When you buy a vehicle, you need proof that ownership has passed to you. In Florida, such a document may be the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale. This form is drawn up by the seller but signed by both parties to certify the transfer of ownership from one side to the other.
This form will be useful to all parties to the transaction, both the seller and the buyer. The seller releases their share and thus no longer bears responsibility for the vehicle. And the buyer makes sure that the purchase was made and obtains the motor vehicle in possession.
You can create a personalized Florida Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form using a specialized document builder that will get you through the process step by step:
You can also download a free Florida Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form template as a PDF file to fill and print it out yourself:
What Are the Components of a Florida Vehicle Bill of Sale?
This form is a mandatory legal document for registering your vehicle, so be sure that the form contains all the required components and is completed correctly.
The document must include:
- Motor vehicle description (year, make, body type, model, color, title number, VIN)
- Seller and Buyer names and contact Information
- Sale details (date, money terms)
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Seller and Buyer signatures
It is worth noting that the seller provides this document to the buyer after receiving funds from the buyer. Obtaining this form means the transfer of ownership to the buyer and completes the transaction between the parties.
How to Register a Motor Vehicle in Florida?
To be considered a full owner of a vehicle, it is not enough for you to simply receive a completed vehicle bill of sale from the seller, but you also need to go through the registration process. To do this, you need to visit Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV).
There you must provide the following documents:
- ID or other proof of identity
- Insurance or proof of it
- Application for Certificate of Title
- Bill of sale
Note that the Bill of Sale is a mandatory vehicle registration document in Florida. It is also considered as a seller’s notice of sale.
Let’s talk a little more about the documents that are also needed for registration:
- To prove your identity, you must provide a current driver’s license.
- You must make a formal request for the vehicle to be registered in your name. To do this, you provide The Application for Certificate of Title With / Without Registration.
- You may also need to provide a Vehicle Identification Affidavit and Odometer Declaration (usually part of the Bill of Sale). This must be done if you bought a vehicle in another state or another country.
- If you belong to the US Army, then you will need another document — the Military Forms Packet. This will give you some advantages in registration and taxation.
Next, you will have to pay some fees. Florida provides not only registration fees but also title transfer fees. Their total cost will cost you $ 300.25. Additionally, you also need to pay $ 28 for a license plate.
Your expenses may not end there yet. Depending on the type of your vehicle, you may be charged additional payments, for instance, for a heavyweight or an old car.
Florida Vehicle Bill of Sale Laws and Requirements
The State of Florida requires an official form for this document to be completed. You can find it on the Florida HSMV website. Fill in several copies at once, as the seller, the buyer, and the motor vehicle service center must have their copy. This will be useful if any further proceedings or questions arise.
According to state law, the document must be signed by the seller and the buyer. Additional signatures of witnesses or their presence at the moment of signing are not required.
There are also no strict rules regarding notarization. However, if you have the opportunity, it is best to do so.
Writing and language requirements are pretty simple. You use the official form, written in English, and fill it out in black or blue ink.