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In a Florida private sale, the seller signs the title over and the buyer applies for a new title at a motor vehicle service center. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles department (FLHSMV) also requires the seller to file a Notice of Sale, form HSMV 82050, so the seller is not liable for the vehicle after the sale.
Quick answer
| Topic | What FLHSMV says |
|---|---|
| Who signs the title over | The seller completes the Transfer of Title by Seller section on the front of the title |
| What the seller writes in | Buyer name and address, odometer information, selling price and date sold |
| Buyer’s form | Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (HSMV 82040) |
| Buyer’s deadline | 30 calendar days, to avoid a late transfer penalty fee |
| Seller’s protection | File a Notice of Sale (HSMV 82050). Florida law has required it of all sellers since July 2009 |
| License plate | Stays with the seller, not the vehicle |
| Existing loan | A vehicle with a lien cannot be legally sold in a private sale until the lien is satisfied |
What the buyer needs to bring
FLHSMV lists these as the minimum for a Florida title:
- Proof of identity: a current, valid driver license or ID card from any state, or a passport.
- Proof of ownership: for a private purchase, the title from the seller. For a new vehicle or an import, a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, or an out-of-state title.
- The application: a completed HSMV 82040.
- Fees: sales tax and title fees. If you also buy a license plate, you need valid Florida insurance and the registration fees.
Steps for the seller
- Check for a lien. If the vehicle has a loan on it, the lien has to be satisfied first. Once the lienholder reports the satisfaction to FLHSMV, the title can be transferred.
- Have the title in hand. If a paper title was lost, the seller must apply for a duplicate before selling, using form HSMV 82101 and the duplicate title fee. Some counties offer “fast title” service for an extra $10 on top of the standard fees.
- Do a VIN and odometer verification if needed. If the vehicle was not titled in Florida before, the seller completes a Vehicle Identification Number and Odometer Verification. It must be verified by the owner and one of: an FLHSMV compliance examiner or officer, a licensed Florida dealer, a Florida notary public or a law enforcement officer.
- Complete the seller section of the title. Buyer’s name and address, odometer reading, selling price and date sold.
- Remove the plate. In Florida the plate stays with the seller and may be moved to a new or replacement vehicle.
- File the Notice of Sale (HSMV 82050) at a motor vehicle service center.
- Keep copies. FLHSMV recommends keeping the bill of sale (it suggests having it notarized), the title and any other document that shows the vehicle was sold.
FLHSMV encourages the two parties to finish the sale together at a motor vehicle service center, so the seller knows the title left their name and the buyer knows the seller handed over the right ownership documents.
Steps for the buyer
- Get the signed title from the seller, with the seller section filled in.
- Fill out the Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (HSMV 82040) and attach it to the title.
- Take both to a motor vehicle service center, with your ID, the fees and, if you want a plate, proof of Florida insurance.
- Do it within 30 calendar days of the sale. After that, a late transfer penalty fee applies.
The odometer reading at the time of purchase is required on the title application, and FLHSMV says both buyer and seller must acknowledge odometer disclosures on title transactions.
Electronic titles
If the title is held electronically, there is no paper title to sign. FLHSMV says the seller and buyer must both visit a motor vehicle service center, complete a secure title reassignment (HSMV 82994 or HSMV 82092), disclose the odometer reading and each show photo identification.
Why the Notice of Sale matters
FLHSMV states that filing HSMV 82050 removes the seller’s registration from the vehicle and helps the seller avoid civil liability for how it is used after the sale. It then becomes the buyer’s responsibility to apply for title and registration before legally operating the vehicle. If the seller does not file and the buyer never registers the vehicle, FLHSMV says the seller can be held liable for actions associated with the vehicle even though they no longer own it. The form also documents the sale and serves as the legal receipt.
Two names on the title
FLHSMV explains that co-owners can be joined by “and” or “or”:
- “And”: both owners share equal responsibility. To transfer the vehicle out of their names, both must be present, designate a power of attorney, or sign the title as sellers.
- “Or”: either owner can act alone, present or by signing a bill of sale.
- If one “or” owner wants to remove their name, that owner becomes the seller and the other owner becomes the purchaser in the transfer section, and a new title is issued.
If someone else handles the paperwork for you, FLHSMV offers a limited Power of Attorney for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Vessel, form HSMV 82053.
Who does what
| Task | Seller | Buyer | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill in buyer name and address, odometer, price and date on the title | Yes | No | The title |
| Complete the Application for Certificate of Title (HSMV 82040) | No | Yes | Motor vehicle service center |
| File the Notice of Sale (HSMV 82050) | Yes | No | Motor vehicle service center |
| Remove the license plate | Yes | No | The vehicle |
| Apply within 30 calendar days | No | Yes | Motor vehicle service center |
| Sign the electronic title reassignment (HSMV 82994 or 82092) | Yes, with photo ID | Yes, with photo ID | Both at a service center |
Which situation are you in?
- Paper title in hand: the seller signs the transfer section, the buyer takes it with the application to a service center.
- Electronic title: there is no paper to sign. Both parties go to a service center together with photo ID.
- Paper title lost: the seller applies for a duplicate with HSMV 82101 before selling.
- The vehicle has a loan: a private sale cannot happen until the lien is satisfied and the lienholder reports it to FLHSMV.
- The vehicle was never titled in Florida: the seller completes the VIN and odometer verification, checked by a listed verifier.
- Two owners on the title: “and” means both sign or use a power of attorney, “or” means either can act.
Before you go: checklist
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Common mistakes
- Skipping the Notice of Sale, which leaves the seller exposed if the buyer never registers the vehicle.
- Selling a vehicle that still has a lien on it.
- Leaving the plate on the vehicle. It belongs to the seller. FLHSMV also says the seller must surrender the plate at a service center if they are moving to another state or cancel the insurance on the vehicle.
- Buyer waiting past 30 calendar days.
- Selling three or more vehicles in a 12-month period. Florida law presumes that person to be a motor vehicle dealer who needs a state license.
Frequently asked questions
Does the buyer or seller apply for the new title?
The buyer applies for the new title. The seller signs the existing title over and files the Notice of Sale.
Can I sell a car in Florida that still has a loan?
Not in a private sale. FLHSMV says the lien has to be satisfied first. You can trade the vehicle in at a dealer, which has 10 days to satisfy the lien before selling it on.
Is a bill of sale required?
The FLHSMV page recommends keeping a bill of sale and having it notarized, but it does not call it a required form. The required documents are the signed title and the buyer’s application.
This guide is general information compiled from the FLHSMV pages listed under Sources. Fees and forms change, and this site is not part of any government agency. Confirm current requirements with FLHSMV before you complete a sale.
Sources
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Selling a Vehicle, checked Sep 26, 2026
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Liens and Titles, checked Sep 26, 2026