Moving to Lakeland Florida — The Guide
Need help getting settled when moving to Lakeland, Florida? Knowing what to do when you move to Lakeland will help you get properly registered and moved into your new neighborhood quickly and seamlessly.
medium.com/@CentralFloridaNews gathered moving and documentation information and crucial websites, addresses, and phone numbers to help you transition your residence to Lakeland, Florida. Consider the following:
Lakeland Auto Licensing and Registration
Once you have secured your new residence in Lakeland, you should get the following essential documents issued in your name:
Florida Driver’s License or Identification Card
Once you establish residence in Lakeland, you have 30 days to obtain your Florida driver’s license or ID card. Applications for driver’s licenses/ID cards must be made in person (at a local office offering driver’s license services).
Note: A vision test will be administered when applying for a driver’s license. However, you may be eligible to get a license without taking a written or road test.
Fees: Initial documentation fees include (all fees are subject to change):
- $48.00 for Florida Class E license (including learner’s permit)
- $75.00 for a Commercial driver’s license (Class A) and $7.00 for endorsements
- $25.00 for an ID Card
Lakeland Motor Vehicle and Driver License Services
Address — 916 N Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone — (863) 534–4700
Hours — Monday — Friday 8:30 AM — 5:00 PM
(Driver’s License road testing, when required, may be suspended due to inclement weather.)
Appointments are required for all transactions involving issuing, renewing, or replacing Driver’s Licenses or ID Cards and for all Written Exams and Road Tests.
Tip: Some local Tax Collector offices will charge a $6.25 service fee. For more fee details and information, visit flhsmv.gov/fees
Vehicle Registration in Lakeland, Florida
State law mandates all vehicles operating on Florida’s roads must have a valid registration. Vehicles with an out-of-state registration must be registered in Florida within 10 days of the vehicle’s owner establishing residency. Tag registration includes the following 3 (three) components:
- A license plate (tag) attached to the vehicle
- A current decal sticker attached to the tag’s upper right-hand corner
- A current paper registration certificate (must be carried in the vehicle or in the vehicle operator’s possession)
Note: Vehicle registration is valid for one or two years (depending on the registration period selected) and expires on the vehicle’s first owner’s birthday at midnight. The decal sticker displays the expiration month and year of the registration. Tags are valid for ten years; a new tag is issued on the tenth renewal year.
Fees: The state may require a $225 Initial Registration Fee (first-time registration if the owner does not have a Florida tag or a tag record registered in their name for a previously owned vehicle in Florida.
Tip: First-time registration must be obtained in person. Customers must schedule an appointment; click the “make appointment” button to register and title a vehicle in Lakeland at polktaxes.com.
Lakeland Motor Vehicle and Driver License Services
Address — 916 N Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone — (863) 534–4700
Hours — Monday — Friday 8:30 AM — 5:00 PM
Auto Insurance for New Lakeland, Florida, Residents
All new Florida residents must obtain auto insurance coverage from a valid Florida insurance agent and register their vehicle(s), vessel(s), and mobile home(s) within 10 days of establishing residency. You are considered a Florida resident when you:
- Start permanent employment in Florida
- Enroll your child(ren) in a Florida public school
- Register to vote in Florida
- File for homestead tax exemption on a property in Florida
- Live in the state of Florida for more than 6 (six) consecutive months
Note: Proof of Florida insurance is required to secure vehicle registration in Florida, including Personal Injury Protection or PIP (minimum $10,000) and Property Damage Liability or PDL (minimum $10,000).
Tip: Contact your current auto insurance carrier to see if they have licensed representatives in Florida. The process may be as simple as changing your address (policy premiums may increase or decrease depending on multiple factors like your zip code, vehicle usage, etc.).
Lakeland Toll and Commuting Info
There are many strictly monitored toll roads in and around Lakeland. The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) offers convenient payment options to simplify toll road travel. Consider the following options:
- E-PASS, Pay By Plate Toll Invoice, Cash and Paytollo®
- E-PASS and Pay By Plate options (motorists can use any lane where cash customers must follow advance signage directing them to a toll attendant.
For further toll information and payment options, visit cfxway.com/for-travelers/tolls/toll-payment-options
Tip: SunPass is an electronic prepaid toll program operated by Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (under the Florida Transportation Department). As a SunPass customer, you will pay the lowest toll rate in Florida and save an average of 25% on tolls when compared to cash and TOLL-BY-PLATE customers.
Public Transportation in Lakeland, Florida
Citrus Connection provides public transit in Polk County, including all public transportation within the county, including Winter Haven Area Transit, rural routes servicing Bartow, Ft. Meade, and Frostproof. Citrus Connection is operated and provided by the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District.
Citrus Connection Fares, Passes, and Apps
The Citrus Connection mPass mobile ticketing app allows riders to purchase and display tickets on their smartphones. Riders using Citrus Connection’s mobile ticketing app can pay for tickets using a credit or debit card and digital payment services like Masterpass and Apple Pay.
- Apple App Store — Citrus Connection mPass for Apple devices
- Google Play Store — Citrus Connection mPass for Android devices
The app provides single-ride passes, day passes, and monthly passes. A 30-cent processing fee will be charged for each ticket purchase on the app. The Citrus Connection bus fares are as follows (subject to change):
Adults — $1.50
Students — $1.25
Seniors (65 and older) — $0.75
Disabled — $0.75
ADA (Paratransit) — $2.00
ADA (Fixed Route) — Free
Children (Under 7) — Free (Must be accompanied by an adult)
Citrus Connection — Veterans, Elderly, Disabled — This is a one-call/one-click transportation resource center, coordinating with a community transportation service provider network to provide transportation service access for veterans and military families, elderly, and disabled Polk County residents. For transportation to medical, shopping, and social destinations, call (855–765–5287) POLK-BUS or (863) 534–5500.
Citrus Connection — ParaTransit for the Disadvantaged — Paratransit service, operated by Citrus Connection in Polk County, is a subsidized service available for persons with physical, emotional, and economic limitations who cannot utilize fixed-route buses. Call (855–765–5287) POLK-BUS to qualify.
Other Lakeland Bus & Transportation Services
Greyhound — Greyhound Lines stop at the Citrus Connection Winter Haven Terminal twice daily, going to and from Tampa and Miami.
Tip: Tickets ARE NOT purchased at the terminal (they can be acquired online). Citrus Connection staff CAN NOT print or issue Greyhound ticket confirmations.
FlixBus — Citrus Connection partners with FlixBus USA to bring a new travel alternative to Florida. The FlixBus expansion in Lakeland provides service to multiple destinations between Lakeland and Miami. FlixBus customers must get fare information, buy tickets, and plan their trips online.
Utility Services In Lakeland, Florida
When moving to Lakeland, Florida, you must get your new property’s utility services transferred to your name. Consider the following utility providers before moving to your new Lakeland home:
Electricity — Lakeland Electric
- Address — 501 East Lemon Street Lakeland, FL 33801–5079
- Customer Service — customerservice@lakelandelectric.com
- Phone — (863) 834–9535 Toll-Free: (800) 929–4876
Natural Gas — Florida Public Utilities
- Phone — (800) 427–7712
- Customer Service — fpuc.com/emailus
Water/Sewage — Lakeland Water Utilities
- Address — 501 East Lemon Street Lakeland, FL 33801–5079
- Customer Service — WaterUtilityQuestions@lakelandgov.net
- Phone — (863) 834–4248
Trash Collection — City of Lakeland Waste
- Address — 605 Evelyn Avenue Lakeland, FL 33801
- Customer Service — solidwastemanagement@lakelandgov.net
- Phone — (863) 834–8773
Tip: Upon visiting any utility service provider’s website, you can create a consumer profile/account granting access to their services, requesting assistance, reporting service issues, and paying your bill from any computer or smart device.
Florida Voter Registration
Lakeland, Florida, residents can use registertovoteflorida.gov to submit an online application or to pre-fill and print a voter registration application form to sign and mail or deliver to their supervisor of elections.
When submitting an online voter registration application, you will need the following:
- Your Florida driver’s license or Florida identification card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
- The “issued date” of your Florida DL or Florida ID card
- The last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN)
Voter registration application forms are available in English and Spanish for download if you prefer not to use the website.
Nota: El sitio web de registro de votantes está disponible en español e inglés.
Lakeland Home Insurance Policy Information
Florida has the highest catastrophe risk of any US state. Subsequently, Florida home-related insurance policies cost significantly more than the national average. Consider the following insurance policies for your Lakeland, Florida, home:
- Homeowners Insurance
- Flood Insurance — Provided by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- Hurricane (wind damage) Insurance (included in a Homeowners policy)
Note: By State law, insurance policies covering properties in Florida must cover damage caused by wind during a hurricane (Florida Statutes § 627.712).
Tip: Securing multiple insurance policies (homeowners, auto, boat, etc.) through a single provider (bundling) can significantly reduce monthly premium costs.
Lakeland Climate, Demographics, and Economics
Lakeland is a transportation hub east of Tampa and the most populous city in Polk County, Florida. Lakeland is the principal city of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Area. Consider the following city statistics and data:
Climate — Lakeland has a humid subtropical climate. Lakeland summers are typically hot and humid, with average high temperatures seldom dropping below 90°F and 70°F for the overnight low. Winters in Lakeland are dry and warm, with high daytime temperatures ranging in the mid-70s and lows in the 50s.
Metro Area Population — 358,000 (2022)
Demographics — Like other Florida cities, Lakeland’s population is diverse and consists of the following:
- Lakeland is the 24th most populated city in Florida
- The largest Lakeland racial/ethnic groups are White (59%), Black (19%), and Hispanic (17%)
- In 2008–2012, the per capita income was just over $23,800, and the median household income was estimated at just under $40,300.
- According to the US Census, persons below the poverty line in 2008–2012 were approximately 17.5%.
Languages — (As a first language) English, Spanish, German, and French.
Economics/Tourism — Large Lakeland area industries include citrus, cattle, and mining. Tourism, medicine, transportation, and music have gained popularity in recent decades.
Mining — Phosphate mining is still crucial to Lakeland’s economy, although most mining activities currently take place farther south. At one time, 25% of the US phosphate supply originated from this area.
Lakeland’s largest employer is Publix Supermarkets. Other large employers include Amazon, GEICO, Rooms To Go, Lakeland Regional Health, and FedEx.
Moving to Lakeland, Florida
In this article, you discovered moving, documentation, living, population, commuting, climate, and demographic information about Lakeland, Florida.
Your awareness of what must be done when moving to Lakeland, Florida, will help you seamlessly transfer your residency to the city, avoiding common frustrations.
Not knowing how to properly transfer your residency to Lakeland, Florida, will expose you to registering, licensing, commuting, other living difficulties, unnecessary fees, and fines.
Sources:
flhsmv.gov/locations/polk/
fema.gov/flood-insurance
flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2021/627.712
polktaxes.com
lakelandgov.net
