Vehicle Sales & Purchases

You must complete, sign and submit a Notice of Sale to our office within 30 days of selling a vehicle, vessel or mobile home. The Notice of Sale can be completed either on the back of the Certificate of Title or by using form HSMV-82050 - Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel.

How to Submit a Notice of Sale

Via Mail

Orange County Tax Collector
P.O. Box 545100
Orlando FL 32854

Via Email (Use the subject line: Notice of Sale Submission)

How to Complete a Florida Title

How-to-complete-a-title-768x387

The sections to be completed by the seller only are as follows:

1 – Purchaser’s Name
2 – Purchaser’s Address
3 – Selling Price
4 – Date Sold

Odometer Disclosure, which includes:

5 – Choosing 5 or 6 digits
6 – Odometer Reading
7 – Date Read
8 – Choosing a status of Actual, In Excess, or Not Actual

9 – Seller’s Signature
10 – Seller’s Printed Name
11 – Co-Seller’s Signature (as needed)
12 – Co-Seller’s Printed Name (as needed)

The sections to be completed by the purchaser only are as follows:

13 – Purchaser’s Signature
14 – Purchaser’s Printed Name
15 – Co-Purchaser’s Signature
16 – Co-Purchaser’s Printed Name

Private Sales (Selling to an Individual)

Seller’s Checklist:

Complete and Sign the Transfer of Title by Seller Portion of the Title

For a sale to be legal in Florida, the seller must transfer the title to the buyer. (See How to Complete a Florida Title above.)

Duplicate Titles

If the title was paper, and it has been lost or misplaced, the seller must apply for a duplicate title before selling the vehicle.

Electronic Titles

If the title is held electronically, you may request that the title be printed and mailed to you. To obtain a paper title in person, visit our office.

Paper Titles

If you are in possession of a paper title, you are required as the seller to release the title to the purchaser by completing the Transfer of Title by Seller section on the Florida title. (See How to Complete a Florida Title above.)

Record the Odometer Reading

The odometer reading at the time of purchase is required to be recorded on the title, and both the buyer and seller must acknowledge the odometer disclosure.

Remove the Tag (License Plate)

License plates, also known as tags, stay with the seller not the vehicle. The seller may choose to transfer the tag to a new or replacement vehicle; however, the seller must surrender the tag if:

Complete the Sale

The seller is required submit a Notice of Sale to our office within 30 days of selling a vehicle, vessel or mobile home. The Notice of Sale can be completed either on the back of the Certificate of Title or by using form HSMV-82050 - Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel.

Once a Notice of Sale is filed, it is the buyer's responsibility to apply for title and registration before they can legally operate the vehicle. The buyer must complete an Application for Certificate of Title with/without Registration form for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Vessel, attach it to the title and submit it to our office to transfer the title into their name. This must be done within 30 days to avoid a late transfer penalty fee. (See Purchasing or Bringing a Vehicle, Vessel or Mobile Home to Florida below.)

How to Submit a Notice of Sale

Via Mail

Orange County Tax Collector
P.O. Box 545100
Orlando FL 32854

Via Email (Use the subject line: Notice of Sale Submission)

Private Purchases (Purchasing from an Individual)

Buyer's Checklist

Conduct a VIN Inspection (If Applicable)

If the vehicle was not previously titled in Florida, the buyer must complete the Vehicle Identification Number and Odometer Verification form, which must be verified by a:

Record the Odometer Reading

The odometer reading at the time of purchase is required to be recorded on the title, and both the buyer and seller must acknowledge the odometer disclosure.

Remove the Tag (Seller)

The seller must remove the tag from the sold vehicle.

Visit Our Office to Apply for Title & Register the Vehicle

To apply for title and register the vehicle, customers must visit one of our six locations.

If a vehicle is already titled in Florida, the title must be released by the seller to the purchaser. If the title is paper, the seller will complete the Transfer of Title by Seller section on the Florida title. (See How to Complete a Florida Title above.) If the title is held electronically, the seller must request a paper title or the seller and buyer must both visit us in person to complete a title reassignment.

Follow These Steps for Florida and Out-of-State Title Transfers

  1. Will the Purchaser(s) or owner(s) of the Vehicle, Vessel or Mobile Home be Present? If not, you must bring an original Power of Attorney.
  2. Complete theApplication for Certificate of Titlefor a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Vessel. If the “Transfer of Title by Seller” section is not fully completed, we cannot transfer the title. The title must be signed by both the purchaser(s) and seller(s) before transferring. (Note: Florida law requires a transfer of ownership to be completed within 30 days of the sale of a vehicle otherwise the transaction will be subject to a $20.00 penalty.)
  3. Bring the Bill of Sale with you. (Notice of Sale/ Bill of Sale DHSMV Form 82050) The State of Florida sales tax is 6% and is collected on the sale price, less the trade-in. Sales tax credit may be allowed for sales tax paid in another state. Other exemptions may apply for divorce proceedings, inheritance, adding a spouse, etc. Orange County also has a discretionary tax on the first $5,000 of the sale price.
  4. Proof of Florida Insurance and Valid Proof of Identification is Required. A Florida insurance card or policy must be presented at the Tax Collector’s Office as well as valid proof of identification. For U.S. Citizens, a valid Driver’s License, State-issued ID or U.S. Passport are all acceptable forms of identification. For non-U.S. Citizens, a valid foreign passport is acceptable.

To register a vehicle titled in another state, customers must visit one of our 6 locations and follow these steps.

  1. Will the Purchaser(s) or owner(s) of the Vehicle, Vessel or Mobile Home be Present? If not, customers must bring an original Power of Attorney.
  2. Application for Title. Complete the Application for Title for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Vessel.
  3. Provide Title or Lienholder Information. Customers must bring the out-of-state title in their name or assigned to them andtheir current registration. If recording a lien, the lienholder’s name, address and date of lien are required. If the lienholder is an individual, a copy of their driver license must be included.

If the vehicle is titled in the customer’s name but is financed, and the title is being held by the lienholder, customers must submit complete lienholder information, including the account number, lienholder name, mailing address, and fax number and the customer’s current registration.

A copy of the lease agreement is required for leased vehicles. Customers must also submit complete lienholder information, including the account number, lienholder name, mailing address, and fax number and the customers current registration.

  1. Proof of Florida Insurance and Valid Proof of Identification is required. A Florida insurance card or policy must be presented as well as valid proof of identification. For U.S. Citizens, a valid Driver’s License, State-issued ID or U.S. Passport are all acceptable forms of identification. For non-U.S. Citizens, a valid foreign passport is acceptable.
  2. A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Odometer Reading Verification is required. Customers must provide Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and odometer reading verification, either in person, by bringing the vehicle to one of our offices, or by completing DHSMV form 82042-Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Odometer Verification.
  3. Transfer of Ownership, Bill of Sale & Florida Sales Tax. Bring the Bill of Sale with you (Notice of Sale/ Bill of Sale DHSMV Form 82050). If a transfer of ownership is involved, there must also be proper proof of sale indicating the new owner’s name and address. The State of Florida sales tax is 6% and is collected on the sale price, less the trade-in. Sales tax credit may be allowed for sales tax paid in another state. Other exemptions may apply for divorce proceedings, inheritance, adding a spouse, etc.