How to Transfer a Car Title in Florida to a Family Member

Transferring a title to a family member in Florida is like selling a vehicle privately in Florida, but there’s no exchange of money. Gifting someone in your family a car is generous, but the gift-giver should be sure to cover all bases so they are no longer responsible for the vehicle. You must take specific steps when gifting a vehicle to ensure you legally transfer ownership and protect yourself.

Can I Gift a Car to a Family Member in Florida?

In Florida, gifting a car to a family member is legal. However, you must follow specific steps to ensure the transfer is legal. It’s best to act as if you’re conducting a private sale, checking all the necessary boxes to eliminate any liability for the vehicle after the transfer.

Steps to Transfer a Car Title in Florida to a Family Member

To do a title transfer in Florida, the seller or gift giver must provide the recipient with a signed title. Then, it’s the buyer or recipient’s responsibility to initiate the title transfer. Before the title is in the recipient’s name, they technically are not the legal owner.

Here are the steps to transfer the title to a family member in Florida:

1. Clear all liens and remove license plates:

As the donor, it is important to ensure no liens exist on the vehicle title before transferring it. You cannot assign the title to the recipient if someone else has a lien on the vehicle, such as your auto lender.

2. Get a lien release:

If you paid the auto loan off, ask your lender if they contacted the Florida DMV electronically to release the lien. You can also request proof that the lien is paid in full and provide the DMV office with the documents yourself.
At this time, you should also remove your existing license plate, as the recipient must apply for plates in their name. You don’t have to apply for a temporary tag as long as no one drives the car while you transfer the title.

3. Complete the title:

As the donor, you must assign the certificate of title to the recipient. You’ll treat it as a sale, but instead of a selling price, you’ll write ‘GIFT.’ You must print and sign your name and complete the odometer reading section.
You can apply for a duplicate title if you don’t have the original paper title.

4. Recipient completes title application:

The recipient must complete a title application, and under the Sales Tax Exemption Certification, the recipient must declare the vehicle was a gift and exempt from taxes. To accompany the certification, there must be a sworn statement proving no money exchanged hands for the vehicle and that there aren’t any liens passed down to the recipient due to the transfer. Recipients must complete this form within 30 days of title transfer or be subject to a $10 penalty.

5. Visit a local motor vehicle service center:

The easiest way to transfer the title in Florida is to visit the local DMV in person. If the donor and recipient are present, you can complete the title together, and the recipient can immediately apply for a new title in their name.

6. Donor completes the Notice of Sale:

Florida statute requires owners to complete the Notice of Sale disclosure (Form HSMV 82050). This removes the donor’s registration from the vehicle and eliminates any civil liability the donor has for the vehicle. Think of it as the legal receipt that you transferred the vehicle’s ownership.

7. Recipient applies for registration:

After you complete the transfer, the recipient legally owns the vehicle, but it’s not legal to drive on Florida roads yet. The recipient must register the vehicle in their name. They can do this at the same time as applying for the title transfer and must pay the applicable fee of $225 for initial registration. If the recipient already owned a vehicle with valid license plates, they can apply for the plates to be transferred to the new vehicle.

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What Documents are Needed to Transfer a Title in Florida?

To transfer a car title in Florida, you need the following documents:

• Florida title: The donor and recipient must complete the bottom half of the title. Doing this while at the DMV is best to ensure you complete all sections properly.
• Driver’s license: Donors and recipients must have a valid driver’s license to transfer vehicle ownership. You can gift a car to a minor family member, but they must have a legal driver’s license.
• Proof of insurance: The recipient must have adequate car insurance to drive the vehicle in Florida legally. They must complete and submit the Florida Insurance Affidavit.
• Bill of sale: The donor must provide a sworn statement or official bill of sale stating that the transaction is a gift and no money exchanged hands.

Cost to Transfer the Title to a Family Member in Florida

The cost to transfer a title in Florida is $75.25. Recipients must also pay the applicable registration fees, depending on whether they apply for initial registration or transfer existing plates.

Is There Sales Tax to Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Florida?

Florida does not charge sales tax on title transfers to family members in Florida as long as the donor and recipient provide ample documentation that no money has exchanged hands.

Can You Transfer a Car Title Online in Florida?

When you transfer a title in Florida, you must visit the DMV in person. To protect both parties, it’s best if the donor and recipient go together. This ensures the donor provides all necessary documents, including lien releases, and the recipient officially transfers the title into their name to eliminate the donor’s liability.

Final Thoughts

Knowing the process to transfer a car title in Florida to a family member is important if you plan to gift a vehicle to someone. When done properly, the recipient does not have to pay sales tax; they must have funds to transfer the title certificate and pay the registration fee.

Having a properly titled car gives the recipient the legal right to drive the vehicle in Florida and allows them to apply for title loan financing should they experience a financial emergency.