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Florida Vehicle Bill of Sale

Florida combines the bill of sale and the notice of sale into one document: form HSMV 82050, "Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale". Filing it is what removes the seller's registration from the vehicle and heads off civil liability for whatever the buyer does with it.

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  • Checked against FL rules, September 2026
Page 1 of the vehicle bill of sale

Florida also does something many states don't: the licence plate stays with the seller, not the car.

What Florida requires

  1. Seller: file the notice of sale

    Florida law requires the seller to file HSMV 82050 with a motor vehicle service center. It removes your registration from the vehicle and helps you avoid civil liability.

  2. Take your plate off the car

    Plates stay with the seller in Florida. Remove it before the buyer drives away, and surrender it if you're cancelling the insurance.

  3. Buyer: 30 days to apply for title

    The buyer has 30 calendar days to submit the title application, or a late transfer penalty fee applies.

  4. Notarization: recommended, not required

    Florida doesn't require a notarized bill of sale, but the department suggests notarizing it for extra protection.

Worth knowing

  • HSMV 82050 does double duty. It can serve as the bill of sale when both the seller and the purchaser complete it, and as the notice of sale that protects the seller.
  • The back of the Florida title has a notice of sale section that can be used instead in a private sale.
  • Don't hand over the plate with the car. Any tolls or tickets on that plate stay yours.
  • Keep proof you filed. If liability comes up later, the filing is what clears you.

Questions

Does Florida require a bill of sale?

Florida requires the seller to file a notice of sale, and form HSMV 82050 covers both notice of sale and bill of sale. Completing it with the buyer satisfies both.

Does a Florida bill of sale need to be notarized?

It isn't required, though the department recommends notarizing for added protection. Page 2 of our template is a notary acknowledgment if you want one.

Do license plates transfer with the car in Florida?

No. Plates stay with the seller and can be transferred to another vehicle or surrendered.

What is the penalty for transferring a title late in Florida?

A buyer who applies later than 30 calendar days after the sale pays a late transfer penalty fee.

Checked against Florida’s own motor vehicle agency in September 2026. Rules change — confirm on the official pages listed before you rely on this, and treat it as general information rather than legal advice.