Remove your license plate.
FLHSMV’s consumer guide instructs sellers to remove the license plate when selling a vehicle. Check with the appropriate office whether to transfer or surrender the plate for your situation.
Who reports the sale?
For a private sale, Florida requires the owner to notify the department within 30 days after the sale and delivery. Transfers to or by a licensed motor vehicle dealer, and qualifying insurer transactions, are excluded from that owner-notification rule. Identify the actual purchaser before choosing the reporting step.
See Florida Statutes section 319.22(2)(b) and our Notice of Sale guide for the applicable route. Keep signed sale records in either case.
Resolve ownership questions before pickup.
If your title is missing, held electronically or lists a lender or another owner, ask the tax collector or FLHSMV which process applies. Describe the document you have rather than assuming a bill of sale will replace everything else.
For a salvage or dismantling transaction, confirm the applicable documents with the relevant authority. The general consumer guide is a starting point, not a complete checklist for every vehicle.
Prepare a handover record.
- Buyer and vehicle detailsCheck that the transaction documents identify the correct parties and vehicle.
- Agreed termsKeep the price, collection arrangements and any inspection conditions in writing.
- Personal belongingsRemove belongings and prepare the keys you have.
- Copies and confirmationsKeep your sale record and notification evidence together after collection.
For local resources, choose the Florida city where the vehicle is parked. For a car that cannot be driven, read non-running vehicle preparation.
Notice of Sale distinction checked September 10, 2026; other source review dates remain September 9, 2026. Verify current instructions for your title and transaction before handover.