If you are moving and need to verify a moving company in the state of Florida, you can verify that a moving company is licensed by contacting the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352). Iff you are calling from within Florida call (850) 488-222. If you need Spanish speaking assistance, call 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).

Moving companies conducting intrastate moves in the state of Florida must be registered with the Florida Division of Consumer Services. If their principal place of business is within one of the counties with local moving ordinances (Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Pinellas) they must register there also and comply with any local ordinances. State registration numbers must be clearly printed on all advertising and business forms, such as contracts and estimates.

Switching Your License
Moving comes with all sorts of changes. One of those changes will be switching your license over to a Florida license. You are probably dreading the fact that you might be standing in long lines at the DMV. Having the proper documentation could speed up the process of changing your license and out of the office in no time.

Depending on the state you came from, converting your license will require different identification methods. Having the right ID will put you on the fast track to a Florida driver’s license. Here are some steps to converting your out of state drivers license

Here are some other helpful resources to switch to a Florida license:

Make an Appointment - Make an appointment with the Florida DMV online instead of walking in.

Address Change -Driver License or ID Card Address Change
Registering Your Vehicle – Register your vehicle with the state of Florida 
Find your local DMV Office – Find the closest Florida DMV Office.

Commuting in Miami
Commuting in Miami can be quite a pain during the work week just like any other major city. Maneuvering around the city without putting a major strain on your daily commute is key. It goes without being said that a convenient commute makes for an improved work/life balance that we all search for. 

There are a variety of commuting options that exist in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach area.  Here are lists of transit systems in South Florida that can better assist you with your commute:

• South Florida Commuter Services, (800) 234-RIDE, provides extensive information regarding rideshare opportunities.
• Broward County Transit (BCT) – Catch the bus from anywhere in the Broward County area using the Broward Country Transit system.
• Miami Dade Transit (MDT) – Choose from Metrobus, Metrorail, or Metromover, you can get around the Miami-Dade area at a low cost.
• Palm Beach Transit (Palm-Tran)- Get service from Palm Beach County to Martin County Commuter Express Service
• Tri-Rail - Commuter service from Miami to Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach. Use your Easy Card to get around town today!
• Treasure Coast Connector – If you live in the St. Lucie or Martin County, the Treasure Coast Connector provides excellent commuter service to and from both regions.
• Community Coach, Indiantown Shuttle & Stuart Shuttle - Community Coach is the public transportation service for Martin County. We provide fixed route service from 7:05 AM to 6:45 PM.
• Martin County Community Transportation - MTM coordinates medical and non-medical transportation services for the Transportation Disadvantaged community. This includes: Medicaid clients, individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities, the elderly, rural residents, and the economically disenfranchised.
• I-95 Commuter Express (Martin County to WPB) – Provides commuter service  to and from Martin County, Palm Beach Gardens,  Jupiter, and West Palm Beach

Finding the Right Neighborhood

Florida is home to those migrating from all over the United States. Everyone from the young workforce to retirees are calling Florida home. The sunshine and beautiful beaches is enough to make anyone move to the sunshine state.

Here are some other great ways to find a home in Miami:

Word-of-Mouth – If you know someone who currently lives in Miami, getting references from them could help out substantially. Finding an apartment through word of mouth is a lot cheaper than using a broker. Ask your friends and family if they can provide any help with your search. 

Classified Ads -Another common method used by movers is using the classified ads. Movers have been known to use local or community papers to post vacant apartments and homes. Make sure to check out the web sites of local papers and online message boards like miami.craigslist.org.

Apartment Referral Service - For the savvy hunters who are comfortable searching the Internet, there is an apartment referral service. For a monthly fee, referral services will provide you with a list of no-fee apartment rentals as they become available. 

Apartment Guides – You can always rely on resources like ForRent.com. These general references are great for apartment hunting right from your computer. 

Look for Housing Programs - Affordable housing is often offered through different programs throughout the Miami area. Here are some great homebuyer and renters programs to put you in the right neighborhood.

• Floridahousingsearch.org - allows people to locate available housing that best fits their needs. Individuals can easily search for housing using a wide variety of search criteria with special mapping features and receive apartment listings that provide a multitude of important information about each unit.
• Homebuyers Program - Homebuyers can take advantage of our low-interest rate mortgages and financial assistance to help cover down payment and closing costs.
• HUD in Florida – Housing & Urban Development mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. HUD embraces high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forges new partnerships--particularly with faith-based, community organizations, and leverages other resources.
• How to Buy a Home in the United States - The FannieMae Foundation has provided educational tools and training manuals for use by potential home buyers, current homeowners, and practitioners working in the affordable housing and community development field. This curriculum is featured in English and Spanish. How to Buy Your Own Home is another publication offered by the Foundation.
• Miami Dade County - Housing Central - Miami Dade County’s new web portal for ALL housing programs and services.

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