How To Sell a Car in Florida

Selling a motor vehicle in Florida requires compliance with state procedures governing title transfer, odometer disclosure, notice of sale, registration, and tax payment. A private sale is not legally complete upon delivery of the vehicle alone; the transaction must be documented in the manner required by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

What You Need To Know Before Selling a Car in Florida

Florida Title Law And Ownership Requirements

A valid Florida certificate of title is required for most private motor vehicle sales. Under Florida Statute Section 319.22, a buyer does not acquire marketable title until a new certificate of title has been issued, and a private-sale transfer will not be accepted unless the seller is shown as the owner on the face of the title. The sales price must also be entered in the space provided on the title.

When a title shows two owners, the wording on the title controls who must sign. Florida recognizes co-ownership joined by “and” and by “or.” If the names are joined by “and,” each owner must sign to transfer title. If the names are joined by “or,” either owner may sign.

Vehicles Exempt From Title Requirements

Florida requires titles for most vehicles, but the state excludes limited categories from title issuance. FLHSMV identifies mopeds, motorized bicycles, and trailers weighing less than 2,000 pounds as exceptions. Florida’s motor vehicle title requirements do not provide an age-based exemption for ordinary passenger cars.

Satisfying An Existing Lien

A private sale may not be completed while an active lien remains on the vehicle. Florida requires the lien to be fully satisfied before the title may be transferred in a private sale. If the title is electronic and the lien has been cleared, the owner may request a paper title through MyDMV Portal or through the county tax collector.

If a paper title has been lost, stolen, or damaged, the seller must obtain a replacement title before the sale. Florida accepts the Application For Duplicate Or Lost In Transit Reassignment For A Title Certificate (Form HSMV 82101) through local offices.

VIN Verification And Other Pre-Sale Requirements

Florida does not require a general safety inspection or emissions inspection as a condition of a private motor vehicle sale. A physical inspection is required only in specific title situations. When a used motor vehicle has not previously been titled in Florida, the transaction requires completion of the Vehicle Identification Number and Odometer Verification (Form HSMV 82042).

Florida also requires a seller to notify the department after a bona fide sale. Under Florida Statute Section 319.22, the seller must notify the department within 30 days after the sale or transfer in the form prescribed by the department.

Documents Required To Sell a Car in Florida

Certificate Of Title

The Florida certificate of title is the principal ownership document in a private sale. For a paper title, the seller completes the transfer section with the buyer’s name and address, the date of sale, the sales price, and the required mileage disclosure. In a private sale, the purchaser’s name must appear on the title at the time of transfer, and an open title is not valid under Florida law.

If the title is held electronically and will remain electronic, the seller and buyer must appear together at a local office to complete a secure title reassignment and odometer disclosure. Florida does not require notarization of the standard title assignment, including the notary block that appears on some titles, as stated in TL-11.

Notice Of Sale And Bill Of Sale

Florida requires the seller to file a notice of sale. The state provides Form HSMV 82050 for that purpose, and the same form may also be used as a bill of sale. The form includes the vehicle description, title number, VIN, purchaser name and address, date of sale, selling price, and certification information.

When completed only as a notice of sale, the purchaser’s signature is optional. When completed as a bill of sale, the seller and purchaser complete the sections designated on the form. Retaining a signed copy is advisable as proof of the transfer date and the purchaser's identity.

Odometer Disclosure Statement

Florida titles contain space for the odometer disclosure, and most used motor vehicle transfers require the transferor to disclose mileage and the transferee to acknowledge it. Under Florida Statute Section 319.225, odometer disclosure is not required for a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 16,000 pounds, a vehicle that is not self-propelled, a vehicle with a model year of 2011 or newer after 20 years, or a vehicle with a model year of 2010 or older after 10 years.

If a separate mileage document is needed because no compliant disclosure appears on another acceptable title or transfer record, the parties may use the Separate Odometer Disclosure Statement And Acknowledgment (Form HSMV 82993). That form is generally exchanged between the parties and retained in their records.

Lien And Title Application Documents

If the vehicle has been subject to a lien, the lien must be satisfied before transfer. After the sale, the buyer applies for the new title on the Application for Certificate of Motor Vehicle Title (Form HSMV 82040 MV). If the vehicle is a used vehicle not currently titled in Florida, the title application must also be accompanied by a completed VIN verification.

How To Transfer a Car Title in Florida

Step 1: Review The Title Before The Sale

Before the vehicle is offered for sale, the seller should confirm that the title is available, that the seller’s name appears as the owner, and that any recorded lien has already been satisfied. A lost paper title must be replaced before transfer. An electronic title transfer requires both parties to complete the reassignment through the appropriate local office rather than by signing a paper certificate.

Step 2: Complete The Title Assignment

For a paper title, the seller completes the transfer section on the certificate of title by entering the buyer’s name and address, the date of sale, the sales price, and the required odometer information. Florida requires the sales price to be entered on the title in a private or casual sale, and Florida Statute Section 319.22 prohibits transfer of title when the purchaser’s name does not appear on the title.

Step 3: Prepare The Bill Of Sale And Disclosure Paperwork

At the time of sale, the parties should complete a written bill of sale and all required disclosure documents. Florida’s notice-of-sale form may also serve as the bill of sale, and the odometer disclosure may be completed either on the title or on the separate odometer statement when appropriate. If the vehicle has not previously been titled in Florida, VIN verification must also be completed before a new Florida title can be issued.

Step 4: Deliver The Documents To The Buyer

At the time of transfer, the seller delivers the properly assigned title and completed sale documents to the buyer. If the title is electronic, both parties appear together to complete the secure reassignment. The seller should retain copies of the assigned title, bill of sale, and notice of sale for recordkeeping purposes.

Step 5: Buyer Submits Application Through A Local Office

The buyer must apply for the new title within 30 calendar days after the sale to avoid a late transfer penalty. The assigned title, required supporting documents, title application, taxes, and fees are submitted to a county tax collector's office, a license plate agency, or a motor vehicle service center. Florida requires a title application to be filed with the department and prohibits issuance until applicable taxes and registration requirements have been satisfied under Florida Statute Section 319.23.

Title Transfer Fee Schedule in Florida

Florida collects the following title-related fees:

These amounts apply to electronic titles. A paper title requires an additional $2.50 service and handling fee, and an additional $2 lien recording fee may apply. County tax collector-sponsored service centers may also impose local service charges.

Sales Tax on Private Vehicle Sales

Florida imposes a state sales and use tax on motor vehicles at a rate of 6%. Most counties also impose a local discretionary surtax, and the surtax applies to the first $5,000 of the purchase price when the purchaser’s residence address is in a surtax county.

In a private-party transaction, the buyer pays the tax when applying for title and registration through the local motor vehicle office. A Florida title may not be issued until all sales or use tax due on the transfer has been paid.

What To Do After Selling Your Car in Florida

Florida license plates remain with the owner, not with the vehicle. Upon sale, trade, or other disposition, the owner must remove the plate and either transfer it to a replacement vehicle or surrender it. Under Florida Statute Section 320.0609, the registration license plate and certificate of registration remain in the name of the owner and may not be transferred to another person.

After the sale, the seller should file the required notice of sale within 30 days. Filing Form HSMV 82050 documents the transfer and helps remove the seller’s registration from the vehicle record.

Insurance should not be canceled before the plate has been transferred to another vehicle or surrendered. Florida requires registrants to surrender the license plate before canceling insurance in order to avoid suspension of the driver's license and registration and possible reinstatement fees.

Copies of the assigned title, notice of sale, bill of sale, and related transaction records should be retained. Those records may be needed to establish the date of sale, the identity of the purchaser, and the end of the seller’s responsibility for the vehicle.

Contact Information

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
2900 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 617-2000
Official Website: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles