How to Sell a Car in Florida? 8 Step Complete Guide + Required Paperwork

Peddle

(No service fee)

Peddle is perhaps one of the best ways to sell your used car in Florida because the company would buy it directly.

You just have to submit a quick car sale application through the Peddle website and they will get back to you with a quote.

If you accept the offer Peddle gave you, Peddle agents will schedule the pick-up and take your car within 48 hours without any extra fees. Plus, they will hand you a check right before they leave with your car.

What’s best about Peddle is that you don’t have to worry about your vehicle’s condition, because the company accepts damaged or even complete junk cars.

Peddle Summary

• Buys used, damaged or junk car nationwide
• Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
• Free towing within 48 hours after offer
• Receive payment upon car collection

Craigslist

(No service fee)

Craigslist is a go-to platform for selling and buying used cars locally. The platform is extremely easy to use and it’s free to place your car advertisement on it. Plus, they don’t charge any service fees after your car sells.

However, the biggest downside of Craigslist is that the platform doesn’t filter out its users. This means everyone can make a registration and there’s a risk of encountering fraudulent or scammer buyers. But if you take certain safety precautions, you can avoid getting into trouble and you should be fine.

eBay Motors

(Listing fee: $25 – $95)

eBay probably doesn’t need an introduction and eBay Motors is a specified platform allowing you to list your car online and reach potential buyers.

What’s more, eBay Motors gives you 2 options to sell your car:

1. “Buy it Now” option – you set a fixed price for your car on the platform and buyers will purchase your car at the price you’ve offered.
2. Auction option – potential buyers can place bids, allowing you to get an even better price for your used car.

What Paperwork Do I Need to Sell a Car in Florida?

There are some documents that you’ll need to gather in order to properly sell your car in Florida. Let me provide you a list:

Transfer of Title in Florida: The Importance of Filing Form HSMV 82050

According to Florida law, you must file an HSMV 82050 form. It’s not mandatory, but you can fill this form out at your local motor vehicle service center.

Once filed, your registration will be removed from the vehicle, meaning you’re not responsible for any penalties or civil liabilities related to the vehicle after the sale. So as soon as you file this form, you are released from all such responsibilities.

If you don’t file HSMV 82050 form, you may face penalties and liabilities for actions associated with the new owner of your older car. For example, the new owner may exceed the speed limit on the road, and a law enforcement officer will issue a ticket in your name.

Of course, this example contains the least risk, and something more severe could happen as well. 

That’s the reason you need to file the transfer of title document – to protect yourself from any false accusations and inconveniences.

How to Sell a Car in Florida? A Step-by-step Guide

Now that you know what paperwork is required of you and understand the importance of each document, it’s time to get to action and actually get started with the selling process.

Sell a car in Florida checklist:

1. Examine your car
2. Fix what you can
3. Remove your license plates
4. Get the VIN inspected
5. List your car online
6. Show your car to potential buyers
7. Transfer the title
8. Create a bill of sale

Now let me guide you through the car selling process in Florida step-by-step

Step 1: Examine Your Car

Whether you’re selling your car entirely or selling your car’s parts, you have to examine the car to know what you have. Understanding your car’s condition properly lets you sell it at a competitive price.

So simply go to a trusted mechanic in your area who will examine your car and give you all the information about its condition. For example:

• How well does the starter work?
• Is the engine in good working condition?
• How much tread is on the tires?

Step 2: Fix What You Can

Try to fix any flaws that your car might have. Whether it’s something that came up during the examination or external damage, fixing it might increase the chances of selling your car fast and at a higher price.

However, if there are some major fixes to be done, you can leave them as-is and let the buyer know about it. Just because you have a transmission that slips doesn’t mean nobody will buy your car. In fact, many people in Florida make money or a hobby out of rebuilding cars.

Step 3: Remove Your Licence Plates

Before you sell your car in Florida, you should remove your license plates, because, by Florida law, the license plate stays with the seller and not the vehicle.

You can also remove your plates after you create a bill of sale. But make sure you remove it before the buyer starts using your older car.

Moreover, you’ll also need to apply for a “demonstration-only” temporary license plate tag to allow potential buyers to test drive your vehicle before they purchase it.

You’ll need to provide proof of insurance coverage in order to get a temporary license plate.

Step 4: Get the VIN Inspected

Whether you’ve bought a car in or outside Florida, you must complete a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and Odometer Verification. This form requires verification from you (the owner) and one of the following:

• Florida FLHSMV compliance examiner/officer
• Licensed Florida motor vehicle dealer
• Florida notary public
• Law enforcement officer

Step 5: List Your Car Online

At this point, you can already list your car online to reach potential buyers. You’ll find the 3 best online platforms where you can set up your car advertisement and sell it quickly later on in this article.

Here are some tips that would help you sell your car in Florida easily:

1. Take high-quality photos to showcase different angles of your car. Remember, you don’t need professional equipment to do this. Simply use your smartphone, but make sure there’s good lighting outside so that you can get clear and appealing photos.
2. Craft a short, yet detailed description of your car. Mention its exact condition, even if the vehicle has some issues.
3. Be ready to answer any questions a potential buyer may contact you with.

Step 6: Show Your Car to Potential Buyers

Once a potential buyer who’s interested in purchasing your vehicle contacts you, it’s a good idea to show your car to them.

Note that this is an important step because the buyer can see if the car really matches how you’ve described it in your listing. 

Step 7: Transfer the Title

Transferring the title is an important step in selling your car. And if you’re wondering how to sign over a car title in Florida, here’s everything you need to know.

As per Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles department recommendation, sellers and buyers should perform the private sale at a local motor vehicle service center.

In case your vehicle title is in a digital/electronic format, you can complete a secure title reassignment form HSMV 82994 or HSMV 82092 and disclose the vehicle’s odometer reading. You still must be present at a local motor vehicle service center together with a buyer and provide photo identification.

When filling out the title, you must complete the “Transfer of Title by Seller” section on the front page of the title. This section requires the following:

• Entering the name and address of the buyer
• The odometer reading
• Final sale price
• Date of sale

In order to successfully complete the title transfer procedure, the buyer must complete the HSMV form 82040. You should then attach this form to the title and submit it to a local motor vehicle service center. 

Title transfer must be completed within 30 days of making a sale to avoid a late transfer penalty fee.

Step 8: Create a Bill of Sale

Finally, you should fill out the HSMV form 82050 and notarize it. Once you’ve done that you’ll need to file this form with the local motor vehicle service center to get your registration removed from the vehicle. 

This procedure is important when you sell your car in Florida, because it frees you from liability, protecting you from any tickets or criminal activity accusations linked to the new buyer.

What if You’re Selling a Car with an Existing Lien in Florida?

Having an existing lien on your car will make selling your car privately difficult. To ease the process, you must pay off the lien fully before you even start collecting any paperwork.

After you pay off the lienholder (usually a bank), they must report to the Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicle department that you have paid the lien so the title can be transferred.

However, you won’t necessarily have to pay off the lien if you sell your car to an authorized car dealership. Most dealerships would accept your car even if it has an existing lien. After the sale, it becomes a dealership’s responsibility to satisfy the lien before they resell the car to another customer.

How to Sell a Car in Florida – FAQ

Is a bill of sale required in Florida?

Yes. you need a Florida bill of sale to properly transfer your vehicle ownership. 

Can I transfer a car title online in Florida?

While the Florida Department of Vehicle doesn’t offer an online transfer of a car title, you can do it through a privately-owned company named eTAGS.

Does a Florida car title need to be notarized?

While it may be a good idea to get your car title notarized, it’s not mandatory.

Is flipping cars Illegal in Florida?

Buying and selling cars for profit is illegal across the United States. However, Florida state allows you to legally sell 2 cars within a year.