When you sell a car, truck, boat or other vehicle in Florida, it is important that the title of the vehicle is properly transferred. The buyer of the vehicle is responsible for initiating the transfer of the title but as a seller you need to protect yourself.
If the buyer does not initiate the title transfer you can document the sale with all the pertinent information including the date, price, and, buyer and seller names.
When you sell a vehicle or vessel you need to protect yourself by filing Form HSMV — Notice of Sale. Once you file the Notice of Sale Form to the Tax Collector's office, according to Florida Statute Section 319. 22(2), you will avoid civil liability for the vehicle or vessel. This means if the buyer gets in a car accident you won't be liable.
By filing this form, this allows the DMV / Tax Collector office and DMV database to be updated and the title of the vehicle or vessel will be marked sold. The ownership status will not change until the buyer applies for and is issued a Certificate of Title. The Certificate of Title needs to be filled out by the buyer and signed by both the seller and buyer and submitted to a local Tax Collector's office.
Before you buy a used car it's always a good idea to check the vehicle history and see if it was involved in any accidents.
