Florida Title Search by VIN
Buying used in Florida? Search the VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction sales (damage, photos, and the title type the auction listed), a stolen-vehicle check, and odometer history, before you pay. These records follow the VIN across state lines, so a car totaled anywhere can still show up here, even when the Florida paperwork looks clean.
State fee data last reviewed 2026-09-16
Free preview
Search a title by VIN
Full report $12.99 one-time — no subscription.
What the title search shows
- Salvage records with cause and date
- Salvage-auction sales: price, damage, repair estimate, photos
- Stolen-vehicle check and odometer history
- Every online listing & price cut since 2015
Florida title & transfer facts
- Title fee
- $77.25
- Registration
- $225-$425 based on weight
- Inspection required
- No routine inspection
Florida requires no safety inspection or emissions test to register; out-of-state or untitled vehicles only need a VIN verification (Form HSMV 82042).
Lost or transferring a title? See Florida title fees & paperwork.
How to check a Florida title or lien status
Florida title status & title inquiry, lien check & lien holder search — through the state's own records.
Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) runs a free online Motor Vehicle Information Check for Florida-titled vehicles. Enter the title number or VIN to confirm the vehicle description, ownership, odometer readings and any title brand such as salvage or flood.
FLHSMV — Motor Vehicle Information Check
What you need
- The title number or the VIN (Florida-titled vehicles only)
What it shows
- Vehicle description
- Ownership verification and odometer readings
- Salvage information and any other brand on the Florida title
- How long a title takes
- An electronic Florida title converted to paper is generally received within 3–4 weeks; a “fast title” can be printed the same day in person for an extra fee.
- If a lien is missing or wrong
- On a paper title, the lienholder signs the lien satisfaction on the title or on form HSMV 82260 and sends it to FLHSMV within 10 days. Electronic (ELT) liens can only be released electronically by the lienholder — FLHSMV can’t release them even with a paper satisfaction. If the loan is paid but the lienholder can’t be found, the owner applies at a county tax collector or license plate agent (HSMV 82040) with proof of payoff and a certified letter mailed to the lienholder at least 20 days earlier.
- Vehicles Florida doesn't title
- Florida does not title trailers weighing less than 2,000 lbs.
The Florida record covers Florida only — it won't show titles issued in other states or a car's past salvage-auction sales. For that, run the VIN in the search above, or start with a free Florida VIN check.
Sources: FLHSMV: Motor Vehicle Information Check · FLHSMV: Vehicle theft prevention · FLHSMV: Electronic lien and title · FLHSMV: Procedure TL-33 (PDF) · FLHSMV: Procedure TL-10 (PDF) (checked 2026-11-09)
Frequently asked questions
How do I do a title search by VIN in Florida?
Enter the 17-character VIN above — a title search works the same in every state, because salvage and total-loss records follow the VIN, not the plate or the paperwork. The free preview shows the car's online listing footprint; the full CarWhere Used Car Report ($12.99) shows salvage records with cause and date, salvage-auction sales with reported damage and repair estimates, a stolen-vehicle check, and odometer history.
What title brands can a Florida search turn up?
The common ones are salvage (an insurer's total loss), rebuilt/reconstructed (a repaired salvage car), flood or water damage, lemon-law manufacturer buyback, junk/non-repairable, and odometer/not-actual-mileage. Each one permanently lowers the car's value — salvage and flood the most (40%–60%), rebuilt 20%–40%. A "clean" Florida title can still hide a brand issued in another state: an official NMVTIS report (approved providers are listed at vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov) shows brands reported by participating states, and the CarWhere report adds the salvage and salvage-auction records tied to the VIN.
Isn't a Florida title search free at the DMV?
The Florida DMV can confirm the current title status on record in Florida, but it will not show a brand that was issued in another state, the salvage-auction sale behind a rebuild, or the odometer and listing history. This report covers the salvage-auction, odometer, and listing side of that gap — the records that survive when a title is washed across state lines; for out-of-state brands, use an NMVTIS report.
What does it cost to title a car in Florida?
Florida's title fee is $77.25, and registration runs $225-$425 based on weight. Florida does not require a routine vehicle safety inspection.
How long does it take to get a title in Florida?
An electronic Florida title converted to paper is generally received within 3–4 weeks; a “fast title” can be printed the same day in person for an extra fee.
Official title-record sources
- Title brands & history: NMVTIS (U.S. DOJ)
- Theft & total-loss check: NICB VINCheck
Florida title, registration, and inspection facts are reviewed against the official Florida DMV/DOR fee schedules by the CarWhere Research team (last reviewed 2026-09-16). State fees change — confirm current amounts with the Florida DMV before purchase. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Florida Title Search by VIN," www.carwhere.com/title-search/florida.