Florida HSMV Form 83101 – Missing Plate Affidavit Guide – The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issues Form HSMV 83101, officially titled the Missing License Plate, Decal or Placard Affidavit. This sworn statement is used primarily by authorized agents of Florida counties (such as tax collector offices or license plate agencies) when inventory items arrive incomplete or are discovered missing from sealed cartons.
Unlike the more commonly used Form HSMV 83146 (Application for Replacement License Plate, Validation Decal or Parking Permit), which vehicle owners complete when their own plate, decal, or disabled parking placard is lost, stolen, damaged, or never received, Form 83101 addresses shortages in official inventory shipments.
You can download the official, current version of the form directly from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:
Download Florida HSMV Form 83101 (PDF)
What Is Florida HSMV Form 83101?
Form HSMV 83101 is a short, notarized (or sworn) affidavit. An agent of a Florida county declares under oath that specific controlled items were missing when a carton of inventory was opened. The form covers:
- License plates
- Validation decals
- Temporary license plates
- Parking permit placards (disabled person long-term or temporary)
- Temporary parking permit placards
The document is issued by the Division of Motorist Services and is currently revised as of October 2011 (HSMV 83101 Rev. 10/11). It remains the official form listed on the FLHSMV Forms page.
Who Uses Form 83101?
This affidavit is intended for official use by:
- County tax collector offices
- License plate agencies
- Authorized agents acting on behalf of a Florida county
Private vehicle owners who need a replacement plate, decal, or placard should not use Form 83101. Instead, they complete Form HSMV 83146 and submit it (along with identification and any required police report or fees) to their local tax collector or license plate agency.
When Is Form 83101 Required?
County agents use the form when they open a shipment of license plates, validation stickers, temporary tags, or disabled parking placards and discover that one or more items are missing from the carton. The affidavit creates an official record of the shortage so the inventory can be adjusted and replacement stock requested through proper channels.
It is not used for customer-reported losses (lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed plates/decals). Those situations fall under Florida Statute § 320.0607 and are handled with Form 83146.
How to Complete Florida HSMV Form 83101?
The form is straightforward. Follow these steps carefully:
- County of – Enter the name of the Florida county where the affidavit is being executed.
- Personally appeared – Print the full name of the agent making the statement.
- Agent of _____ county – Identify the county the agent represents.
- Item description fields – Fill in the specific missing item(s):
- Decal number or description
- License plate number or series
- Temporary license plate information
- Parking permit placard details
- Temporary parking permit placard details
- Was missing from carton when opened by – Name the person who opened the carton and discovered the shortage.
- Signature of agent – The agent signs the affidavit.
The form must be sworn before a notary public or other authorized official (“Before me, the undersigned authority…”). Keep a copy for county records and submit the original according to internal FLHSMV or tax collector procedures.
Related Forms and Resources
- Form HSMV 83146 – Application for Replacement License Plate, Validation Decal or Parking Permit (for vehicle owners)
- Complete list of FLHSMV forms
- Find your local Florida tax collector or license plate agency
- Florida Statute § 320.0607 – Replacement of license plates, validation decals, and related items
Important Notes for Vehicle Owners
If your personal license plate, registration decal, or disabled parking placard is missing, lost, stolen, damaged, or never arrived in the mail:
- Download and complete Form HSMV 83146.
- Bring a valid photo ID and the plate/decal/VIN number.
- If the item was stolen, obtain a police report (replacement is often free with a report).
- Visit your county tax collector’s office or authorized license plate agency. Fees may apply for lost or damaged items; stolen items with a police report are frequently replaced at no charge.
Do not use Form 83101 for personal replacement requests.
Download the Official Form
Always obtain the form from the official Florida government source to ensure you have the current version:
Download Florida HSMV Form 83101 – Missing License Plate, Decal or Placard Affidavit (PDF)
Source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles – www.flhsmv.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Form 83101 for regular drivers?
No. It is an internal inventory-control affidavit for county agents.
Is there a fee to file Form 83101?
No fee is associated with the affidavit itself. It is an official reporting document.
Where do I submit the completed form?
County agents follow their office’s established procedures for inventory discrepancies, typically involving submission to FLHSMV or internal inventory control.
Can I fill it out online?
The official form is a printable PDF. Some third-party sites offer fillable versions, but the authoritative document is the PDF available on flhsmv.gov.