A receipt, a notice and a title are different things.
Bill of sale
Your transaction record: who bought what, when and for how much.
Notice of sale
The seller’s notification to the state. Keeping a signed copy at home does not file it.
Certificate of title
The ownership document. Follow the separate transfer and application process.
Sources: FLHSMV seller guidance and Florida title law. [2][4]
- Official form
- HSMV 82050, from FLHSMV. [10]
- Seller’s notice deadline
- Within 30 days after a private sale or transfer. [4]
- Buyer’s title deadline
- File within 30 days after vehicle delivery; a $20 statutory late fee applies, in addition to other required fees or penalties. [5]
- Where to submit notice
- Your tax collector’s office or license plate agent. [9]
- Plate stays with
- The seller, not the sold vehicle. [2]
How to fill out HSMV 82050.
Open the official PDF beside this guide. The instructions below follow its three numbered sections. Select the purpose that applies at the top. [1]
Vehicle and sale
Enter year, make, body type, model, color, title number and issue date, VIN, purchaser name and address, sale date and price.
Odometer, when applicable
Enter whole miles without tenths, the date read and the applicable mileage certification. Do not guess.
Certification and signatures
Complete the applicable seller, co-seller, purchaser and co-purchaser entries. The purchaser’s signature is optional for a notice of sale; the bill-of-sale instructions call for both parties.
A fictional example, without the guesswork.
Alex sells a 2018 Honda Civic to Jordan for $8,000. These invented details illustrate a worksheet, not a completed state form. Use your own verified information.
- Seller / buyer
- Alex Example / Jordan Example
- Vehicle
- 2018 · Honda · Civic · Sedan · Blue
- VIN and title details
- Copy from the actual vehicle and title; no example VIN is supplied.
- Price / sale date
- $8,000 / October 19, 2026
- Mileage
- 84,215 whole miles, if that is the verified reading. Choose the truthful mileage status.
- Before signing
- Add the required addresses and dates; check every entry against the documents.
The worksheet is an illustration. The linked official PDF controls which fields and certifications apply.
What each person needs to do next.
Seller checklist
Based on FLHSMV seller guidance and § 319.22. [2][4]
0 of 4 checked
A reading checklist for this guide. Checkmarks stay only while this page is open.
Buyer checklist
Based on FLHSMV buyer/title guidance and § 319.23. [3][5][6]
0 of 4 checked
A reading checklist for this guide. Checkmarks stay only while this page is open.
Where do I send the notice?
FLHSMV’s procedure directs sellers to a tax collector or license plate agent. Use the office directory to confirm the correct address, accepted submission methods and appointment requirements. [9]
Find a Florida motor vehicle office ↗When the standard sale needs another step.
- Lost paper title
- The seller should obtain a duplicate before selling; FLHSMV identifies HSMV 82101 for this process. [2]
- Electronic title
- Buyer and seller attend a motor vehicle service center with photo ID for secure reassignment. [3]
- Existing lien
- FLHSMV says a lien must be satisfied before the vehicle can legally be sold privately. A bill of sale does not clear it. [2]
- Out-of-state ownership
- Check the original ownership documents and Florida VIN-verification requirements. If the buyer will title elsewhere, follow that state’s process. [3][5]
- Gift or inherited vehicle
- Ask the office for the correct transfer and tax documentation. This sale worksheet does not establish a sales-tax exemption or inheritance rights.
How much sales tax should I expect?
Florida’s general state sales tax rate is 6%. County discretionary surtax may also apply; for motor vehicles, that surtax is limited to the first $5,000 of the sales price. This is separate from title and registration fees. Exemptions and special transactions need their own calculation. [7][8][3]
$480 state tax + $50 county surtax = $530, assuming a 1% applicable county rate and no exemption or adjustment. This is an example, not your county’s quoted rate or an all-in registration cost.
Florida bill-of-sale questions.
Is a bill of sale required when selling a car in Florida?+
Separate the seller’s notice from the buyer’s title paperwork. Florida requires a private seller to notify the state of the sale or transfer. HSMV 82050 provides that notice and can also document the sale. A standard titled-vehicle transfer still needs the assigned title and the buyer’s title application. [4][9][5]
Does the buyer have to sign the seller’s notice of sale?+
The form expressly makes the purchaser’s signature optional when used as a notice of sale. That exception does not carry over to its bill-of-sale instructions, which call for seller and purchaser completion. Use the instructions for the purpose selected on the form. [1]
Does a Florida bill of sale need to be notarized?+
For the standard HSMV 82050 form, notarization is not a stated signing requirement: it uses a signed certification under penalties of perjury and has no notary block. FLHSMV nevertheless recommends notarizing the bill of sale. A separate affidavit or unusual transaction can have different requirements. [1][2]
Can I register a car with only a bill of sale?+
Do not assume so. A standard private sale needs the proper ownership documents and title application. If the seller has no valid title, ask a motor vehicle service center what evidence is acceptable before paying. Special title situations need their own process. [3][5]
Can I fill out HSMV 82050 online?+
FLHSMV lists HSMV 82050 as a form that can be filled out electronically and printed. Typing into a PDF does not submit it to the state. Use the official download, complete the applicable signatures, and confirm your local office’s submission method. [10][9]
Can I use a handwritten bill of sale?+
A handwritten transaction receipt should not be treated as a replacement for Florida’s prescribed seller notice. Using the official HSMV 82050 avoids guessing which information the agency asks for. Follow the current form and local office instructions. [4][9]
What if there are two owners on the title?+
Check whether the names are joined by “and” or “or.” FLHSMV explains that “and” generally requires each owner’s participation or authorized representation, while “or” generally allows either owner to transfer. Confirm the actual title and any special circumstances before signing. [6]
Does this guide cover a boat, trailer or mobile home?+
This page covers a standard private motor-vehicle sale. HSMV 82050 also names other property types, but their titling, registration and mileage rules differ. Use the agency’s guidance for that property rather than applying this car-sale checklist to it. [1][6]
Official sources behind this guide.
Checked October 19, 2026. Official form reviewed: HSMV 82050, Rev. 03/21. The download link points to the agency’s file. This guide is prepared by DraftNudge, not a government agency or law firm, and has not been reviewed by an attorney.
- FLHSMV · Official HSMV 82050 PDF ↗
Form sections, signatures and mileage fields.
- FLHSMV · Selling a vehicle ↗
Seller duties, liens, plates and notarization recommendation.
- FLHSMV · Buying from a private sale ↗
Buyer checks, title application and electronic-title process.
- Florida Statutes § 319.22 ↗
Private-seller notice deadline and title-transfer rules.
- Florida Statutes § 319.23 ↗
Title application, 30-day deadline and late fee.
- FLHSMV · Liens and titles ↗
Ownership evidence, co-owners and application documents.
- Florida Department of Revenue · Sales and use tax ↗
General state sales tax rate.
- Florida Department of Revenue · Surtax guidance ↗
County surtax and the $5,000 motor-vehicle limit.
- FLHSMV · TL-52: Mark title sold ↗
Notice submission to a tax collector or license plate agent.
- FLHSMV · Forms directory ↗
Current official forms and fillable-PDF availability.
Read our editorial approach. For an unusual ownership or legal dispute, confirm the process with the agency or a qualified Florida attorney.