Short answer: The Florida Notice of Sale (form HSMV 82050) tells the state you sold your car. Florida law requires the seller to file it within 30 days of the sale. It removes your registration from the car and helps protect you from liability for what happens with it after the sale. You can use form HSMV 82050 or the Notice of Sale section on the back of your title, and file it with your county tax collector. Also take your license plate off the car. Ready to sell a junk car? Get a free offer on our online offer form or call 321-442-0085.
Many people think a car sale is over once the money changes hands and the car is towed away. In Florida, there is one more step that protects you: the Notice of Sale. This guide explains what it is, why it matters, and how to file it after you sell a junk car.
What is the Florida Notice of Sale?
The Notice of Sale is a short form from FLHSMV, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Its full name is "Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel," form HSMV 82050. It lists the car (year, make, model, VIN and title number), the buyer's name and address, the date of sale and the price.
The same form can work two ways:
- As a Notice of Sale: the seller fills in sections 1 and 3. The buyer's signature is optional.
- As a Bill of Sale: the seller and the buyer fill in sections 1, 2 (the odometer reading, when needed) and 3.
The form itself notes that ownership does not change until the buyer applies for and is issued a new title. That is exactly why the notice matters.
Why you must file it within 30 days
Section 319.22 of the Florida Statutes says an owner who sells a car and delivers it to the buyer must notify FLHSMV within 30 days, using the state's form. FLHSMV says filing removes the seller's registration from the car and helps the seller avoid civil liability for how the car is used after the sale.
Here is the risk if you skip it. If the buyer never puts the car in their name and you never file the notice, FLHSMV warns that you can be held liable for things connected to the car, even though you no longer own it. Think parking tickets, toll bills or worse.
The law has an exception when a car is traded in or sold to a licensed motor vehicle dealer, or when an insurance company takes the car. Even then, keeping your own signed copy of a Notice of Sale or Bill of Sale is a smart record of the date the car left your hands.
How to file a Notice of Sale in Florida
- Fill in the form. Use form HSMV 82050 from the FLHSMV website, or the section labeled "Notice of Sale" on the back of your Florida title.
- Sign it. The seller signs and prints their name and address. A co-seller signs too, if there is one.
- Submit it to your county tax collector. Offices differ. For example, the Orange County Tax Collector accepts it by mail or by email, using the subject line "Notice of Sale Submission." Check your own county tax collector's website for its options.
- Keep a copy. FLHSMV says the state does not keep the form, so it is your job to keep a copy for your records.
Not sure which office serves you? Our guide to selling a car in Osceola vs Orange County explains where to go for title help.
What to do with your license plate
In Florida, the plate stays with you, not the car. FLHSMV says the seller must take the plate off the car when it is sold. After that, you can:
- Move it to your next car, if you are getting a new or replacement vehicle.
- Turn it in to a tax collector or motor vehicle service center if you won't use it on another car. FLHSMV says this is required if you are moving out of state or cancelling the insurance tied to the plate. Orange County also lets you surrender a plate by mail.
Don't ignore this step. FLHSMV says a plate that is not on a replacement vehicle must be turned in to prevent a driver license suspension. Also, don't cancel your insurance until the plate is transferred or turned in.
Selling with or without a title
When you sell with a title, you fill in the "Transfer of Title by Seller" section on the front: the buyer's name and address, the odometer reading, the price and the date. The buyer then has 30 days to apply for a new title, or they pay a late fee.
Lost your title? You can apply for a duplicate, and some old, low-value cars can be sold without one. Our guide on what to do with a lost Florida title covers both options.
How to protect yourself when you sell a junk car
- Sell to a real business with a working phone number and a clear offer in writing.
- Take the plate off before the tow truck leaves.
- Remove toll transponders, garage openers and personal papers.
- Get a signed bill of sale or receipt with the date and price.
- File your Notice of Sale within 30 days and keep a copy.
At Cashing Carz, we tow for free when you accept our offer and pay you at pickup. We can walk you through the paperwork too. We buy junk cars across Orlando, Kissimmee and Winter Park. Call 321-442-0085 or get your free offer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Notice of Sale required in Florida?
Yes. FLHSMV says Florida law requires all sellers to file a Notice of Sale, and section 319.22 of the Florida Statutes sets a 30-day deadline. There is an exception for cars traded in or sold to a licensed dealer, or taken by an insurance company.
What happens if I don't file a Notice of Sale?
If the buyer never titles the car in their name, you can still be held liable for things connected to the car, even though you sold it. Filing the notice removes your registration from the car.
Can I use the back of my title instead of form HSMV 82050?
Yes. The Notice of Sale section on the back of a Florida title can be used instead of the separate HSMV 82050 form.
Where do I file my Notice of Sale?
File it with your county tax collector's office or a motor vehicle service center. In Orange County, you can mail it or email it. Check your own county's website for its options.
Do I keep my license plate when I sell my car?
Yes. In Florida the plate belongs to you, not the car. Take it off, then move it to your next car or turn it in.
Does the Notice of Sale transfer ownership?
No. Ownership changes only when the buyer applies for and gets a new title. The notice protects you and records the sale date.
