Buying A Vehicle With A Florida Auto Title: What You Should Know

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Types of Florida Titles

It’s easy to be overwhelmed with all the various Certificates of Title in Florida. In this guide, we’ll share an overview of the common title types and explain what each means. For further reference within the article, we’ll be using the abbreviation of the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle in Florida (FLHSMV).

Florida Certificate of Destruction

Certificate of Destruction is issued upon an insurance company’s request. After paying claims, they acquire ownership rights and then recoup their investments through online auto auctions like AutoBidMaster. A car can get such a title when:

• (a) it is newer than 7 years, 
• (b) sustained damage outweighs at least 90% of its retail value, 
• (c) and its actual cash value is more than $7,500. 

Some flood-damaged cars come with Florida certificates of destruction. For instance, this Mercedes-Benz S 550.

Florida Clear Title

This Florida auto title is the one most vehicle owners are familiar with, and it’s the most desirable. A vehicle with a clean title doesn’t have any outstanding liens against it. It also has a clean history and hasn’t been declared a total loss by insurance companies. Having a vehicle with a clean title makes registration and even selling your vehicle much easier. 

Florida Salvage Title

If your vehicle has a salvage brand on its title, you  are not allowed to drive it in the US. You’ll need to make all the repairs necessary to make the salvage vehicle safe for driving. Once everything is fixed up according to your local (or state) stipulations, you can apply to transfer your salvage title to a rebuilt title. During the repair process, it’s important to document every repair made. You’ll need these when you submit a statement to your local DMV to ease the process of vehicle inspection.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to submit some paperwork before applying for a new title for your salvage title car. You’ll have to deal with the form named FLHSMV 82040 and a certificate of builder/repairer (the form FLHSMV 84990). Otherwise, you may face additional delays, charges, and complications.

Florida Rebuilt Title

This Florida auto title is for vehicles that have already undergone all the required repairs and can be driven without any legal restrictions. While vehicles with the rebuilt title tend to have lower market value compared to vehicles with clean built titles, they are still road legal vehicles. Remember that Florida state regulations consider any odometer violations a felony, so you should know as much as possible about the repairs your vehicle has undergone. Our trusted partner ClearVIN can help you with that by running a lookup on your vehicle identification number (VIN). 

Florida Auto Titles FAQ

Q: Are cars with Florida auto titles exportable?

A: Unless otherwise stated on the lot page, yes they are exportable. Sometimes a car may have a title that prevents exporting outside the USA. And some machines may require additional documents for export. If you aren’t 100% sure about your vehicle, connect with our customer support team. Contact us online, and we’ll help you navigate through any questions.

Q: How do I transfer a car title in Florida?

A: We take care of the entire process for you! All you need to do is provide your signature online and double check that any information you provide is correct. You’ll want to consider the time it takes to process documents in Florida. Unfortunately, document processing in Florida tends to take longer than other states because of enabled stipulations here.

Q: Are there any specific taxes to be paid after purchasing a car in Florida?

A: Yes, there are. That’s arguably the most complicated point of the whole process. If you are a resident of Florida, you’ll have to pay the following fees:

• State sales tax (varies between 6-7% and depends on the county)
• Surtax based on the amount of the final (winning) bid along with a county’s discretionary taxes
• Auction’s fees
• Standard transaction fee ($299 + $25 for wire transfers)
• Documentation fee ($350)

In contrast, you are exempt from any applicable taxes if you’re an international customer or if you reside outside of the Sunshine State.

Q: How Can I Register a Car with a Florida Auto Title?

A: AutoBidMaster doesn’t deal with car registration. We only sell used cars and deliver them to our customers. We recommend contacting your local titling agency or a DMV to obtain more information on the matter.

Last Word

Buying cars with Florida titles is much easier than you might think. We’re here to assist you no matter what type of title your vehicle has! Our online auctions have all sorts of great vehicles just waiting to be discovered. The competition can be fierce, but there is a way to skip it at all by hitting the buy-it-now button. You can get access to plenty of great vehicles just with a few clicks on AutoBidMaster. Create an account with us, upload a copy of your government-issued ID or passport, place a refundable security deposit, grab the right membership, and win a car. It’s that easy. Give us a call at: +1 (503) 298-4300 any time between 4:00 AM and 4:00 PM on weekdays and feel free to ask us anything. Our team will be glad to help. Happy bidding!