Before you meet the buyer
- Find the original title. A photocopy is not enough, and a lost title has to be replaced first.
- Check whether a lien is still recorded, even if the loan is paid off.
- Write the bill of sale, or use the Florida form for vehicles and vessels.
- Decide how you are being paid, and remember cash and bank transfers do not reverse.
What actually needs a notary
Not every step. A plain title transfer does not always require notarization, and requirements vary by transaction and by county office.
What does need a notary is the power of attorney for a motor vehicle, when someone else will handle the title work for you, and any affidavit about the vehicle. Bills of sale are often notarized by choice, because they are easier to rely on later.
After the sale: the step sellers skip
Remove your licence plate. In Florida the plate belongs to you, not to the car, and leaving it on is how sellers end up with someone else's tolls and tickets.
Then notify the state that you sold the vehicle, and tell your insurer. Keep your copy of the bill of sale, with the date and the odometer reading, for years rather than months.
If you are not in Florida
Owners who have moved away sign a vehicle power of attorney in an online session, and a relative or a title service finishes the transaction at the county office. It is one of the most common reasons people book a remote appointment.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the title have to be notarized in Florida?
- Not always, and it depends on the transaction and the county office. The motor vehicle power of attorney does require a notary.
- Do I need a bill of sale?
- It is not always required, but it is the cheapest protection you can give yourself, and buyers and insurers often ask for one.
- Can you meet buyer and seller together?
- Yes, that is the cleanest way, and I travel to wherever you are meeting in the Lakeland area.
- The buyer wants to pay in instalments. Can you handle that?
- I can notarize signatures on whatever agreement you have, but drafting a payment agreement is legal work. Have it prepared properly first.