How to Sell a Car in Florida

Selling a car is about as much fun as going to the dentist, but knowing how the process works can make everything a little bit easier. The state of Florida is far from the worst place to sell a used car, but there are quite a few things you need to know before jumping into selling your car. Let’s take a look at how to sell a car in Florida.

Step 1: Deciding to Sell

It’s easy to get attached to your car and forget that keeping it could cost you money. The longer you hold onto an unused car, the more money you’ll spend. Think about fuel, insurance, upkeep, and the other expenses you have to track. If you’re not driving the car and don’t think you’ll need to buy another one soon, it’s time to list your car for sale.

Step 2: Determine the Worth of Your Car and Set a Price

Remember that your emotional attachment to your car has no bearing on its value and may even make it more difficult for you to get a good price. Several sites can help you determine the actual value and will give a range of reasonable sums you could expect to receive. Values can vary wildly between dealers, private sales, and instant purchases, so you should expect to see a large range of numbers when you get an estimate. Doing your research on the actual value of your car will help you make a good decision about the price.

Step 3: Smog Checks and Emissions

It’s a good idea to get the vehicle cleared for emissions before selling to prevent any surprises. If you’re listing online and plan to allow out-of -state sales, it’s a good idea to document its condition, including how or if it passes emissions tests.

Step 4: Gathering Paperwork and Documentation

You won’t need every piece of paper you’ve ever received related to your car, but you will need the title and registration, and you should have proof of insurance to be thorough. If you have a loan on the car, you’ll need to have paid it off and provide documentation of the payment. It’s illegal to sell a car to a private individual in Florida with an existing lien.

If the vehicle has a paper title and you can’t find it, you’ll have to file an application with the state to have it replaced prior to selling. Florida allows electronic titles, but if you need to transfer an electronic document, both you and the buyer will need to be present with photo identification.

Step 5: Preparing Your Vehicle for Sale

Even if you take great care of your car and keep it clean, you should still give it a thorough cleaning before the sale. Take it to a car wash and thoroughly clean the exterior, making sure to remove bird droppings, tree sap, and other dirt. Inside the vehicle, carefully vacuum to remove as much debris from the floor as possible. Vacuum cracks in the seats and be sure to remove stains, if possible. If your interior has a funky smell, it’s best to take it to a professional for cleaning, because the cheap air fresheners you can buy at the store will only make the situation worse.

Step 6: Vehicle Inspection

While we heartily recommend obtaining an inspection when buying a used car, it’s also a good idea to get one before selling. You can’t accurately list the vehicle and give a clear picture of its condition without getting an inspection. Almost any mechanic can give you a pre-sale or pre-purchase inspection, and for most vehicles it’s not that expensive. They’ll check for any error codes or pending codes, and can alert you to upcoming maintenance needs. The cost of an inspection is nothing compared to the stress and inconvenience you’ll have to endure if you sell a broken or soon-to-be-broken car.

If you’ve just moved into the state and have a vehicle with out-of-state registration, you’ll need to complete an extra step before finalizing the sale. Florida also requires any vehicle titled outside of the state to complete a VIN and odometer verification process. This can be completed by a Florida DMV officer/inspector, a Florida car dealer, a notary public, or law enforcement officer.

Step 7: Consider Donation

Selling a car can be annoying and time consuming, but you have other options. Several organizations take vehicle donations, and though you won’t get a check after the process, you’ll get a tax deduction that can help you out at the end of the year. Learn more about Car Talk's Vehicle Donation Program here.

Step 8: Listing a Your Car

You can list your car online, with the local paper, or with a specialty listing service, but remember that most car listing services come at a cost. Sites like Autotrader charge a fee to list, and even Craigslist costs $5.

It’s a good idea to find the site that most closely aligns with your vehicle type. Rare and collectible cars may sell better on a site dedicated to those kinds of vehicles. Likewise, quirky imported cars may perform better on an auction site. If you plan on parking the car with a “For Sale” sign on the side of the road, you’ll need to get permission from the owner of the land, house or store you're parked in front of. We suggest listing your car online, of course. You can reach way more possible buyers that way.

Step 9: Getting Payment

Selling your car to a dealer is easy. They perform an inspection, offer you a price, and print a check right there for the agreed upon amount. Selling to a private individual can be trickier, especially when there are large sums of money involved. It’s a good idea to have the other party meet you at your bank so you can deposit their cash or bank check right away. It’s best not to accept personal checks due to the risk of insufficient funds or bounced checks.

Step 10: Transferring Ownership and Removing Insurance

Florida recommends that you complete the sale at a motor vehicle service center location to ensure proper transfer of the title. This helps both parties, and can prevent major headaches down the road. You’ll need the exact mileage, as Florida requires it to be listed on the title, and the state says that you’ll need to fill out an HSMV 82050 form. The document removes your registration from the vehicle and can help you avoid civil liability for how the new owner uses the vehicle after the sale.

You are required to remove the license plates when you sell the vehicle as well. They cannot be transferred and you’ll need to turn them in to a motor vehicle service center if you don’t plan on moving them to another vehicle.

Make certain to remove any subscription services, extended warranties or insurance after the sale. Those are all things the new owner should be investing in, if they so choose.

Read more on the topic of Selling a Car here.