How To Sell A Car In Florida: Step-By-Step Guide (2026)

What You Need to Know Before Selling a Car in Florida

Selling a vehicle in Florida is not as simple as just handing the car keys over. You’ll also need to remove the license plate, transfer the title and file a notice of sale. You can obtain a bill or notice of sale online from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

Getting a notarized bill of sale isn’t always required, but it can be a good idea to avoid disputes or issues later on.

How to Sell Your Car to a Dealership in Florida

When it comes to how to sell a car in Florida, one of the easiest ways to do so is to involve a dealership. You will need to have the vehicle appraised and gather the necessary paperwork, including the vehicle title or lien payoff information. Typically, the dealership will handle the title transfer and taxes involved in selling the car.

How to Sell Your Car Privately in Florida

To sell your car privately, you must sign the transfer of title and complete the odometer disclosure. The buyer, not the seller, must perform the transfer at a DMV. You’ll need to cancel your insurance and remove the license plate. In these sales, the license plates typically stay with the seller, not the car. The last step is to complete a notice of sale.

Required Documents and Forms for Selling a Car in Florida

You will need the Florida Certificate of Title. If there is a lien on the car, you need to submit a lien satisfaction document. If the vehicle was not previously titled in Florida, you should file a VIN verification. Vitally, you will need the notice of sale to protect yourself against liability.

Similarly, Texas also requires sellers to file a vehicle transfer notification, and failing to do so can leave them exposed to citations or accident-related claims after the sale.

How to Transfer a Car Title in Florida

The seller must complete the Transfer of Title by Seller section on the current title and sign it. The document should include the purchaser’s name and address, the selling price and the date of the sale. If the vehicle is from 2011 or newer, an odometer reading will be necessary, too. For vehicles with liens, the seller must offer the lien payoff details.

To avoid penalties, the title generally needs to be transferred within 30 days of the sale. That deadline applies even if the vehicle was a gift.

This is best done alongside the buyer at a Tax Collector’s office. The buyer will then have to submit Form 82040 and pay sales taxes and fees.

How to Sell a Car With a Loan in Florida

You can pay the loan off and receive the title or trade the vehicle in at a dealership. To accomplish this, you must obtain a 10- to 15-day payoff quote from the lender. This will include the principal plus interest. Make sure to also assess the vehicle’s equity. This means comparing the payoff amount to the car’s actual market value.

If your vehicle has positive equity, you should be able to pay off the lender and keep the rest of the money when you sell the car. If it has negative equity, however, the sale price is lower than the payoff. This means you’ll have to pay the lender the difference.

Protect Yourself After the Sale: Notice of Sale and License Plates

The Notice of Sale form protects you against civil liability. If you don’t take this step and the buyer breaks Florida traffic laws, such as Florida left lane laws, and gets into an accident, you could be responsible for the losses. You must also remove the license plate if you’re selling a vehicle.

Removing the Florida vehicle license plates helps to protect you from liability. It prevents your plate from being involved in criminal activities or accidents unrelated to you. You may choose to continue using the plate on a new or replacement vehicle. Otherwise, you will need to return or destroy the plates.

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