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Florida · Paperwork

Florida bill of sale — requirements and free generator

Florida is one of the few states where the seller is legally required to report a private sale. Since July 2009, Florida law has required every seller to file a Notice of Sale — form HSMV 82050, which doubles as the official bill of sale — and Florida Statute § 319.22(2) gives you 30 days to notify FLHSMV after handing over the keys. Filing it is what releases you from civil liability if the buyer racks up tolls, tickets, or worse before retitling. The title itself still transfers ownership: the seller completes the Transfer of Title section on its face — buyer’s name and address, odometer reading, price, and date — and the buyer applies for a new title (form HSMV 82040) at the county tax collector within 30 calendar days to dodge a late-transfer penalty. That same visit is where Florida collects 6% state sales tax plus the county discretionary surtax on the first $5,000 of the price.

Not legal advice — general information for Florida. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Florida: bill of sale — required · notarization: not required

Florida law requires the seller to file the Notice of Sale/Bill of Sale (HSMV 82050) — it ends the seller’s liability for the vehicle after the sale. The title itself transfers ownership.

Official state form: HSMV 82050 — for DMV title/registration paperwork, use the official form; keep this generated document as your signed record of the deal.

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Everything runs in your browser — names, addresses, and prices are never saved on Brixaz servers. This is general information, not legal advice.

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MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

State of Florida

1. The Parties. This Bill of Sale is made effective as of ______________________ (the “Sale Date”) by and between ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________ (the “Seller”), and ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________(the “Buyer”).

2. The Property.The Seller agrees to sell, transfer, and deliver to the Buyer the following described property (the “Property”):

  • Year: ________
  • Make: ______________________
  • Model: ______________________
  • Color: ____________
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): ______________________
  • Odometer Reading: ____________ miles

3. Consideration. The Buyer agrees to pay the Seller the total sum of $____________ USD, receipt of which is acknowledged by the Seller as full payment for the Property.

4. Ownership. The Seller certifies that the Seller is the legal owner of the Property, that the Property is sold free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims, and that the Seller has full right and authority to sell and transfer it.

5. Odometer Disclosure Statement

Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705) requires that you state the mileage upon transfer of ownership. Failure to complete an odometer statement, or providing a false statement, may result in fines and/or imprisonment. I, ______________________, certify to the best of my knowledge that the odometer reading of ____________ miles:

  • ☑ reflects the ACTUAL mileage of the vehicle;
  • ☐ exceeds the odometer’s mechanical limits;
  • ☐ is NOT the actual mileage — WARNING: ODOMETER DISCREPANCY.

6. Condition. The Buyer accepts the Property in its present condition, “AS-IS, WHERE-IS”, with all faults. The Seller makes no warranties, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, except the warranty of ownership stated above.

Seller’s Signature

Printed Name: ______________________

Date: ____________________

Buyer’s Signature

Printed Name: ______________________

Date: ____________________

Generated with the free Brixaz bill of sale generator (brixaz.com/tools/bill-of-sale). General information, not legal advice. For vehicles, the certificate of title transfers ownership — this document is supporting proof of the sale.

Florida requirements for a private sale

  • ✓Seller: file the Notice of Sale (HSMV 82050) with FLHSMV — required by Fla. Stat. § 319.22(2), within 30 days of the sale; it removes your registration link and ends civil liability.
  • ✓Complete the Transfer of Title section on the Florida title: buyer’s name and address, selling price, date of sale, and odometer reading (both parties acknowledge the mileage).
  • ✓Buyer: apply for a new title with HSMV 82040 at the county tax collector within 30 calendar days to avoid the late-transfer penalty fee (FLHSMV).
  • ✓Buyer pays 6% Florida sales tax plus the county discretionary surtax (0.5%–2%, on the first $5,000 only) at titling — the tax collector charges the surtax of the buyer’s home county.
  • ✓Notarization is not required — Florida removed notary requirements from its titles; FLHSMV merely recommends notarizing the bill of sale as extra protection.
  • ✓Remove your license plate: Florida plates stay with the seller, and you can transfer the plate to your next vehicle or surrender it before canceling insurance.

Notarization: not required

Florida law does not require notarizing the bill of sale or the title assignment. FLHSMV does recommend notarizing HSMV 82050 for extra evidentiary weight, so a notary block is a sensible option here — just never a legal condition of the sale.

Official form

Official form: Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel (HSMV 82050), a free PDF from FLHSMV. One form serves both jobs — the seller’s mandatory notice and the parties’ bill of sale.

Worked example: selling a car in Florida

Say you sell a 2017 Honda CR-V in Orlando for $13,000 on July 8, 2026. You fill the title’s transfer section with the buyer’s details, 72,300 miles on the odometer, and the $13,000 price; both of you sign HSMV 82050, and you submit it to FLHSMV that week — well inside the 30-day window of § 319.22(2). The buyer takes the title and HSMV 82040 to the Orange County tax collector within 30 days and pays: 6% of $13,000 = $780 state tax, plus Orange County’s 0.5% surtax on the first $5,000 = $25, for $805 total plus title fees. If the buyer lived in a 1.5%-surtax county, the surtax would be $75 — the cap at $5,000 keeps county differences small on car deals.

Florida bill of sale FAQ

Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in Florida?

Effectively yes, on the seller’s side: Florida law requires every private seller to file a Notice of Sale, and the state form for that (HSMV 82050) is titled “Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale.” The title transfer is still what moves ownership, but skipping the 82050 leaves you legally exposed for whatever the buyer does with the car before retitling it.

Does the HSMV 82050 need to be notarized?

No — it is valid with just the signatures. FLHSMV recommends notarization as extra protection in case the sale is ever disputed, and the generator on this page can add a notary block if you want one, but the county tax collector will accept an un-notarized 82050.

How much is tax when you buy a car from a private seller in Florida?

6% of the purchase price in state sales tax, plus your county’s discretionary surtax (0.5%–2% in most counties; a couple charge none) applied only to the first $5,000. The county tax collector calculates and collects it when you title and register — private sellers never handle the tax money themselves.

What happens if I never file the Florida Notice of Sale?

The vehicle record keeps your name on it, so red-light camera fines, toll invoices, abandoned-vehicle fees, and civil claims can chase the “owner of record” — you. Florida Statute § 319.22(2) is explicit that notifying the department is what shields a seller who delivered the vehicle. File it within 30 days; online, mail, and in-person options all count.

Sources

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