What Is a Bill of Sale in Florida?
A Florida bill of sale is a signed record of a private sale.
Buyer and seller both appear on it, along with a description of what changed hands, the price, and the date.
For vehicles, vessels, and trailers, the bill of sale is only part of the process.
FLHSMV may also require title and registration documents to complete the transfer.
Florida Bill of Sale Requirements
There is no single Florida bill of sale for all types of property. However, a complete bill of sale should generally include:
- The buyer’s and seller’s details, including full legal names and addresses
- A description of the property being sold
- VIN, HIN, serial number, or other identifying number, when applicable
- The date of the sale
- The agreed purchase price
- Any warranties, disclosures, or “as is” terms
- The buyer’s and seller’s signatures and the date of signing
If you’re privately selling a motor vehicle, you must also report the sale to the state within 30 days.
These requirements are set out in Florida laws such as:
Types of Florida Bills of Sale
The correct Florida bill of sale form depends on what you’re selling. Here are the main types:
- General: Electronics, furniture, equipment, and other untitled personal property.
- Vehicle: Cars, trucks, and SUVs changing hands between private owners.
- Trailer: Utility, cargo, and boat trailers.
- Firearm: Handguns, rifles, and shotguns sold privately.
- Boat: Motorboats, personal watercraft, and other titled vessels.
- Motorcycle: Motorcycles and mopeds sold between owners.
Florida General Bill of Sale
A simple bill of sale is for everyday items that don't carry a title, like a lawnmower, a set of tools, or a batch of furniture from an estate sale.
Notarization isn't required for this kind of document in Florida. Some sellers get one notarized anyway for a higher-value item, as an extra layer of proof.
Build Your Florida General Bill of Sale
Florida Car Bill of Sale
A bill of sale for car transfers in Florida is really just a record of:
- 1
A description of the vehicle
- 2
- 3
Also known as a Florida vehicle bill of sale, it helps document the transfer and provides both parties with proof of the sale.
A Car BOS typically lists the:
- VIN
- Year
- Make
- Model
- Color
- License plate number
- Odometer reading
- Sale price
- The sale date
Where possible, try to keep these figures consistent with what's on the title.
Create Your Florida Car Bill of Sale
Florida Trailer Bill of Sale
A trailer bill of sale for Florida documents cargo, utility, and boat trailers separately from whatever they're hauling.
It’s advised to use a separate bill of sale for trailers, even when it’s being sold alongside a vehicle or boat.
You should list the:
- VIN
- Year
- Make
- Body style
- Weight
- Sale price and date
Whether it needs a title comes down to weight. Florida requires titling for trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of 2,000 pounds or more; lighter trailers usually just need a license plate, if that.
Get Your Florida Trailer Bill of Sale
Florida Firearm Bill of Sale
A firearm bill of sale covers the private sale of a handgun, rifle, or shotgun between two people in the state.
A Florida gun bill of sale form should record the:
- Make, model, caliber, and serial number of the firearm
- The price and date of sale
- Both parties' names and addresses
Many sellers add a line where the buyer states they're legally allowed to own the firearm.
Florida law doesn't require a background check for this kind of sale, and there's no waiting period either.
Age matters more here than in most states. Florida law bars selling any firearm, not just handguns, to a buyer under 21. Doing so is a third-degree felony. Sellers also can't knowingly hand a gun to someone who's already barred from owning one.
Create a Florida Firearm Bill of Sale
Florida Boat Bill of Sale
A boat bill of sale documents the transfer of a motorboat, personal watercraft, or other titled vessel. It can also be used to support the vessel's title application.
Your document should note the:
- Hull identification number (HIN)
- Year, make, and model
- Hull material
- Propulsion type
- Length
- Sale price and date
If the vessel came from out of state, you should note this too. The buyer will need the prior title or an out-of-state bill of sale.
Create Your Florida Boat Bill of Sale
How to Write a Bill of Sale in Florida
You can easily create your own bill of sale for use in Florida with Lumr’s customizable template. Simply choose the type of bill of sale, and add the relevant details. The steps below give you an overview of the whole process:
- 1
Identify the buyer and seller
Start by adding the full legal names and addresses of both the buyer and seller.
- 2
Provide the property details
Next, give a description of the item being sold. Provide any specific details that identify the item, such as the make, model, year, or serial number.
- 3
Enter the sale information
Record the purchase price and date of sale. For motor vehicles, include the title number and required odometer disclosure information.
- 4
Add the terms of the sale
State whether the property is sold “as is” or with any warranties. Include any other conditions or disclosures that you both agreed upon.
- 5
Sign and complete the transaction
Once you’ve added all the details, both parties should sign and date the document.
You also need to notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 30 days if the item sold was a car.
You can use Lumr's template to make an instant Florida bill of sale online. Just add all the required details to the customizable template, and in a couple of minutes you’ll have a ready-to-use document.
Florida Seller Requirements: FLHSMV Notice of Sale (HSMV 82050)
Selling a vehicle doesn't end at the handshake. Florida law requires sellers to file a Notice of Sale within 30 days of the sale. This is what removes your name from the vehicle so you're no longer tied to it.
This document:
- Marks the vehicle record as sold
- Removes the seller’s registration from the vehicle
- Helps limit the seller’s civil liability
It does not transfer title to the buyer, who must complete the separate title-transfer process.
Our Florida bill of sale template records the terms of the transaction, and is useful for your personal records. Vehicle sellers should also complete the required FLHSMV Notice of Sale.