What is Florida bill of sale?
Bill of sale Florida is a legal document that serves as a proof that certain object has been sold or purchased between two parties. Florida bill of sale should include specific information about the sales object. Any bill of sale should include full names of both the seller and the buyer, their physical addresses. Bill of sale Florida should contain price of purchase as well and it must be signed by the seller, though it is always better to have signature of both parties. In some cases, it is required to notarize Florida bills of sale. While a bill of sale is not legally required, and it does not replace a title transfer, it is strongly recommended and protects both the buyer and the seller from trickery, theft, or inaccuracy.
Commonly used bills of sale in Florida
Some of the most widely used bills of sale utilized in Florida include those for giving over the possession of a motor vehicle, a boat, or a gun. Although, a bill of sale Florida can also be used for the trading of general items as well. However, it would not be required to register the sale of certain objects with the State of Florida, a general bill of sale can be used to certify that the ownership transfer of the item was made to another person, if there will arise some legal dispute around it.
Tips on how to write a Florida bill of sale
Writing a Florida Bill of Sale will largely depend on the type of an object that you are buying or selling. Although, there are particular details that you will find in every bill of sale Florida. These details include:
- The buyer’s and the seller’s full names and physical addresses
- Certain characteristics of the item
- The purchase’s price
- The date of the sale
- Signature of both the seller and the buyer
Though, occasionally, the bill of sale Florida will need to be signed by the seller only, there are some bills of sale that need the signature of both parties. You may also need to have the bill of sale notarized, depending on what is being sold.
Florida bill of sale may be written in plain English. There is no need to include legal terms and archaic writing in it to make this document legal. As long as you remember to add al the needed details, it is fine. Further, you will learn more concerning the required details for the most commonly used bills of sale Florida.
Is a bill of sale Florida required to register a motor vehicle?
In the state of Florida, you will need a Florida Bill of Sale to register a motor vehicle. When you are giving over the possession of a motor vehicle, it must be notarized. A vehicle bill of sale Florida must include the motor vehicle’s:
- Year
- Make
- Model
- body type
- color
- Vehicle’s Identification Number (VIN)
- The printed name of the buyer and their physical address
- Price
- The date of the sale
- An odometer reading that is written in whole miles and not in tenths of a mile
- The date the odometer reading was recorded, or an affidavit if you do not have a way to record the actual mileage or that you know the mileage is imprecise
Information about the seller is found at the bottom of the bill of sale Florida under a certification header. It includes the seller’s:
- Printed name
- Physical address
- Signature
- Date, when the Florida bill of sale was signed
The same detailed information about the buyer should be included in this document. The Florida vehicle bill of sale must be notarized as stated above.
In order to register your motor vehicle, you will have to have some additional things besides a Florida bill of sale. You will need:
- Photo identification
- The title completed by the seller
- An odometer or mileage disclosure if the vehicle is less than 10 (ten) years old
- Proof of car insurance
- Filled out Application for Certification of Title with or without registration
By visiting your local Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), you can complete the motor vehicle registration process in Florida.
NOTE: Keep in mind, that you will need to have the complete amount of money required to pay for the registration fees and tax of the motor vehicle.
Benefits of Florida vehicle bill of sale for the Seller:
The Florida bill of sale serves as a form of security for the seller of the motor vehicle. Once the document has been finalized (signed, notarized) and then submitted, it releases the seller from the ownership of the vehicle and all the obligations attached to it. The seller will no longer be held responsible for any ticket received by the current owner, as well as any accident involving the motor vehicle.
It is the seller’s duty to visit the office of tax collector and submit the notice of sale. Upon receipt of the signed notice of sale, the Department of Highway Security and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will then annul the registration of the motor vehicle. This restricts the motor vehicle from being driven on public roadways until the title has been given over and new registration has been completed.
Note: First and foremost, you will want to safeguard yourself by filling out a Notice of Sale, which extracts your name from the motor vehicle so you are no longer responsible for the motor vehicle you sold. The state Florida law requests all sellers to file a notice of sale, starting from July 2009.
Selling a motor vehicle in a private sale can be favorable for both the buyer and seller. Be sure that the process is finalized properly by understanding the seller’s rights and liabilities.
Check out more free templates here.
Benefits of Florida vehicle bill of sale for the Seller:
For the buyer of the motor vehicle, the Florida vehicle bill of sale will act as both a prompt for the unconcluded title transfer, as well as protection from any obligations from the previous owner. In 30 (thirty) days of purchase, the buyer must visit the office of tax collector for:
- The title transfers
- Vehicle registration
- Provision of the proof of insurance (if applicable)
- Paying the sales tax
Take into consideration, that processing the title transfer after 30 (thirty) days will carry a penalty fee for late transfer.
Below you can download free templates of Vehicle bill of sale Florida and Notice of sale Florida: