Applying For A Duplicate Title In Florida
NOTE: If you find the original title, you need to turn it in to the tax collectors office to be destroyed. A duplicate title invalidates the original.
You can apply for a duplicate title mail or inperson at any local county tax collectors office. To get a replacement title, youll need to visit local tax collectors office and bring:
The DMV will process your application within 10 days. Youll then receive your replacement title in the mail. Not fast enough for you? Some county tax collector offices offer expedited title services where you can get your title on the spot.
If you are applying by mail, you will send the applications and fees to your local tax collectors office.
Fl Dealership Car Title Transfers
When you buy a car or other vehicle from a licensed dealer, they’ll usually handle the title and registration paperwork on your behalf.
If you choose to title the vehicle with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles yourself, you can follow the steps in Private Sale Auto Title Transfers below.
How To Register A Car In Florida Without A Title
In Florida, drivers may not register a vehicle for on-road use without the car’s title. If you do not have a Florida vehicle title, you may request a duplicate title with a form provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles . When a duplicate title is issued, you can register your vehicle. This form can also be used to obtain a title for a newly purchased vehicle, if the previous owner has lost the original title.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Find Out The Value Of My Car
Title A New Florida Motor Vehicle
How do I Title a Vehicle purchased at a Florida dealership?
If you have purchased a vehicle from a Florida dealership, the dealer is required by law to process the application for title and registration.
How do I Title a Vehicle purchased at an Out-of-state dealership?
If you have purchased a vehicle from an out-of-state dealership, the following is required:
The Florida Auto Title Application
To get car titles, vehicle owners must complete an Application for Certificate of Title . Drivers may use the new or used car title application to apply for a vehicle registration certificate, validation decal and metal license plate at the same time.
When completing the new car title application, motorists must include information pertaining to the vehicle owner, motor vehicle and the lienholder, if applicable. To obtain a DMV car title in FL, drivers must provide the following information:
- The name, birth date, gender, driver license number, address and email address of the vehicle owner and co-owner .
- The vehicles make, model year, body and fuel type, color, car title number, license plate number, weight and vehicle identification number .
- Lienholder information, including the name, address, email address and signature of the lienholder .
- The transfer type and whether the transfer is a sale, gift, court order or repossession.
- An odometer declaration.
Additionally, section eight of the Florida auto title application requires applicants to perform a VIN inspection before they may obtain a new title. A state law enforcement officer or motor vehicle dealer must perform a VIN inspection and complete section eight of the application before the vehicle owner may submit the form to the county tax collectors office.
Don’t Miss: When Do You Turn Car Seat Forward
Disabled Person Parking Permit
Individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities and transporting organizations may apply for a disabled person parking permit. A completed form HSMV 83039 Application for Disabled Person Parking Permit is required. The applicant and certifying authority or physician must have signed the application within the last 12 months. The application must include original signatures and the applicants valid Florida drive license/ID card or photocopy. Certifying authorities and physicians are listed on the back of the application. A representative can mail or deliver applications. Representatives must have the applicants license/ID card or photocopy and the completed application with original signatures.
Types of Permits
A permanent permit is valid for four years. There is no charge to apply or renew a permanent permit. Renewals require a new HSMV 83039 Application for Disabled Person Parking Permit signed by the applicant and certifying physician or authority.
A person with a temporary disability may apply for a temporary disabled person parking permit . The fee is $15.00. The permit will only be issued for the period indicated by the certifying authority or physician and may not exceed six months from the date of issuance. If the need for the temporary disabled person parking permit exceeds six months, an additional temporary permit may be issued. If the additional permit is applied for within 12 months from the issuance of the first permit, no additional fee is required.
Florida Dmv Hours And Contact Information
For more information on questions specific to your title transfer scenario, clarification on the title transfer process in the state of Florida, or for FL DMV hours and to find the DMV location nearest to you, visit the official Florida Department of Motor Vehicles/Highway Safety and MotorVehicle website by clicking here.
Common Questions About Florida Title Transfer
Are there any questions about transferring a car title that we didnt cover?
We are constantly updating our content and welcome your feedback. Leave us a comment and let us know any other questions you might have regarding how to transfer a car title in the state of Florida.
Also Check: What Cylinder Is My Car
Selling A Junk Car In Florida
If youre looking to get rid of a junk car, or perhaps your vehicle has been totaled, and youre selling it for scrap, you can expect to get far less money than you would receive for a functional car. Youll receive the raw materials market value based on the vehicles weight in most cases. Instead of thousands of dollars, a junk car may only be worth hundreds.
But that doesnt mean you cant still find a fair deal. One of the best ways to make sure youre getting the best possible deal is to call a handful of scrap yards and collect a few offers.
Utility And Boat Trailers
1,999 pounds and under
Florida does not issue titles on utility and boat trailers weighing 1,999 pounds or less. These trailers receive a license plate and a registration that serves as the ownership document and contains a bill of sale. For registration requirements, read our boat/utility trailer publication.
2,000 pounds and over
Utility and boat trailers weighing 2,000 pounds or more require a title and registration. If you have purchased a trailer that weighs 2,000 pounds or more, read our Florida title transfer publication and out-of-state title transfer publication for full requirements.
If the trailer is homemade and has never been titled or registered, you must obtain an inspection and an FLT number from a DMV Regional Office before applying for title and registration. To schedule an appointment, call the Palmetto DMV Regional Office at .
You can find a list of trailer weigh stations in our boat/utility trailer publication.
Recommended Reading: What Can I Sell My Car For
How Do I Get My Florida Vehicle Title
If your vehicle is paid off and you dont owe anything on your vehicle loan and their are no lien holders on the vehicle title, you should have access to your vehicle title. If for some reason you did not receive your Florida motor vehicle title, or you need a duplicate vehicle title, you can contact the Florida Highway Safety Motor Vehicle Department to get your title. You can visit their website and download and mail in the forms to obtain a duplicate vehicle title or you can visit a branch in person, which will expedite the process. You will need to provide your Florida drivers license and pay a nominal fee, then your new title will be mailed to you on the address listed on the existing vehicle title. If you have never received your Florida vehicle title in the first place then you might want to visit an FLHSMV office in person so that there is no confusion on where to send the title and to verify all the correct information is listed on your Florida motor vehicle title.
Titles With Two Owners
In Florida, vehicles, mobile homes or vessels that are owned by two or more owners can have the ownership joined by either an and or or.
Owners joined by and indicates that owners share equal responsibility for the vehicle, mobile home or vessel, and owners must be present or have the title certificate signed by each owner as seller in order for the title to be transferred out of their names.
Owners joined by or indicates that either owner can take individual responsibility for the vehicle, mobile home or vessel, and either owner may be present or may sign a bill of sale in order for the title to be transferred out of their names. Please note: When a title with two owners is joined by or, neither owner can remove their name leaving the title in the name of the other owner. The new owner must make application for title.
Also Check: What Was Your First Car
Pay Off Your Lien To Keep Your Title Clean
Before you sell your vehicle, youll need to have a clean title with no lien. This is likely not a concern if you already own your car outright. However, if you still owe money on your vehicle, this will need to be resolved before completing a transaction.
If youre selling or trading your vehicle in at a dealership, you dont typically have to worry about your lienholder. As long as the dealer is paying you more than you still owe on the car, the money will simply be deducted from whatever they pay you. Dealerships are able to do this because Florida gives them up to ten days to pay off a lien after taking ownership of the vehicle.
On the other hand, private buyers receive no such grace period. The lien must be paid off in full before they can take possession. Once the bank has received full payment, they will report the payment to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Department, at which point youll be issued a new title with no lien.
If youve lost your original title, youll need to have it replaced, even if your car loan has been paid off. To do this, youll need to submit HSMV form 82101 along with a small fee. If you need to get your title quickly, some counties will allow you to pay an additional fast title fee that usually only takes a few days to process and receive.
Duplicate Vehicle Title Fees In Florida
The state of Florida has different title fees you need to know, such as:
- New vehicles: $77.25
- Vehicles previously registered in Florida: $75.25
- Out-of-state vehicles: $77.25
- Adding a lien to a vehicle title: $74.25
- Printed paper title additional fee: $2.50
- Expedited fast title additional fee: $10
If youre requesting a duplicate Florida vehicle title, make sure you have the payment for the type of vehicle title you need.
Don’t Miss: How To Program Key Fob To Car
Just Moved To Florida
If you’ve just moved and have your new license plates, Florida law says you’ll have 10 days in which you will need to register your vehicle with the FL Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles after you have started:
- Working in Florida.
- Registering your kids in a Florida education program.
- A lease or rental agreement with an apartment owner or homeowner.
You must get Florida insurance, title your motor vehicle in FL while you are registering and getting a new license plate for it. You may title your car without going through registration, but it won’t be legal to drive on Florida roads without complete registration, all rights reserved.
How To Avoid Buying A Car With Flood Damage: This Is How Scammers Clean The Title
Fox Weather explains that scammers will wash the title from flooded cars that insurance firms have declared totaled.
“That means they take the VIN number from a similar vehicle that’s been junked and attach it to that flooded vehicle,” said Robert Sinclair. “And then they can make repairs.”
The flooded car will acquire a new vehicle identification number, and an entirely new past without a salvage title. Fox Weather says that companies like CARFAX use the VIN to gather data and compile vehicle histories.
They get reports from state motor vehicle offices, insurance companies, repair and service facilities, law enforcement, fire departments, manufacturers and similar sources to compile a vehicle history, says Fox Weather before adding that the report will not include any unreported car crashes, accidents, or repairs.
Flood-damaged vehicles have major problems that dealers cant cover up for a very long time. For instance, the water can damage the electrical system and short-circuit the electronics on board, and occasionally, these problems are not immediately obvious.
Also, floodwater can lead to corrosion, which destroys the engine and the brakes, putting the life of the driver and passengers at risk. “If they’ve been flooded, particularly by storm surge, by saltwater, that can just cause a tremendous number of problems, can shut out electrical components and damage the vehicle very heavily. But, you might be able to get it running again,” said Robert Sinclair.
Don’t Miss: When Does Car Insurance Go Down For Males
Title Transfer Requirements When Selling A Car To A Minor
Can I sell a car to someone under 18 years old? What do I need to do?
They are the same as when selling to an adult. They must have insurance in order to have the title transferred into their name.
If you have any further questions about selling or buying a car in Florida, and how to transfer a title, give the FL DHSMV a call at 850-617-2000 during normal business hours.
Check out their Contact Us page for a wide range of self-services and departments ready to help you with all your DHSMV needs.
Surrendering Your License Plate
If you have sold or otherwise disposed of your vehicle, and have acquired a replacement vehicle, you may be able to transfer the license plate. This transfer may exempt you from the $225 Initial Registration Fee.
If you have cancelled your auto insurance but still have possession of the vehicle, the registered owner must bring the license plate and registration into a local Tax Collectors office. The specialist will take possession of your license plate and provide you with the documentation that you will need to retain. If you choose to reinstate your insurance and register the same vehicle or another vehicle you acquire, you would need to submit this documentation to avoid the $225 Initial Registration Fee, if applicable.
You May Like: What Year Car For Uber
What Is The Difference Between A Car Title And A Vehicle Registration In Florida
Although vehicle owners need to obtain DMV car registration documentation and titling certificates before they may operate their motor vehicles, car registration and title documents serve different purposes.
The main difference between motor vehicle registration and titles is that a title establishes proof of vehicle ownership. In comparison, FL auto registration shows that vehicle owners meet registration prerequisites, including the payment of registration taxes and fees.
Military & Veterans Information
Under section 322.21, Florida Statutes, veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability are eligible for a no fee driver license, with endorsements, or an identification card. The same veterans are also entitled to a no fee Veterans designation on their driver license or ID card. The V designation can be used to show proof of status for discounts at participating merchants. Qualified veterans should provide a valid identification card from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, indicating the 100 percent, total and permanent service-connected disability rating.
Read Also: Why Do Police Touch Your Car
Transfer A Florida Title
How do I Transfer a Florida Title?
To transfer ownership of a vehicle currently titled in Florida, you must bring the following to any of our offices:
