Check if car title is valid in Florida before you buy
To verify if a car title is valid in Florida before you buy it, you can use online checks such as VIN check to give you peace of mind that the title is valid.
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When you buy a new car in Florida it is important that you check that the title is valid to make sure that there are no problems with transferring ownership. For example, you want to make sure that the vehicle has not been stolen and you should be extra cautious if you are buying privately and not through a car dealership.
Check the VIN
The VIN should be on the car’s registration card and it will also usually be on the lower left side of the windshield. You can use a free online VIN check from FLHSMV to perform a check on the vehicle.
You can also check whether the vehicle has had a safety recall issued on the nhtsa.gov website. The search will show whether the vehicle has been recalled under safety concerns and has not been repaired as instructed.
You can also ask to see the seller’s driver’s license to check that the information matches the Florida title.
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Verify the odometer
You should verify that the mileage on the vehicle maintenance records matches the odometer. If the odometer records show higher than the existing reading, it is likely that there has been fraudulent tampering.
Fraudsters can set the odometer to a lower reading with the intention of getting a higher value for the vehicle, as it will look like it has not been used as much. There is a possibility that the vehicle maintenance company made a mistake but you can check all the previous recordings to check.
On the Florida title, both the buyer and the seller must confirm the odometer reading.
Check the condition of the car
Before you buy a vehicle, it is a good idea to check over the vehicle for any signs of damage or faults. If you do not know much about car mechanics, it might help to take someone with you who has some knowledge about car parts, so they can help to check for any obvious problems.
Once you have purchased the vehicle from a private seller and transferred ownership, you will be responsible for paying for any repairs. It is important to take the vehicle for a test drive and the longer, the better, as you will have more chance of identifying any mechanical issues.
You can check the more obvious things like whether the tires will need replacing soon, as four new tires can cost a lot of money and you should try and lower the asking price if the tires will need replacing.
If you have any suspicions about the vehicle you are thinking about buying then you should either ask for more documentation, such as proof of the vehicle purchase or decide not to buy the car.
If the vehicle you are buying has an electronic Florida title, the seller should attend the DMV office to complete the transfer with you, as there is no paper title. The alternative option is for the seller to write out a bill of sale, which you can then use to transfer the title but this may not be accepted by some DMV offices.
Completing the Florida title transfer
The most straightforward way of transferring the title is to do it using the online title transfer services provided by swift-tags.com This means you will not have to spend time travelling to the office or waiting in a queue to get your title transferred. You simply need to complete the online application and provide the required information as instructed.
