Florida Bill of Sale: Why You Need One and How to Fill It Out Correctly

Florida does not always require a bill of sale to transfer a title — but selling a car without one is one of the riskiest things a private seller can do. It is your proof of the date, the price, and the "as-is" condition of the vehicle.

You can generate and download a free, ready-to-sign version on our Florida bill of sale page.

What a bill of sale actually protects you from

For sellers: tolls, red-light cameras, parking tickets and accidents that happen after the buyer drives away. Paired with a filed Notice of Sale, it is your legal cutoff date.

For buyers: a seller who later claims a higher price, disputes the mileage, or promises a warranty they never intended to honor.

For both: the tax office. Florida assesses 6% sales tax on the sale price. A documented price prevents an inflated assessment.

The 8 things every Florida bill of sale must include

1. Full legal names and addresses of buyer and seller
2. Date of sale
3. Year, make, model and body type
4. Complete 17-digit VIN (verify it against the dash — run a free VIN check)
5. Exact odometer reading and the date it was read
6. Purchase price (write "GIFT" if no money changed hands)
7. An "as-is, no warranty" statement
8. Signatures of all parties — plus a notary if a lienholder or out-of-state buyer is involved

Florida''s official combined form is HSMV 82050, which doubles as a Notice of Sale. You can also use our version, which includes both the bill of sale and a printed checklist. Browse other forms on our forms library.

Step by step for a private sale in Florida

1. Before money changes hands: confirm the VIN matches, check for open recalls on the free NHTSA recall lookup, and confirm there is no lien printed on the title.
2. Fill out the bill of sale in duplicate. Both parties keep an original.
3. Seller signs the title in the "Transfer of Title by Seller" section — printed name, signature, date and price. Never leave the buyer''s side blank.
4. Seller removes the plate. In Florida the plate stays with the person, not the car.
5. Seller files the Notice of Sale with FLHSMV the same day.
6. Buyer files for the title within 30 days — see our Florida title transfer guide.

Mistakes we see every week

• The odometer line is left blank. Federal law requires it and the state will reject the transfer.
• The price is written as "$1" on a $10,000 car. The tax office can and does reassess.
• The VIN is copied from an old insurance card with a typo.
• The seller never files the Notice of Sale and gets a toll bill six weeks later.
• Whiteout or scribbles anywhere on the title — that voids the document entirely.

Do I need a notary?

For most Florida private-party sales, no. You do need notarization when a lien satisfaction is involved, when an heir signs on behalf of an estate, or when a buyer or seller signs out of state. We are notaries on site, so both signatures can be handled in one visit — book a time.

Selling to a dealer or buying from one

Dealers handle the paperwork, but you should still keep a signed bill of sale and confirm they filed the transfer. Licensed dealers can process titles and tags through our dealer services for same-day filings.

Frequently asked questions

Is a handwritten bill of sale valid in Florida? Yes, if it contains the required details and both signatures. Typed is safer for legibility.

Does a bill of sale transfer ownership? No. Only the signed title, filed with the state, transfers ownership.

How long should I keep it? At least three years, or until you''ve confirmed the title moved out of your name.

Can I get the official state form? Yes — see the FLHSMV forms page or use our free generator.

Get your form now

Download a free Florida bill of sale, fill it in, and bring both copies with the signed title. We''ll file the transfer, the Notice of Sale and the registration in one visit — pricing is flat and listed on our pricing page.