Does a Florida Fuel Permit Cover the Fuel Tax You Pay at the Pump?

Does a Florida Fuel Permit Cover the Fuel Tax You Pay at the Pump?

Table Of Contents

• Introduction

• The Short Answer

• Two Different Fuel Taxes in Florida

• What the Florida Fuel Permit Exempts

• What It Does Not Exempt

• How This Plays Out on a Real Trip

• Permit vs IFTA: Which Costs Less?

• Rules That Come With the Permit

• Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Why Many Trucking Companies Choose Our Service

• FAQ

Introduction

Many drivers assume a Florida Fuel Permit means "no Florida fuel tax." It's an easy mistake. The permit is often described as a way to run in Florida without IFTA, so it sounds like it takes care of every fuel tax in the state.

It doesn't. Florida has more than one fuel tax, and the permit only covers one of them. This guide explains what the permit exempts, what you still pay when you fill up in Florida, and how to plan fuel stops around it.

The Short Answer

No. A Florida Fuel Permit does not cover the fuel tax you pay at the pump.

Section 207.004(5)(b), Florida Statutes, says the temporary fuel-use permit exempts the vehicle from payment of the motor fuel tax imposed under Chapter 207 during the permit period. The same paragraph adds that it does not exempt the vehicle from payment at the pump of the fuel tax imposed under Chapter 206.

So when you buy fuel in Florida, the state's fuel tax is already in the price, and the permit doesn't change that.

Two Different Fuel Taxes in Florida

Florida fuel taxes come from two chapters of the Florida Statutes:

• Chapter 206, Motor and Other Fuel Taxes. This tax is built into the price of fuel sold in Florida. Every buyer pays it at the pump, whether they drive a car or a semi.

• Chapter 207, Motor Fuel Use Tax. Under section 207.003, this tax is levied on each gallon of motor fuel used to propel a qualified motor vehicle in Florida. It reaches fuel burned on Florida roads, including fuel bought in another state.

IFTA carriers settle the Chapter 207 side on their fuel tax returns. Carriers without IFTA use a Florida Fuel Permit instead.

What the Florida Fuel Permit Exempts

Under section 207.004(1)(a) and (4), a motor carrier may not run a qualified motor vehicle in Florida unless it is licensed under IFTA with fuel tax decals or holds a temporary fuel-use permit for each vehicle.

The permit:

• Costs a $45 state fee,

• Expires 10 days after the date of issuance, and

• Exempts the vehicle from the Chapter 207 motor fuel use tax while it is valid.

That means fuel the truck burns in Florida during those 10 days isn't taxed again under Chapter 207, even if the truck filled up in Georgia or Alabama before crossing the line.

A qualified motor vehicle under section 207.002(11) has two axles and over 26,000 pounds, has three or more axles regardless of weight, or is a combination over 26,000 pounds.

What It Does Not Exempt

The permit does not touch the Chapter 206 tax collected at the pump. If your driver buys diesel at a Florida truck stop, the price includes Florida fuel tax, and the permit doesn't remove or reduce it.

The permit also does not:

• Cover another truck. It is assigned to one vehicle.

• Cover another carrier. Section 207.004(5)(d) says the holder may not knowingly let anyone else use it.

• Cover days after it expires.

How This Plays Out on a Real Trip

Picture a three-axle tractor from Georgia running a 6-day trip into Florida on a Florida Fuel Permit.

• Fuel bought in Georgia, burned in Florida: the permit covers the Chapter 207 use tax on those miles.

• Fuel bought at a Florida truck stop: the driver pays Florida's pump tax in the price, just like any other customer.

• Day 11 and later: the permit has expired. The truck needs a new permit or IFTA credentials to keep running in Florida.

Many carriers plan fuel stops with this in mind. Where it makes sense for the route, they fill up before entering Florida and carry enough fuel to finish the trip.

Permit vs IFTA: Which Costs Less?

For an occasional Florida trip, the Florida Fuel Permit is usually simpler. There's no quarterly return for that vehicle's Florida miles, no decals to order, and the permit is done in 10 days.

For trucks that run Florida often, IFTA licensing may be the better choice. Buying a permit for every trip adds up, and IFTA lets you report all states on one return.

Either way, the pump tax on Florida fuel purchases is paid at the pump.

Rules That Come With the Permit

Section 207.004(5)(c) says the permit must:

• Identify the carrier, the vehicle, and the effective and expiration dates

• Be carried on the vehicle it identifies, and

• Be shown on demand to authorized personnel.

The permit may be sent to the carrier electronically. Under section 207.004(5)(d), any erasure or alteration makes it invalid.

Running without valid credentials is serious. Under section 207.007(3), a violation can be a third-degree felony, and each day a qualified vehicle runs without decals or a valid permit is a separate offense.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Thinking the permit makes Florida fuel tax-free. Pump tax still applies.

• Buying the permit for the wrong truck. It only covers the vehicle it names.

• Counting days wrong. The permit expires 10 days after issuance.

• Leaving the permit at the office. It must be carried on the vehicle.

• Using one permit for two carriers. The holder can't let others use it.

Why Many Trucking Companies Choose Our Service

Florida Trucking Online issues your Florida Fuel Permit fast and explains exactly what it covers, so your drivers and dispatchers know what to expect at Florida fuel stops.

• Fuel permit: $120

• Trip permit: $105

• Oversize permit: $97

We provide support 24/7 and also work weekends and holidays.

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FAQ

• Does a Florida Fuel Permit cover the fuel tax at the pump?

  No. Section 207.004(5)(b) says the permit does not exempt payment at the pump of the Chapter 206 fuel tax.

• What tax does the permit cover?

  The Chapter 207 motor fuel use tax on fuel used by the vehicle in Florida during the permit period.

• How long is a Florida Fuel Permit valid?

  It expires 10 days after the date of issuance.

• Which trucks need one?

  Qualified motor vehicles: two axles over 26,000 pounds, three or more axles at any weight, or combinations over 26,000 pounds, unless the carrier has IFTA credentials.

• Do I need to carry the permit in the truck?

  Yes. It must be carried on the vehicle it identifies and shown on demand.

For more information, visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.