A Florida bill of sale records that a seller sold a vehicle, boat or other item to a buyer for a stated price on a stated date. Florida's form HSMV 82050 works as the seller's notice of sale and, when both seller and buyer complete it, as the bill of sale. A bill of sale used for a title transfer must be an original or certified copy signed by both parties and show the buyer's name, the price and a full description of the vehicle.
Is a bill of sale required in Florida?
Florida has an official form, the Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale (HSMV 82050). FLHSMV does not ask for the bill of sale to be notarized. Check the current form instructions for any signature that must be witnessed.
| Florida at a glance | |
|---|
| Agency | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) |
| State bill of sale form | Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale (HSMV 82050) |
| Notary | Not required for the bill of sale |
| Seller | Notify FLHSMV of the sale within 30 days with the notice of sale on the back of the title or form HSMV 82050. |
| Buyer | Transfer the title within 30 calendar days to avoid a late transfer penalty fee. |
How to transfer a vehicle in Florida
- The seller completes the transfer section on the back of the Florida title.
- Seller and buyer complete HSMV 82050 as the bill of sale, or sign a bill of sale like the one on this page.
- The seller files the notice of sale within 30 days so the registration is removed from the vehicle.
- The buyer takes the title and the bill of sale to a tax collector's office or license plate agent within 30 days.
If the buyer never transfers the title and the seller has not filed a notice of sale, the seller can stay liable for the vehicle, so file the notice the day you sell.
What the buyer brings to the tax collector
To title a vehicle bought in a private sale, the buyer takes these to a county tax collector's office or license plate agent within 30 days:
- The Florida title, with the seller's transfer section completed and signed
- An Application for Certificate of Title (HSMV 82040)
- The original bill of sale signed by seller and buyer, showing the buyer's name, the price and a full description of the vehicle
- Proof of Florida insurance and a photo ID, to register the vehicle and get a plate
- Payment for the title fee and sales tax on the price
Florida plates stay with the seller, not the car, so the buyer needs a new plate or a transfer of their own plate.
Florida title transfer: special cases
- Car with a loan on it. A title with a lien cannot be transferred in a private sale until the lienholder reports the lien satisfied. Pay off the loan first and get the lien released.
- Car titled in another state. The VIN must be checked by a licensed Florida dealer, a Florida notary or a law enforcement officer, on form HSMV 82042 or in the VIN section of HSMV 82040.
- Odometer. For model year 2011 and newer vehicles, the mileage must be disclosed on every transfer until the vehicle is 20 years old. Model year 2010 and older vehicles are exempt. The odometer section of HSMV 82050 and this form both record the reading.
- Boats. Florida titles boats through the same tax collector offices. Use the hull ID instead of a VIN, or fill in the boat bill of sale.
Other Florida bills of sale
The same form works for most private sales in Florida. These versions add the fields each item needs: trailer bill of sale, motorcycle bill of sale, mobile home bill of sale and gun bill of sale. Florida has no state bill of sale form for a private gun sale, but a signed bill of sale is a useful record of the date, price and serial number.
This page helps you fill in and keep a record of the sale. It is not legal advice.
How to fill in this Florida bill of sale
The form above opens with Florida already chosen. Enter the seller and buyer, the county, what is being sold, the year, make, model and VIN (or hull ID for a boat), the odometer reading and the price. The price is written out in words, and the text is written for you as you type. Choose "Yes" under notary acknowledgment to add a notary block, then print two copies and sign them. Download a PDF or an editable Word file, or print.
Rules, fees and forms change. Check the current requirements on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website before you sell. For other states, see bill of sale by state or the general bill of sale template.