How to Sell a Car in Florida
If you live in Florida and are ready to sell your car, get your car in the best condition possible. Fix minor mechanical issues, buff out exterior scratches and detail your car both inside and out to maximize your profit. Locate the required paperwork and familiarize yourself with the Florida car selling process. Know how to sell a car in Florida to ensure that the sell is legitimate.
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Instructions
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Get the car insured. In the state of Florida, it is the seller's responsibility to have insurance on the car before the title transfer can take place. Ask for proof of insurance from the buyer. The buyer must also obtain insurance on the car before the sell can take place.
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Locate the title. In order to make the sell legal in Florida, you must transfer the title to the buyer. If you have lost or misplaced your title, you must apply for a new one before you can sell your car. Download form, "HSMV 82101" online at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fill out the title application and return it to your local tax collector's office.
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Collect the funds from the buyer. Accept payment in the full amount in the form of cash, money order or cashier's check only. If the car you are selling is newer and requires financing, make sure the buyer obtains his own financing and pays you in full. This protects you from having to repossess the car due to non-payment.
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Transfer the title to the buyer by filling in the buyer's information. Include the buyer's name, address and the purchase amount that the buyer paid for your car. Write in the current odometer reading along with the date the car was sold. Print your name in the "Seller" section beneath the column on the right and sign your name in the column on the left. Obtain the buyer's printed name in the "Purchaser" section in the column on the right. Have the buyer sign their name beneath yours on the left.
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Give the buyer a printed bill of sale. This documents the sell and is the legal receipt. Include the date and a complete description of the car. Write in the buyer's name and street address along with the purchaser's name and street address. Record the odometer reading and the amount paid for the car. Type "paid in full" somewhere on the receipt and sign your name beneath it.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to fill out a "Notice of Sell" form at your county tax collectors office in the first 30 days following the sell of your car. This notifies the state that you no longer own the car and frees you from any liabilities associated with the car in the future.
