Do You Need a Bill of Sale to Transfer Title in Florida?
When you need to transfer a title in Florida, there are several steps that you must follow. We are often asked the question do you need a bill of sale to transfer a vehicle title in Florida and this will usually depend on the circumstances.
In many cases, you will not require a bill of sale to transfer your vehicle title but there are some examples where you will need to provide it.
Bill of Sale: Extra Protection for Both the Buyer and the Seller
When someone sells a vehicle one of the documents that can be used to evidence the sale is a Bill of Sale, which acts like a sales receipt. When selling or buying a vehicle through a car dealer, they should arrange the relevant documents, including the Bill of Sale.
However, private sales can also be evidenced by a Bill of Sale to provide protection for both the buyer and the seller.
A Bill of Sale is not a legal requirement when selling a vehicle in Florida but it provides extra protection for both parties. For example, if a traffic offense is committed around the time of the sale, the signed Bill of Sale will prove which person was liable for the vehicle, should the incident be contested.
Easily Draw up a “Bill of Sale”
It is very easy to draw up a motor vehicle Bill of Sale and you will find many professional templates online to download and complete. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for the State of Florida has a template on its website that can be downloaded.
It can be used for a private sale and there is guidance next to the sections to help you to complete the form.
Florida “Bill of Sale” Is an Added Proof of Sale
In the event that there is any discrepancy over the vehicle ownership at any point in time, the Bill of Sale can be used to clarify ownership. For example, if the seller arranges to sell the vehicle to somebody and that person is shortly involved in a collision or a traffic offense, the seller has proof that the new owner is liable.
Similarly, in a case where there is a historical traffic incident or parking ticket issued for the vehicle prior to the sale, the new owner has proof that they are not liable.
How to Fill Out a "Bill of Sale" in Florida
Filling out the Bill of Sale is straightforward if you use a template that includes all of the relevant details. However, even without a template, you will be able to draw up and complete a Bill of Sale very easily by following these steps:
- 1. Print off the template that you find (the FLHSMV website provides this form).
- 2. Check the Bill of Sale box to indicate you are completing a Bill of Sale with both parties present (as opposed to the Notice of Sale if only the owner is submitting the form).
- 3. Complete the vehicle description description including year, make/manufacturer, body type, model, color, Certificate of Title number and Vehicle Identification Number.
- 4. Complete the new owner's details including their name, address, date of sale and selling price.
- 5. Add the odometer information. This is required by Federal and State law on the transfer of ownership.
- 6. Complete the Certification section with the seller's and purchaser's signatures, names, addresses, and date.
- 7. Mail the Bill of Sale to the FLHSMV office or take it to the Tax Collector's office.
The Final Step: Notarizing The "Bill of Sale" And Submitting it to DHSMV
Although the Florida Department for Highway Safety of Motor Vehicles does not require the Bill of Sale to be notarized, they recommend that it is notarized for extra protection. The buyer has 30 days from the sale to complete the title transfer to meet the state law.
Failure to meet the 30-day limit will result in penalties, so it is important to have all of the correct documents and apply for the title transfer within the required time.
The documents that you will require to transfer the title are:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of ownership (this can be the Bill of Sale)
- Proof of the required insurance cover
- A completed Application for Title with/without Registration form
When you complete the application you will also be required to pay the sales tax and title and registration fees.
The fees will depend on which type of vehicle you are transferring ownership for. Keep in mind that large trucks will have a much higher registration fee.
There is a late title fee if the title is not arranged within the required amount of time.
Transfer Your Titles in Florida
There are several different ways to transfer your title in Florida, including by mail or visiting the local tax collector's office. However, the fastest and most convenient way to transfer your titles in Florida is to use an online title transfer service.
Swift-tags.com provides an expert vehicle title transfer service that guides you through the process to ensure a fast and error-free title transfer. Swift-tags.com provides an easier way to renew registrations, order a duplicate title and transfer a vehicle title.
Using the online service to transfer ownership of a vehicle title in Florida, you can speed up the process and ensure that you meet the deadline to avoid a penalty.
When you use swift-tags.com you will benefit from:
- Fast email communication
- Automated online checks
- Secure payment with multiple options
- An easy and fast online process
- Expert customer support including online chat and email
Why spend time queuing at the local tax collector's office to transfer your title when you can quickly process the transfer of title using our fast, expert service?
FAQs
1. Can I get a title without a bill of sale in Florida?
To be able to transfer a title in Florida you must be able to provide proof of ownership of the vehicle. For private sales, this will usually be in the form of a Bill of Sale, in which case you will need to provide this. You can draw up your own Bill of Sale, which will be acceptable as long as it has all of the required information on it, which is:
- Vehicle description including year, make/manufacturer, body type, model, color, Certificate of Title number and Vehicle Identification Number.
- The new owner's details including their name, address, date of sale and selling price.
- The odometer information to provide accurate mileage on date of sale.
You will also need to complete the Certification section with the seller's and purchaser's signatures, names, addresses and date.
It is easier to print a template form the various companies providing them on their websites, including the FLHSMV website, which provides this form.
2. Does Florida have a Bill of Sale form?
Yes, Florida has a Bill of Sale to protect both the seller and the buyer of a vehicle when arranging the sale. A Bill of Sale template can be used, or you can draw up your own provided that you include all of the required details as listed in the section above.
3. Is a Bill of Sale required when selling a car privately in Florida?
Although a Bill of Sale is not a legal requirement, it is recommended to have one to protect both the seller and the buyer. To transfer a title, you are required to provide proof of ownership and a Bill of Sale form will provide this evidence for a private sale in Florida.
4. Does a vehicle Bill of Sale have to be notarized in Florida?
Although it is not a legal requirement to have a Bill of Sale notarized, it will give you a greater level of protection regarding proof of ownership, so it is recommended to get the Bill of Sale notarized.
5. Do both parties need to be present to transfer a title in FL?
If the vehicle title is held electronically then the seller and buyer must both present photo identification at the motor vehicle service center to complete a HSMV 82944 or 82092. By completing the sale in a motor vehicle service center both the seller and the buyer have a greater level of protection due to having the proper ownership documents. To complete the sale, the seller must complete the Transfer of Title by Seller and the buyer completes the Application for Certificate of Title with/without a Registration form and submit to a motor vehicle service center within 30 days.
6. What documents do I need to transfer a car title in Florida?
To transfer a car title in Florida you will need to have the following documents:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of ownership (this can be the Bill of Sale)
- Proof of the required insurance cover
- A completed Application for Title with/without Registration form
Remember, you must complete the title transfer within 30 days of the sale to avoid a penalty. Swift-tags.com enables you to quickly process a title transfer in Florida, provided that you have all of the required documents. Check our application process which will guide you through the various steps required to complete your car title transfer. If you have any questions about the application process, our customer service team will be available to help ensure you provide all of the required information and documents.
