Form HSMV 82152 is the Florida application a surviving spouse uses to transfer a deceased spouse’s vehicle title into their own name without paying the standard title fee. You complete the form, gather a short list of documents, and bring everything to a county tax collector office or license plate agency in person. The no-fee transfer is authorized by Section 319.32(7)(a)-(b) of the Florida Statutes and applies when the surviving spouse is a co-owner on the existing title.
What to Bring Before You Go
A missing document means a wasted trip. Collect these first:
- An original or certified copy of the death certificate. A photocopy will not be accepted.
- A copy of the marriage certificate, unless the surviving spouse’s name already appears on the death certificate.
- A valid driver license or ID card from any state, or a valid passport.
- The Florida certificate of title for the vehicle. If it has been lost or destroyed, you can still proceed; the form has a checkbox for that.
Bring the current registration too. It isn’t listed as a required attachment, but you’ll need the details to fill in the vehicle section, and the tax collector office will typically handle registration at the same visit.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. HSMV 82152 Application for Surviving Spouse Transfer of Florida Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle
Filling Out the Form
You can download HSMV 82152 from the FLHSMV website or pick up a copy at the tax collector office. It has two sections and a signature block.
Section 1 asks for the surviving spouse’s name as it appears on the driver license, date of birth, driver license or ID number, mailing address, email, and physical Florida street address. The physical address is mandatory unless you are an active member of the military. There’s also an optional one-time “mail to” address if you want the new title sent somewhere other than your mailing address.
Section 2 identifies the vehicle: the Florida title number, VIN, make, year, body style, and color, all of which should match the existing title and registration. In the same section, choose how you want to receive the new title:
- Expedited title, which costs $10 and speeds up processing.
- Standard paper title mailed to your address at no extra charge.
- Electronic title held by FLHSMV, also at no extra charge.
Two checkboxes sit at the bottom of Section 2. Check the non-use certification if you aren’t registering the vehicle at the same visit; that certification says under penalty of perjury that the vehicle will not be driven on Florida roads until it’s properly registered. Check the second box if the original title has been lost or destroyed. Sign and date the form; the declaration above the signature line is made under penalties of perjury.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. HSMV 82152 Application for Surviving Spouse Transfer of Florida Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle
Where to Submit It
Take the completed form and your documents to a county tax collector office or license plate agency. Locations are listed at flhsmv.gov/locations. This form is not mailed to Tallahassee; the tax collector office processes it on site and transmits the information to FLHSMV.
If you asked for a paper title by mail, it ships from FLHSMV headquarters. Typical delivery runs about seven to ten business days, though backlogs can stretch that to two to four weeks. An expedited title arrives faster.
What It Costs
The title transfer itself is free. Florida law prohibits the department and the tax collector from charging any fee or service charge for a certificate of title issued solely to remove a deceased co-owner when the other co-owner is the surviving spouse. The only add-on is the optional $10 expedited fee.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. HSMV 82152 Application for Surviving Spouse Transfer of Florida Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle
Registration is separate. The no-fee title transfer does not cover registration costs. If the registration needs to be updated because the names on the title are changing or the registration period is ending, those fees are due at the time of transfer. The amount depends on the vehicle type and the surviving spouse’s birthdate, which sets the renewal cycle. Budget for registration even though the title itself is free.
Selling the Vehicle Instead of Keeping It
If you don’t want to keep the car, you can skip the retitling step. Under Section 319.28(1)(d), a surviving spouse who would otherwise be entitled to a new title may assign the deceased spouse’s existing certificate of title directly to the buyer. The buyer then applies for a new title in their own name, submitting the same supporting documents you would have brought: the death certificate, a marriage certificate if needed, and the affidavit required under Section 319.28(1)(b).2Florida Senate. Florida Code Title XXIII Chapter 319 Section 319-28 – Transfer of Ownership by Operation of Law
You aren’t forced to pay registration on a car you plan to sell right away. You sign the title over, hand the buyer the supporting documents, and the buyer completes the transfer at their own tax collector visit.
If the Original Title Is Lost
A missing title does not stop the transfer. The form includes a certification checkbox where you declare under penalty of perjury that the title has been lost or destroyed. Check it, and the tax collector office can process the transfer without the physical document. A separate duplicate-title application isn’t needed; the lost-title declaration is built into HSMV 82152.
Vehicles With an Outstanding Loan
If the vehicle still has a loan balance, the lienholder’s name appears on the current title and will carry over to the new title issued in your name. Transferring the title does not clear the debt. Call the lender before your tax collector visit to confirm the loan status and what they expect. Some lenders require the surviving spouse to formally assume the loan; others accept continued payments under the original terms. If the loan is already paid off but the lien was never released, you’ll need a lien satisfaction letter from the lender so the lien can be removed during the transfer.
When the Deceased Spouse Was the Sole Owner
HSMV 82152 and the no-fee rule apply when the surviving spouse is a co-owner on the existing title. If the deceased spouse was the sole owner, the transfer follows the general inheritance process under Section 319.28(1)(b) instead, and the standard title fee (currently $75.25 for a previously titled Florida vehicle) may apply because the no-fee exemption in Section 319.32(7) is written for the co-owner situation. Confirm the correct path and any fee with your tax collector office before your visit.2Florida Senate. Florida Code Title XXIII Chapter 319 Section 319-28 – Transfer of Ownership by Operation of Law