Buying a Car From a Private Seller in Florida

Check the title before any money changes hands

• The seller's name on the title should match their driver license.
• The VIN on the title should match the VIN on the car (on the dashboard by the windshield and the driver's door jamb).
• Look for a lien. Under Florida rules, a car with an unpaid loan can't be legally sold in a private sale until the lender reports the lien satisfied. If there's a lien, the sale needs to wait until it's cleared.
• Run the VIN through NICB's free VINCheck to look for theft or total-loss reports.

Inspect it like a skeptic

Private sales are almost always 'as is,' with no warranty. Pay an independent mechanic you choose for a pre-purchase inspection. If the seller won't allow one, walk away.

Completing the sale

• Both of you fill in the title transfer section, including the odometer reading and the sale price. Both buyer and seller acknowledge the odometer disclosure.
• Get a bill of sale. Florida's form HSMV 82050 works as a notice of sale and bill of sale. The seller should file it to release their responsibility for the car.
• The license plate stays with the seller, not the car. You'll need your own plate or a transfer.
• Meeting at a tax collector's office to finish the paperwork together is the safest way to do it.

Title it within 30 days

You have 30 calendar days after the purchase to transfer the title into your name at a county tax collector's office, or you'll owe a late fee. You'll pay Florida sales tax there too, plus title and registration fees. Bring the signed title, proof of Florida insurance and your ID. If the car was last titled in another state, it will also need a VIN verification.