Florida Bill of Sale

What Are the Types of Bills of Sale in Florida?

In Florida, bills of sale vary according to their types or subjects. Commonly, Florida bill of sale types are the following:

• Vehicle: car, motorcycle, van, boat, mobile home, trailer etc.;
• Equipment; 
• Furniture;
• Pets and animals: cats, dogs, horses, livestock, etc.;
• Firearms;
• Personal property: clothes, shoes, jewelry, and more.

The other types of sale agreements that people should consider are “as-is” and notarized. “As-is” printable bills confirm that the parties agreed to deliver and receive the subject of the sale in its current condition, including its flaws. The buyer agrees to cover all necessary costs to repair the item.

The seller and buyer need notarized sale forms for goods over $500. It is strongly recommended to contact the Florida notary to witness and record this sort of purchase as legal. There are other reasons why buyers and sellers should sign a notarized bill of sale in Florida:

• This legal document works best for private sales of expensive items. Note that the parties should proceed with private sales according to the up-to-date state laws;
• Notarized bills of sale protect buyers and sellers from illegal sales. With the state notary, it will be easier to guarantee that the buyer will get the merchandise and the seller will get the compensation;
• If the parties need to transfer the titles, they should notarize their Florida bill of sale. 

When Should I Use a Bill of Sale in Florida?

Primarily, the Florida vehicle bill of sale, like any other type, is safe proof of purchase for both parties. Most likely, people will need this legal document when selling or buying a new car, motorcycle, boat, trailer, or any other vehicle. This legal process requires distributing titles and the new owner registration and paying a sales tax in Florida. Also, a bill of sale protects the transactions to help the parties avoid disputes. A legally valid Florida bill of sale for cars is equally important for the buyer and seller to add to their records.

However, there are specific cases of purchase and sale deals when the parties do not need any Florida bill of sale:

1. Small purchases of the items that cost less than $500 and do not carry great value;
2. Personal property since such deals require a different legal procedure supported by the appropriate documents and the legal help of a real estate lawyer or law firm;
3. Services as the parties should prepare another type of legal contract for this agreement. 

What happens if I don’t use a bill of sale in Florida?

In Florida, people have limited actions without printable bills of sale. For example, selling luxury vehicles, expensive equipment, or unique pets is complicated if the parties arrange their deed orally without a legal document. 

If people are selling or purchasing a car, they should also transfer the ownership rights with the car-related documents and take care of the vehicle registration. Otherwise, the buyers can get the car with multiple damages or a different model while sellers may not get their money for the sold car. An unexpected payment or transaction issue may also occur when the parties have acted without the sale agreement.

Any confusion or information misinterpretation from the Florida bill of sale for cars may cause future disputes. 

What Should Be On a Bill Of Sale in Florida?

The Florida auto bill of sale should cover the following definitions and terms below.

Key terms

The parties should ensure that they have included these basic technical settings for the Florida vehicle bill of sale:

• The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) code is a unique number for each vehicle;
• Vehicle description: model, size, color, vehicle registration plate, year, make, etc.;
• Odometer reading;
• Vehicle insurance;
• Warranty clause, if any.

Other types of Florida bills of sale may mention the following terms and provisions:

• “As-is” is the actual state of the vehicle that the buyer agrees to purchase;
• Certificate of title provides the initial vehicle owner’s name but make sure to change it after the ownership transferring;
• Notary Public is the Florida government institution that legalizes the Florida bill of sale forms;
• A promissory note is a separate legal document binding one of the parties to pay for the vehicle before a specific deadline.

How To Write a Bill of Sale in Florida?

Writing a bill of sale in Florida is not complicated. Below check out the steps to fill out this legal sample.

Fill in all the necessary information

After the negotiations, the parties should carefully complete the following components of their valid bill of sale:

• The contact details of the buyer and the seller; 
• The merchandise description. The key details to mention about vehicles are the VIN code, odometer reading, and insurance;
• The arranged purchase price, payment methods, and deadlines;
• Warranty clause if any;
• The purchase date and the parties’ signatures.

The parties should check all the details before signing the sale agreement.

Finalize the transactions

The buyer should pay all the necessary fees immediately after the sale. Besides the payment for the good, the buyer should also check out the sales tax in Florida to pay. When selling a vehicle, the client should provide an automobile bill of sale Florida to prove the deal is legal.

Notarize your bill of sale

If the item costs more than $500, the sale and purchase deal should be notarized for the next steps. This Florida bill of sale does not require the notary’s signature if the agreement is related to pets, equipment, or furniture.

Register the new owner

When the deal and all related payments are over, it is time to transfer ownership. Now the new owner is responsible for the registration of a vehicle. To complete the deal, the buyer should reach out to the Florida DMV (Division or Department of Motor Vehicles) office.