Titles

**The Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office is partnered with Envision Payment Solutions for the recovery of returned checks. Returned checks may be electronically represented to your account along with a returned check fee. Envision can be contacted at 1-877-290-5460. ​

***Please note, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), located in Tallahassee, will mail your title to you. Please allow 10-14 business days for mail processing and transit times.

• Our offices offer duplicate title services for lost or stolen titles.
  • $78.25 to have the title mailed to you by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), located in Tallahassee
    • Please allow 10 -14 business days for mail processing and transit time
    • If a co-owner cannot be present, an authorized power of attorney form, HSMV 82053, must be completed. Bring the original signed form along with a copy of the absent owner’s valid ID to your title appointment.
    • IMPORTANT UPDATE: Motor vehicles with a model year of 2011 or newer can be exempt after twenty years
    • All motor vehicles with a model year of 2010 or older are exempt

    Electronic Title Information

    • During a title transfer, an individual can request to have their title remain electronic.
    • If there is a lien against the vehicle, the title will automatically be electronic unless the lien holder requests a paper title.
      • Upon vehicle payoff, the title will continue to be electronic unless the owner requests the title to be printed.
      • Both buyer and seller need to be present to complete this form, Power of Attorney cannot be used.
      • A paper title would need to be printed and completed if
        • the buyer or seller cannot be present or
        • the purchaser does not want to keep the new title electronic or
        • the vehicle is going to be registered out of state

        

        Selling a Vehicle

        • Anyone selling, trading, or gifting a vehicle will be required to complete the “transfer of title by seller” section of the title in full before the title can be transferred to a new owner.
          • This sectionmust be completed by the seller(s) with the selling price, date of sale, odometer reading (if required), and names of all purchasers.
          • If left incomplete, the purchaser will not be able to be complete the title in office unless a correctly completed bill of sale is provided by the seller with the title.
          • Unsure of how to complete a title? View a Sample
          • This will allow our offices to mark the title “sold” in the system and will also detach the plate and registration from the vehicle in the system.
          • Due to financial responsibility laws in Florida, this should be completed before the insurance policy on the vehicle is cancelled.
          • If you do not want to surrender your plate or want to keep your plate to transfer to another vehicle, you must notify our offices of the sale or your license could be suspended.
          • If you do not wish to keep the plate that was attached to the vehicle, you must surrender it to one of our offices (in person or via drop box).
          • Find more info about surrendering a plate.

          Sales Tax

          • All vehicles obtained in a private sale will be subject to Florida state sales tax (6%) and Pinellas County discretionary tax (1% on the first $5,000, max $50).
          • If you just purchased the vehicle, you will be required to pay sales tax if applicable.
          • If you have owned the vehicle for less than 6 months, proof of sales tax paid must be submitted with your out-of-state title documents.
            • A dealer invoice or title/registration which specifically list sales tax paid, are the most common ways to prove this.

            

            FEES

            For details about related fees, please view our fee chart.