What a toll hold is
Any governmental entity, including a clerk of court, may send FLHSMV a list of people with one or more outstanding toll violations. People on that list may not be issued a license plate or revalidation sticker.[3] The rule covers annual registration renewals and replacement registrations or plates. It does not affect the issuance of a title.[1]
FLHSMV states that, effective July 1, 2022, people with registration stops associated with toll violations are prohibited from renewing their registration or replacing their license plates until the toll violations are satisfied.[4] If a stop appears, you can't renew online: FLHSMV says to go into an office or call FLHSMV Customer Service at (850) 617-2000.[4]
Step 1: Find out who placed the hold
FLHSMV's Vehicle Information Check takes the VIN or title number.[5] The Greater Miami Expressway Agency and the Manatee County Tax Collector both describe the check as showing the name and phone number of the entity holding the registration.[6][7]
SunPass has its own lookup by plate number and the registered owner's last name. If it returns nothing, SunPass says another entity may have placed the stop.[8] Our guide Which Florida toll authority placed the hold? lists the authorities and their official contacts.
Step 2: Resolve it with that authority
Go to the authority that placed the hold. SunPass, for example, says stops placed by other toll agencies can't be resolved through its customer service center.[8]
- SunPass (FDOT): pay all billed tolls, fees and fines owed to SunPass. The full amount due must be paid to release the hold.[8]
- Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX): all outstanding Pay By Plate invoices, including all pending tolls, must be paid in full to remove the hold. CFX says partial payments are not accepted.[9]
- Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA): its collections center says the hold is removed by paying the outstanding transactions in full.[10]
If your record shows more than one hold, each one has to be resolved with the authority that reported it.
Step 3: Get the receipt and bring it to the counter
The receipt matters because Florida law gives the counter two ways to proceed: your name is no longer on the list, or you present a receipt from the governmental entity or clerk of court that provided the data showing that the outstanding amount was paid.[1]
Offices set their own requirements, so ask yours. The Manatee County Tax Collector, for example, requires a receipt showing the name of the agency that issued it and a $0.00 balance or that all outstanding balances were paid. It accepts printed screenshots from a phone, and it processes receipts submitted through its online form within 3 business days.[7]
What to have with you
- The VIN or title number from your registration, for the FLHSMV check.[5]
- Your plate number and the registered owner's last name, for the SunPass lookup.[8]
- The invoice or notice. CFX, for example, asks for the reference number and plate number when you pay.[9]
- A paid receipt from each authority that reported a hold.[1]
How long the release takes
Once you've acted to remove a stop, FLHSMV says the system can take one to three business days to clear it for registration.[2] THEA's collections center sends a release request to FLHSMV the morning after your payment is processed and asks you to allow up to 72 hours.[11] That gap is why the paid receipt is worth bringing.
If you think the hold is wrong
FLHSMV says to contact the toll agency first. If you can't reach a settlement with that agency and you were not the owner of the plate used during the violation, FLHSMV points to form HSMV 90510 to request a verification letter.[12] The Manatee County Tax Collector says its office can't help contest a violation and can't renew until the agency that placed the stop lifts it.[7]