Florida residents who are selling or buying a vehicle will need to recognize that they must include a Florida bill of sale in the documentation for the auto transaction. Even informal kinds of sales require a bill of sale in order to show the sales price and other important information about the vehicle.
Sellers can get a bill of sale sample directly from the state of Florida’s Department of Motor Vehicles online. The full form can be printed and used as an official sale document.
The state of Florida has some very specific requirements for what must be on the bill of sale for a vehicle transaction. Basic information that is common on all bill of sale forms includes the year, make, model, and body style of the vehicle, as well as a VIN number or vehicle identification number. This serial number for the vehicle is very important to prevent fraud and to show what specific vehicle is being sold.
The Florida bill of sale must also include specific information about the seller and the buyer. The identities of each individual must be fully represented on the form. Addresses must be street addresses and not Post Office boxes. Florida also has different rules for dealers who are creating a bill of sale for an official sale from their lot.
In addition to the above, the state of Florida also wants any created or existing liens on the vehicle to be documented on the bill of sale. This means that if the vehicle being sold is being financed, the lender must also be represented on the form.
According to experts, Florida also requires that the bill of sale be notarized. The seller and the buyer must accompany each other to a notary public and sign the form in the presence of the notary.
Another item that must be included in the bill of sale is an odometer reading. The state provides penalties for falsely reporting mileage on a vehicle when creating sale documentation. It’s important to provide an accurate mileage as part of the vehicle titling process.
The buyer must bring the Florida bill of sale to the local Department of Motor Vehicles when attempting to title the vehicle into their own name so that they can register it for the road. Lack of a formal bill of sale will hold up the registration process and prevent legal driving. That’s why it’s important for a seller to offer a bill of sale form and for a buyer to request it before taking ownership of the vehicle. A legitimate title is also necessary for the sale of any vehicle, and the buyer must bring the title to the DMV to be transferred.
The specific documentation related to vehicle sale is very important. A car or truck is not like any other possession, and each state has its own technical requirements about how a vehicle must be sold. Florida residents should anticipate the specific requirements when visiting their DMV.
