By Gay Cororaton, MIAMI REALTORS Chief Economist
Miami-Dade County is continuing to experience sustained migration in the first three quarters of 2024 using driver license exchanges as a migration indicator, according to Miami Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI) analysis of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data. Driver license exchanges reflect the strength of migration to an area because new residents must exchange their out-of-state license for a Florida driver’s license within 30 days after establishing residency to drive on Florida’s roads.
Miami-Dade County’s out-of-state driver license exchanges rose 2% during 2024 Q1-Q3 from the same period one year ago, with 16,474 out-of-state driver license exchanges.
Compared to the pre-pandemic level during the same period in 2019, out-of-state driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County are up 20%.
The increase in out-of-state driver license exchanges in Miami-Dade County during 2024 Q1-Q3 from one year ago came from states like Texas (1,473; +25%), Georgia (719; +13%), Maryland (408; +12%), and Colorado (305; +15%).
Out-of-state driver license exchanges during 2024 Q1-Q3 declined from one year ago from New York (3,182; -6%), California (1,925; -4%), and Illinois (783; -7%).
However, in these top feeder states, out-of-state driver license exchanges in 2024 Q1-Q3 are still higher compared to the levels in 2019 Q1-Q3: New York (+33%), California (+54%), and Illinois (+30%).
While Miami-Dade County continued to see an increase in out-of-state driver license exchanges, other counties saw a decline in 2024 Q1-Q3 compared to one year ago: Broward County (14,759; -13%), Palm Beach County (17,829; -10%), Martin County (2,010; -9%), and St. Lucie (5,072; -11%).
Out-of-state driver license exchanges are still higher than the pre-pandemic level in 2019 Q1-Q3 in Palm Beach (+2%) and St. Lucie (+18%) but are lower in Broward (-3%) and Martin (-7%).
Southeast Florida: A Top Destination of Florida’s Out-of-State Movers
An analysis of the destination of all out-of-state driver license exchanges in the state of Florida in 2024 Q1-Q3 shows Southeast Florida counties are a top destination.
Miami-Dade County is the #1 destination among movers who exchanged a driver’s license from California and Texas. The county is the #2 destination among movers from New York and #3 destination among movers from Illinois.
Palm Beach County is the top destination among movers who exchanged a driver’s license from New York and New Jersey. The county is the #2 destination among movers from Pennsylvania.
Broward County is the from #3 top destination among movers who exchanged a driver’s license from New York and New Jersey.
