Updated on April 27, 2020
If you are selling or gifting a vehicle in the state of Florida, you must first demonstrate that you are the legal owner prior to completing any transaction.
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A vehicle title, also known as certificate of title or pink slip, is a legal document that establishes a person as the legal owner of a vehicle.
It is a document of vital importance which is issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your local state and you must keep it in a secure and safe place.
If, by any chance, you lose your title, you must report it to your local tax collector’s office as soon as possible to ensure you obtain a duplicate title.
Below we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to get a duplicate title in Florida.
How do I get a duplicate car title in Florida?
The FL Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) requires drivers to apply for a duplicate title by filling out the appropriate form along with other requirements that are mandatory for a smooth procedure.
You are allowed to do it either online, in person, or by mail.
Of course you are strongly advised to follow the instructions to avoid potential hassles or delays that could disrupt your application.
Online duplicate title applications
To apply for a duplicate car title, visit eTags’ portal, select “Lost Title or Replacement Title” and follow the simple instructions including:
- Place your order
- Provide a valid identification
- Pay the required duplicate title fees
You could always apply for duplicate title through GoRenew, yet there are some restrictions you need to be aware before using their platform.
- You won’t be able to get a digital copy of your title which differs from the service package that is provided by eTags.
- You cannot use their online service if your current address doesn’t match with the one the DMV has on file.
- You may have a harder time trying to solve specific issues through their agents over the phone, whereas eTags offers an excellent customer service support to answer any questions or other inquiries on time.
In-person duplicate title applications
Typically, vehicle owners go to their local tax collector’s office to handle vehicle-related transaction including duplicate title applications.
As for in-person visits, you must submit the following items:
- A completed Application for Duplicate or List in Transit/Reassignment for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home or Vessel Title Certificate (Form HSMV 82101).
- A valid proof of identity. You can use your driver’s license or your ID card for this procedure.
- Any information about existing lienholder(s) on your title.
- An odometer disclosure
- Payment for your duplicate title fees.
Note that your fees are also contingent to the county where you live. Every county in Florida charges an additional fee which is added to the DMV duplicate title fee. So Broward fees can be different than Citrus County and so on.
This fee varies from county to county, so contact your local Tax Collector’s agency for more information about duplicate car titles.
Importantly, you are advised to book an appointment with your local tax collector’s office in advance to avoid delays and other hassles that deter motorists from making in-person visits.
Applying for a duplicate car title by mail
If you are planning on applying for a duplicate by mail, you will need to gather your completed Form HSMV 82101 and submit it to the mailing address of your local tax collector’s office.
Though make sure the DMV has your current address information on file to avoid losing your new title on the mail.
What do I do if have a lien on my title?
If your lost title has a lien on it, you will need to fill out section 5 of the title application form.
Once the lien is satisfied, you can easily remove it by submitting the adequate documentation to prove that you paid off your debt.
50 comments
We are a dealer, bougbt a car to auction. The original owner is ffeom florida, sokdnto a dealer and i bought it from that dealer. I applied for duplicate in auction, they told me the second owner transfer isnnonlonger in business, so they cant grt me the title.
In this situation how doni get a duplicate, I have all the copies of original owner, and the dealer i bought it from…
The dealer that bought the vehicle from the owner named on the title would typically be the one responsible for obtaining the correctly completed title from the buyer. Then the back of the title could be used for multiple dealer to dealer transfers. If you were never provided the title, you should contact that first dealer so that they can get you the title. Alternately, you can attempt to contact the owner still named on the title to get it directly from them or seek legal counsel to see if the documents you were provided at auction could be used to eventually transfer ownership of the vehicle. Best of luck.
I’m in Louisiana and need a copy of my title for my car. Moved here from Florida.
Hey there, if you’re the owner of the vehicle and your name appears on the title, you can request a title replacement also called a duplicate title online with eTags. We can ship it to Louisiana.
I was sold a car and the owner gave me the title but the portion of the title that says purchasers name had white out. I was able to remove the white out but now it shows his name crossed out and then a buyers name prior to me who backed out written underneath. He has now moved out of state and isn’t willing to work with me. What can I do?
We can help with a title transfer order at eTags.com. We can accept the documents provided but the seller still needs to provide a miscellaneous affidavit and the Bill of sale.
My mother moved from florida to New York and never received her title from the tax collector and the vehicle is fully paid off. Can you help her receive a duplicate title and long would it take to receive?
Hi Andria,
Yes, we can certainly help your mom get a title sent to her. The title can take 2 days to a week to receive depending on which shipping option you choose at checkout. Here’s a link to place an order.-We’re even able to ship the title to your mom in NY! Let us know if you need any assistance!
Hi I want to purchase a vehicle in the state of Florida Miami to be exact. The original owner does not have the title he is so busy with work and stuff it’s hard for him to take time out and to get a duplicate copy of his title and somewhat hard to deal with. What will be the best way for me to purchase the car from the original owner without title and getting it registered in the state of NY. I will be driving it down from Miami to NY also and I don’t want no problems when I get to NY trying to register to car. Please let me know what are my options thanks.
You can’t transfer ownership without a title, but if the seller is in FL he or she can order a duplicate title with eTags online.
I purchased a car from a friend who had just purchased it . the title did not get put in my friends name before he lost the title .i live in GA.the car came from Florida. The previous owner from Fla is in known . I have run the vin in all the stolen car sites and the car is not stolen. But my local tag office here in GA won’t help me at all how can I get the title for me here in GA?
Hi Terry,
It sounds like your best bet is to contact that original seller and have them request a duplicate title. You’ll need that title just about anywhere to transfer the vehicle. Good luck!
Hi.
I’ve bought a 1983 chev c10 that is currently in previous owners name under registration. I’ve got registration and bill of sale but the title has been lost along the way over the years. It was originally registered in Atalanta and now currently in Vermont and I want to register it here in Florida. Would you be able to help me register and get a title?
eTags isn’t able to assist if you don’t have the title. Try contacting the state where the vehicle was first titled for assistance in getting the title.
I live in the state of Pennsylvania. My father has came up here for vacation and he was looking at a car he like. Kia needed him to have the title in hand and which he didn’t… is there a way over the phone or online to get a title fast and it not take three weeks?
At the moment, eTags doesn’t operate in PA. Not sure what you mean by title in hand. Was he looking to trade in, if so he needs a title replacement which he can request with a local DMV office
Hi i live in florida and a neighbor of mine has a vehicle for sale and I want to buy it ,however he stated it doesn’t have a title. I don’t know if he’s the one that had the titled then lost it or if he wasn’t given the title when he got the vehicle cause he got the vehicle to work on it and fix it and sell it . How would I go about getting a title so I can get it registered and all that
Hi there!
If your neighbor is the owner of the vehicle and legally in his name, he can use our service to get a duplicate title. Here’s the link to place an order. He’ll need his driver’s license to complete it. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing the vehicle without the title as you’ll have quite a bit of trouble registering the car.
We paid off our truck loan in January and the letter from Ford said they would send the title. Still no title. Called Ford dealership and was told they don’t send them anymore and I had to request it from Tags and Title to get me a free copy. How do I do this?
I’m unsure of any options to get a free title. However if the title has never been printed, the state fee is only $10. If you’re unable to get to a Florida tax collector’s office in person, eTags can help! Place an order on our site for a replacement title and choose from multiple processing and shipping options.
My Car title was lost and im currently in South Carolina. I am going through the ETAGS Process to have it mailed here. It’s claiming approx $250.00 fee to have it overnight-
To clarify $250 for my title to be sent here as if it were never lost all in approx 24 hours?????
Hi there! It sounds like you’re referring to the overnight shipping fee. The process usually takes 1-2 days to process and then 3-5 days for delivery. If you choose the overnight option, we’ll ship your title with standard overnight FedEx shipping. When it’s all said and done, you could have the title in your hands within 2-3 days of placing the order. I hope this helps!
I moved from NY to Florida, I never received my title from the NYC DMV. I want to register my car in Florida which I can’t do without title. The NY DMV website will only mail it to the address on the record which is my old NY residence. What can I do to get my hands on title in order to fix everything?
Kevin. We can help! We’re able to change the address when you place your order with eTags. Just indicate what address you’d like to have the title shipped to and we’ll take care of the rest! Visit our website here to place an order for a replacement title!
My son (he’s out of town )car was ticketed I put the tag on the car I thought that was the case but when I found out that’s what not the case I ask him what was the case so he said it was on the side walk so my other son came up to help (he just off work)he was about to help remove it off the side walk me and my son and friends was there to help me to get it off the sidewalk the patrol officer still got it towed we all was right there now I cannot can’t find the title please help me what can I do?
Hey there!
Thank you for reaching out to eTags. You can obtain a duplicate title by placing an order here. eTags has multiple shipping options available so you can get your title fast! I’m sure time is of the essence if the vehicle is already impounded. I hope this helps!
I bought a vehicle from Florida but the guy who sold me the vehicle lost the title and I can’t get ahold of him to get the title replaced
Hello there!
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, you might be in a bit of a pickle. I’d recommend contacting the local police department to see if they can help. Depending on where you live, having the title might be a non-negotiable. Good luck
I just ordered a replacement title, but lost email contact before I provided proof. How do I check on order?
If you ordered your replacement title with eTags online, you can just go back to your account page and you’ll find all info there.
My title was lost in the mail with UPS while I sent it back to the dealer for correction. Is there a way I can apply for a duplicate title and get the corrections done at once? Either on line or by mail?
The corrections are the GVW and GVWR.
Thanks for your time,
Unfortunately, no. Your best bet will be to get the duplicate and send it in again to the dealer for correction.
I want to order a title online so it would be a replacement basically, even though i never got one from the dealership. Once I pay, it says i need to provide a form of ID. How do i give proof of ID? Do i have to personally go to an office? because I live in another state now, i would prefer it to be mailed.
You can place a title order online with eTags by selecting the service type ‘Replace Lost Title Or Get e-Title Printed’. Once the order has been placed, you will be prompted to upload an image of your ID(driver’s license/passport). Please be sure to also provide proof of residency for the requested shipping address, if that is not the address on your license, or if you provide a passport as a form of ID.
Can you do an online duplicate title for a family members car that is deceased and the title is missing? They lived in Florida and we live in Pennsylvania? We need a copy of duplicate title sent to Pennsylvania?
A Florida duplicate title can be requested by placing an order on eTags by the spouse named on the death certificate. They must provide a copy of the death certificate and their ID. If the family member that would be requesting the title is not the spouse named on the death certificate, copies of probate documents would need to be providing naming the person requesting the title as the sole beneficiary of the vehicle. The title can be shipped to Pennsylvania as long as the person requesting the title can provide proof of residence that they reside at the address.
I no longer live in Miami. I need a new car title and a bill of sales from the dealership. Do you have a service that allows me to use you as an expediter to gather these two items for me?
Thank you.
If you are the owner named on the title, you can place an order here to request the title be mailed to wherever you have moved. You can select standard or priority shipping options based on how quickly you want to receive the title. Once you have placed the order, you will be required to provide a copy of your ID to complete order. To obtain the bill of sale, you would need to contact the dealership where you purchased the car.
I have a Jeep registered in Florida is it possible for a family member with the same last name to take the title and sell it or if they have my info can they order a new title replacement without me .
To sell the vehicle they would have to be the owners, so full name on title. If it’s about not being able to go to the DMV, we can do title transfers online as well as title replacement and registration. You can go to https://www.etags.com/app/us?utm_source=blog_question
I bought my motorcycle new in 2008 and there was a line on it. The title was sent to Tallahassee because of the lien. Paid it off in 2011 (I think) but never received the title. How do I go about getting the title as I am ready to sell the bike.
Hi there, you can go to https://www.etags.com/app/us?utm_source=blog_question&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=question&utm_id=blog_question
and select the service “Replace lost title or get e-Title printed”
I am buying an rv from the owner in Florida but they lost the title. Im guessing they dont want to go and wait to get it but how do I get around that if they are giving me a bill of sales.
With just a Bill of Sale, you would need to visit a motor vehicle service center near you to complete the transfer in person. You can also take the online route….and have the previous owner submit an order for a replacement title by visiting https://www.etags.com/app/fl?utm_source=blogquestion
Once the previous owner receive and sign the title, you can then submit an order to transfer the title in your name by visiting https://www.etags.com/app/fl?utm_source=blogquestion
I have my truck temp registration in Florida but it is titled (rebuilt) in Washington, which I have lost title. I am selling my truck in Florida, what can I do that expediates this process because I have someone buying the truck. Is there a way to have both of us come in and transfer over to him? I need this done quickest way. Thanks
etags doesnt process rebuilt titles. But, in order to transfer the truck, you must obtain a replacement title from the Washington State Department of Licensing(DOL). Once you receive the replacement title, you can then sign it over to the new owner. Because this is a rebuilt title, the new owner must go in person to their local tag agency to complete an inspection on the vehicle prior to getting it registered in Florida. For more information about obtaining a replacement title, please visit https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/replacetitle.html
I live in North Carolina, USA, and my dad recently just passed away, and he left me his car, which is located and titled in Florida, USA. but I can not find the title anywhere. Could I still file for a lost title on here even though the title is in my dad’s name and he’s dead, or is this something that would have to be taken care of in person?
You can visit etags at https://www.etags.com/app/fl?utm_source=blogquestion and select “Lost/Replacement Title”. You would need to provide his ID and a death certificate or Will, naming you the informant or beneficiary
I am a US Army Soldier stationed in Germany. I bought a used car that was previously registered in Florida. I lost the title of the vehicle and was wondering how to request a duplicate title. Once again, I’m stationed in Germany.
Thank you for this information. eTags would definitely be able to assist you in printing your title and mailing it to your address in Germany. Go to https://www.etags.com/app/fl?utm_source=blog%20question and choose “lost title or title replacement title” Pls note there will be an additional price for shipping to Germany.