Florida’s HSMV 82050 bill of sale is the state form a seller uses to notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that a motor vehicle, mobile home, off-highway vehicle, or vessel has changed hands. Filing it within 30 days of the sale shields you from civil liability for what happens with the vehicle after you hand over the keys, under Florida Statute 319.22.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 319.22 – Transfer of Title The form doubles as a bill of sale documenting price and odometer reading when both parties sign it.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel
Notice of Sale or Bill of Sale — Which Are You Filing
The form covers two purposes, and how much of it you complete depends on which you need. A Notice of Sale tells the state you no longer own the vehicle; the seller fills in sections 1 and 3, and the buyer’s signature in section 3 is optional. A Bill of Sale acts as a receipt for the transaction, and both parties complete sections 1, 2 (odometer disclosure, where applicable), and 3.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel
For most private sales, complete the whole form in one filing. You get both protections in one document: the state on notice that you’re out, and a signed record of what was paid and what the odometer read.
How to Fill Out Each Section
Download HSMV 82050 from the FLHSMV website or pick up a copy at any county tax collector’s office. Have the certificate of title in front of you before you start. Numbers copied from memory create mismatches, and mismatches stall the filing.
Section 1: Vehicle and Transaction Details
Section 1 identifies the vehicle and the sale. Enter the certificate of title number, the current title issue date, and the vehicle or vessel identification number, then the date of sale and the agreed selling price.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel Copy the VIN character by character from the title. A single transposed digit will create a mismatch with state records.
Section 2: Odometer Disclosure
Section 2 is the odometer disclosure and applies only to motor vehicles, not to vessels, mobile homes, or off-highway vehicles. Record the mileage at the time of transfer and check the box that describes it: actual mileage, mileage in excess of the odometer’s mechanical limits, or not the actual mileage. Enter the date the odometer was read.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel
Federal rules require odometer disclosure for transfers of model year 2011 and newer vehicles until they reach 20 years of age. Model year 2010 and older vehicles are exempt.3National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Consumer Alert: Changes to Odometer Disclosure Requirements The form itself warns that a false statement can result in fines or imprisonment.
Section 3: Signatures
The seller prints and signs in section 3. If the vehicle has co-owners, both must sign. The buyer’s portion includes printed name, address, and signature. For a Notice of Sale, the buyer’s signature is optional; for a Bill of Sale, both parties sign.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel A witness or notary is not required.
Where to Submit and by When
Submit the completed form to your local county tax collector’s office. You can find the nearest office through the FLHSMV website’s office locator.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel Hand delivery is the quickest way to confirm receipt. Certified mail works too and gives you a delivery record. File within 30 days of the sale date.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 319.22 – Transfer of Title
Keep a copy of the completed form along with any confirmation you receive. If the buyer never registers the vehicle and a toll violation or parking ticket arrives months later, that copy is your proof that you reported the sale.
What Filing the Form Does Not Do
Filing HSMV 82050 removes the seller’s registration from the vehicle, but it does not transfer ownership to the buyer. The form states plainly that ownership will not change until the buyer applies for and is issued a new certificate of title.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel You can’t rely on the buyer to handle things on their end. Filing the notice yourself is what protects you legally.
Signing Over the Title
The actual transfer of the vehicle requires you to sign over the certificate of title. Both seller and buyer complete the “Transfer of Title by Seller” section on the front of the title certificate: printed names, signatures, odometer reading and date read, selling price, and date of sale.4Manatee County Tax Collector. Florida Title Transfer – Section: Bring Your Original Title Hand the signed title to the buyer at the time of sale so they can apply for a new title in their name.
If the title is electronic rather than a paper document, the process is different. Seller and buyer must visit a local motor vehicle service center together with photo identification and complete a secure title reassignment using form HSMV 82994 or 82092. Both parties must be present.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Buying from a Private Sale
Remove the License Plate
Florida license plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. Remove the plate before the buyer takes possession. You have two options: transfer it to a replacement vehicle you’ve acquired, or surrender it to a local tax collector or motor vehicle service center office. Transferring a plate requires an application and a $4.50 transfer fee.6Florida Senate. Florida Code 320.0609 – Transfer and Exchange of Registration License Plates; Transfer Fee
If the plate is not registered to a replacement vehicle, it must be turned in to a local office to prevent a suspension of your driver license.7Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Frequently Asked Questions Sellers overlook this step routinely.
Handle Insurance After the Sale, Not Before
Once you’ve signed over the title, filed the Notice of Sale, and removed the plate, contact your auto insurance provider to cancel or adjust your policy. Do not cancel coverage while the vehicle is still registered in your name. If an accident happens during that gap, you could be held financially responsible. Wait until the title transfer and the HSMV 82050 filing are done, and have a copy of your bill of sale ready as proof the vehicle has changed hands.
If you’re transferring the plate to a new vehicle, your insurer can often roll the coverage over in the same call. If you’re surrendering the plate without a replacement, confirm that the cancellation effective date lines up with the date you delivered the vehicle to the buyer.