The Title That Never Came
Fla. Stat. 319.23 — the dealer obtains the title in the buyer's name, with the application due within 30 days of delivery
The dealer obtains it. When a licensed dealer sells a motor vehicle to a general purchaser, the certificate of title is obtained in the purchaser's name by the dealer, on an application the purchaser signs.
Thirty days. In each transfer, the application for the certificate of title must be filed within 30 days after delivery of the motor vehicle. A $20 fee is added for failing to file in that time.
Out of state buyers. For a buyer residing in another state or country, the dealer need not apply for a Florida title, but transfers ownership and reassigns the title to the buyer, who signs an affidavit to title the vehicle elsewhere.
A particular sale is a question for the state's motor vehicle agency, its dealer licensing board, or a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Fla. Stat. 319.23 — Application for, and issuance of, certificate of title
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.