and exchanged for a Florida driver license in Miami-Dade County remain elevated in the first half of 2025 compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to Miami Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI) analysis of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data.
New residents must exchange their out-of-state license for a Florida driver’s license within 30 days after establishing residency to drive on Florida’s roads. Driver license exchanges are an indicator of inbound migration.
Out-of-state driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic
In the first half of 2025, there were 10,451 out-of-state driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County, up 22% from the level in the first half of 2019 (8,575).
Driver license exchanges issued in the first half of 2025 are significantly higher than the level in the same period in 2019 for driver licenses issued in the largest feeder states of New York (2,010; +33%), California (1,245; +30%), Texas (1,028; +16%), New Jersey (825, +27%), and Illinois (452, +32%).
Out-of-state driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County up 1% from one year ago while state-wide driver license exchanges fell 5%
Compared to one year ago, driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County were 1% higher due to an increase in driver licenses from California (+1.9%), Texas (+13.6%), and New Jersey (+3.8%) that offset the decrease in driver licenses from New York (-1.5%).
Driver license exchanges continue to normalize from the pandemic-induced surge. Driver license exchanges in all Florida counties fell in the first half of 2025 from one year ago (-5.0%), including in Broward County (-14%), Palm Beach County (-7.4%), Martin County (-9.2%), and St. Lucie County (-4.5%).
Colombia regains top spot for foreign driver license exchanges
In Miami-Dade County, Colombia regained the top spot, with 1,524 driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County. Colombia regained the top spot as driver licenses from Cuba fell to 1,432 (7,245 one year ago).
In Broward County, Colombia was also the top country of origin, with 1,078 driver license exchanges. Colombia rose to the top spot as driver license exchanges from Haiti fell to 467 (2,479 one year ago).
In Palm Beach, Brazil was the top country of foreign driver license exchanges, with 343 exchanges. Brazil rose to the top spot (Colombia was second) as driver license exchanges from Haiti fell to 288 (1,385 one year ago).
The declines in driver license exchanges from Cuba and Haiti are not likely to have a significant dent on foreign buyer home purchases as movers from these countries tend to rent rather than buy a home. According to the MIAMI Realtors® 2024 Profile of International Homebuyer Transactions, the top foreign buyers are Argentina (18% market share), Colombia (14%), Canada (8%), Brazil (6%), Mexico (6%), and Venezuela (5%).
