Florida Rentals: Why It’s Smart to Collect Vehicle Information from Your Tenants
As a Florida landlord, do you really need to know what cars your tenants drive—and why?
While Florida law doesn’t require landlords to collect tenant vehicle information, doing so can help you enforce parking rules, comply with HOA or community regulations, and protect your property from unauthorized or abandoned vehicles. The key is to collect and store the information legally and include the requirement in your lease.
Florida Law on Tenant Vehicle Information
Under the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Chapter 83), landlords may establish reasonable rules and regulations related to the property, including parking. You are also allowed to include vehicle information requirements in your lease agreement.
If your rental is in a homeowners’ association (HOA) or condominium association, their governing documents often require the landlord to submit tenant vehicle details for registration and parking permits. In some gated communities, unregistered vehicles may be denied entry or towed.
Why Collecting Vehicle Information Matters
1. Parking Management
In Florida’s busy residential communities, parking can be limited. Knowing the make, model, color, and license plate number of each tenant vehicle allows you to:
Enforce parking assignments.
Prevent unauthorized vehicles from using tenant or guest spaces.
Work with towing companies if vehicles are abandoned or improperly parked.
2. HOA Compliance
If your property is in an HOA, you could face fines if your tenants’ vehicles are unregistered, improperly parked, or violate community rules. Having accurate vehicle information helps you stay compliant.
3. Security and Safety
Vehicle registration helps identify who is supposed to be on your property. If an unknown vehicle is parked there, you can quickly determine whether it belongs to a tenant or guest.
4. Abandoned Vehicle Prevention
In Florida, removing an abandoned vehicle from private property requires following specific legal steps (Florida Statute § 715.07). Having the vehicle’s registered owner information makes the process smoother if a tenant leaves without removing their car.
Best Practices for Florida Landlords
Include a Lease Clause – Require tenants to provide vehicle information at move-in and update it if they change cars.
Collect Key Details – Make, model, color, license plate number, and state of registration.
Address Unauthorized Vehicles – Outline in the lease how you’ll handle unregistered or prohibited vehicles, including towing procedures in compliance with Florida law.
Respect Privacy – Only use collected vehicle information for property management purposes; avoid sharing it with third parties unless required by law or community rules.
Pros of Collecting Vehicle Information
Protects Your Parking Rules
Helps Avoid HOA Fines
Increases Property Security
Simplifies Removal of Abandoned Vehicles
Cons (and How to Avoid Them)
Administrative Work – Keep records organized to avoid confusion.
Privacy Concerns – Store information securely to prevent misuse.
Tenant Pushback – Some tenants may resist providing details; resolve this by explaining the benefits and including the requirement in the lease from the start.
Final Takeaway
Florida law gives you the right to collect and require vehicle information from tenants through your lease agreement. While it’s not mandatory, it’s a smart move for managing parking, complying with HOA rules, maintaining security, and avoiding abandoned vehicle headaches. Clear communication and proper documentation make it an easy win for protecting your property.
Property management is hard enough—partner with someone who stays on top of Florida law changes and works to maintain your investment. Complete our Contact Us form or call us at 904-855-7933 to learn more about how CrossView Property Management in Jacksonville, FL, can work for you.
