Buying a used car in Florida
Discussion
I've been living in Florida for 7 months now and the time has come that i need to buy a car. i have about 20k cash to spend but that includes all taxes and fees.
i'm searching for a 2011+ Ford Mustang GT and have spotted a few at local dealers but also a couple being sold privately.
Buying a car at a dealer would be a lot easier as the paperwork is all taken car of but how do things work if i was to buy privately.
Any info would be much appreciated
i'm searching for a 2011+ Ford Mustang GT and have spotted a few at local dealers but also a couple being sold privately.
Buying a car at a dealer would be a lot easier as the paperwork is all taken car of but how do things work if i was to buy privately.
Any info would be much appreciated
Establish that the car for sale has a clear title.
Hand over the cash in exchange for the vehicle (minus license plate/tag) and the title document that is filled-in to state how much you paid for the car. Get a written receipt from the seller.
Take the title document to the DMV along with your check book. Pay to register title in your name, pay sales tax and tag/plate fee and you will be issued with a temp tag.
The permanent plate with tag up to month of your next birthday will arrive in the mail in approx 2 weeks.
The most important piece of this is the first sentence.
Hand over the cash in exchange for the vehicle (minus license plate/tag) and the title document that is filled-in to state how much you paid for the car. Get a written receipt from the seller.
Take the title document to the DMV along with your check book. Pay to register title in your name, pay sales tax and tag/plate fee and you will be issued with a temp tag.
The permanent plate with tag up to month of your next birthday will arrive in the mail in approx 2 weeks.
The most important piece of this is the first sentence.
Mikes2k said:
Thank you for the replies.
What happens if i was to buy private, when i drive the car away it won't have a tag on it. Also how quickly do you have to go to the DMV office?
You are not allowed to drive an unregistered vehicle - so by the letter of the law, you could get ticketed driving it home - highly unlikely though, if you have the bill of sale and the title with you.What happens if i was to buy private, when i drive the car away it won't have a tag on it. Also how quickly do you have to go to the DMV office?
You need to get to the DMV immediately and the car needs to be off the street until you get the temp tag. A dealer supplied car will come with a paper tag.
If I recall, you are in central FL - so don't worry about corrosion. I have a 92 F150 that doesn't have any issues in that regard - no rust anywhere - just cooked paint.
Biggest concern with a private buy is that there are no liens or claims on the title - make damn sure that the title document is genuine.
I do not know about Florida law, Matt lives there so is better qualified to advise you. I know in Tennessee where I live and in other states you can buy the car and do not need a tag (number plate). You can drive up to 30 days without one but you do need to keep the bill of sale and insurance with the vehicle.
Make sure the title is legit and clear of lienholders and not rebuildable.
Make sure the title is legit and clear of lienholders and not rebuildable.
5ohmustang said:
I do not know about Florida law, Matt lives there so is better qualified to advise you. I know in Tennessee where I live and in other states you can buy the car and do not need a tag (number plate). You can drive up to 30 days without one but you do need to keep the bill of sale and insurance with the vehicle.
Make sure the title is legit and clear of lienholders and not rebuildable.
I'm no expert either - but my daughter is an Orange County Sheriffs Deputy and I consulted her on this - no 30 days without a tag down here sonny! Make sure the title is legit and clear of lienholders and not rebuildable.
You'd have to be a confrontational a
hole to get a ticket driving it home from a purchase, but you are not allowed to just ride around without a plate - car needs to be off public roads if it's not registered, or risk tow/ticket.If you buy private you can go with the seller to the DMV and complete the process, you will need proof of insurance.
Select car , pay deposit.
Return next day with insurance card showing VIN
At DMV fill in form hand over signed over title and bill of sale.
Pay tags and title fee, then sales tax.
You will receive tags, reg card, title in the mail.
Put tags on car.
Seller can hand in his tags at the same time.
Select car , pay deposit.
Return next day with insurance card showing VIN
At DMV fill in form hand over signed over title and bill of sale.
Pay tags and title fee, then sales tax.
You will receive tags, reg card, title in the mail.
Put tags on car.
Seller can hand in his tags at the same time.
jeff m2 said:
If you buy private you can go with the seller to the DMV and complete the process, you will need proof of insurance.
Select car , pay deposit.
Return next day with insurance card showing VIN
At DMV fill in form hand over signed over title and bill of sale.
Pay tags and title fee, then sales tax.
You will receive tags, reg card, title in the mail.
Put tags on car.
Seller can hand in his tags at the same time.
Select car , pay deposit.
Return next day with insurance card showing VIN
At DMV fill in form hand over signed over title and bill of sale.
Pay tags and title fee, then sales tax.
You will receive tags, reg card, title in the mail.
Put tags on car.
Seller can hand in his tags at the same time.
Good catch Jeff - I totally spaced on proof of insurance. FL DMV is a direct portal to hell, so persuading the seller to accompany you might be a stretch....
Loskey said:
Great advise.
Didn't take the Mustang, it was lovely just the modified exhaust was too loud for me.
I'm assuming you have to declare all modifications just like the U.K. Not sure my insurance company will approve of them
Not here, I have never had to declare any mods. Typically if you wreck and the modified parts were installed within the last 12 months you will be paid for them, but at no time do you have to notify them. That's just a British Insurance rip off tactic.Didn't take the Mustang, it was lovely just the modified exhaust was too loud for me.
I'm assuming you have to declare all modifications just like the U.K. Not sure my insurance company will approve of them
At one time I was a total loss advisor, which included assessing and valuing totalled vehicles. Most cars are insured on a actual cash value for the policy where you don't have to mention mods. If it was a stated value policy so vintage, collector, exotics anything special the owner wanted to list on policy, for example carbon fiber wheels then yes that gets added and increases the premium.
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