FLORIDA VEHICLE TITLE
& SELLING GUIDE

For most standard passenger vehicle sales in Florida, the seller will need:

• The signed vehicle title — the seller signs the assignment section on the back of the title, which includes the buyer's name, the sale date, the odometer reading, and the sale price.
• A valid government-issued photo ID.
• An odometer disclosure — Florida requires an odometer reading at the time of sale for most vehicles under a certain age. This is typically recorded on the title itself.
• A bill of sale — while not always legally required in Florida, a written bill of sale is strongly recommended as a record of the transaction for both parties.

The buyer is responsible for applying for a new title in their name through a Florida Tax Collector office or the FLHSMV, typically within 30 days of purchase. Requirements can change — always verify with the official FLHSMV.

If your Florida title has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can apply for a duplicate before selling. The process generally involves:

• Completing Form HSMV 82101 (Application for Duplicate or Lost in Transit/Reassignment for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home or Vessel Title Certificate).
• Providing a valid photo ID.
• Paying the applicable duplicate title fee.
• If a lienholder is listed on the original title, their involvement or a lien release may be required before a clean duplicate can be issued.

If you know you want to sell your vehicle and your title is missing, starting the replacement process early is advisable. Contact us at (800) 249-0097 to discuss your situation while the duplicate is in process.

A duplicate title in Florida is issued when the original has been lost, stolen, mutilated, or is otherwise unusable. You apply through a Florida Tax Collector office or the FLHSMV using Form HSMV 82101. Once issued, the duplicate carries the same legal weight as the original. If you previously applied for a duplicate and then locate the original, only one title is valid at a time — the most recently issued document supersedes earlier ones. Verify current fees and processing times at flhsmv.gov.

Transferring a vehicle from a deceased owner's name in Florida depends on whether the estate went through probate and how the vehicle was titled:

• If the estate was probated, the executor or personal representative can transfer the title using Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary issued by the probate court.
• For smaller estates, Florida may allow a simplified affidavit process under certain conditions — the FLHSMV has specific forms and eligibility thresholds.
• If the vehicle was jointly titled with right of survivorship, the surviving owner may be able to transfer or sell the vehicle with a death certificate and the existing title.
• If the title is solely in the deceased owner's name and no probate was opened, the process can be more complex and may require legal guidance.

For inherited vehicle situations, we recommend consulting the FLHSMV or your local Tax Collector office, and a licensed Florida attorney for complex estate matters.

If you still owe money on your vehicle, a lienholder (typically a bank, credit union, or finance company) is listed on your Florida title. To sell the vehicle with a clean title, the lien must be satisfied first:

• Pay off the remaining loan balance. The lienholder will then issue a lien release document.
• In Florida, lienholders are required to release the lien within a certain number of days after payoff. The lien release must be presented to transfer a clean title.
• If the vehicle is worth less than the outstanding loan balance, you will need to cover the difference or negotiate with the lender before a clean title can be issued.
• Some lenders hold the physical title until the loan is paid — contact your lender to understand their specific process.

Call us at (800) 249-0097 to discuss your situation — we can help you understand your options.

If your vehicle is titled in another state and you are selling it in Florida, the process depends on whether you have already established Florida residency and registered the vehicle here:

• If you are a Florida resident and have not yet transferred the title to Florida, you may be able to sell the vehicle using the out-of-state title — but the buyer will need to handle the Florida title application.
• If the out-of-state title has a lienholder listed, the lien release process follows the rules of the state that issued the title.
• Some states use electronic titles (e-titles) rather than paper titles. If your title is held electronically by another state's DMV, you may need to request a paper title before selling in Florida.
• Salvage, rebuilt, or branded titles from other states may have additional requirements when transferred to Florida.

Verify current requirements with the FLHSMV or your local Tax Collector office.

Some vehicles present title challenges that go beyond a simple lost-title replacement:

• Vehicles that have never been titled in Florida (e.g., very old vehicles, off-road equipment, or vehicles purchased informally without a title transfer).
• Vehicles with a salvage, rebuilt, or junk title — these carry a branded title designation that must be disclosed and may affect the sale process.
• Vehicles where the title is in someone else's name and no formal transfer was ever completed.
• Vehicles with title discrepancies such as a VIN mismatch, name misspelling, or incorrect odometer entry.

These situations can be complex. We recommend contacting the FLHSMV or your local Tax Collector office, and consulting a licensed Florida attorney if ownership is disputed or unclear. You are also welcome to contact us at (800) 249-0097 to discuss documentation issues before proceeding.