I need to go to Florida and bring my Mom back to the St. Louis area. She currently owns a Honda automobile that I need to sell while down there.
I’ve never been a Florida resident, so I’m asking what’s involved. Probably going to sell to a dealer of some sort.
Does Florida have Titles like many states? When I lived in New York, forty years ago, all we had was a registration slip. I sign the slip and give it to you, it’s your car.
Any insights or advice? Not looking for the best price, that’s not the issue.
Florida has titles. I assume she holds title here. If the car is in decent shape I’d suggest you take it by CarMax and just sell to them. I sold a car that way a year or so back and it was quick, painless, and I got all that I would have asked had I sold to an individual without the attendant hassle of listing and hoping someone comes by and makes an offer. I did get the car detailed first and they gushed over it, but it was a recent model with low miles some extra and in good shape. If her car is a beater then that might be more difficult.
As the driver of a 1996 Honda Civic hatchback (in Florida, no less), I can tell you that they’re solid, reliable cars that seem to hold their value pretty well. The “street racing” trend of the last few years, as popularized in the Fast and the Furious movies, has made small, unassuming Japanese cars into hot commodities for teens and 20-somethings who want to trick them out and race them. In Miami, I’d always get random teens (mostly Hispanic and Asian) complimenting me on my Civic, and recommending I add all this stuff onto it.
Yes, Florida does have titles. If your mother is like the other ‘older’ ladies I have met and dealt with, I would think she has the title to the car, somewhere secure, and possibly somewhere where she forgot where it is. If that is the case, you can go to a ‘quick title’ place and get one for somewhere around $50 for regular delivery or around $100 for 1-2 day service.
If you go to a dealer, they should not need the title, but they will subtract the cost (around $75 they should charge you) from what they give you the car for.
I have a friend that works at Honda if you want to contact me when you come down or prior to coming down. Also, I do not live that far from Honda. Perhaps my dealer will give you more than CarMax will (you never know). You can e-mail me and I will respond with my information, if interested.
ShibbOleth you are right. It can’t hurt to check both. CarMax is right around the corner from me. My friend is at Honda down the street, and I am here. Hell, maybe I can find a quick buyer for you. It all depends on the car.
To stay on the thread, if trading a car in or selling a car to a dealer, they have ways to prove who legally owns the car, which is the purpose of the title. To transfer ownership, it just makes it easier to have the title on hand.
You might want to look at the AutoTrader Online to get an idea of the running cost of similar cars. I too am in FL (not near Pompano) and add that while we do have titles they no longer need to be signed in the presence of a Notary Public as once was, so that’ll help.
FormerMarineGuy-That’s a stand-up thing to do. Nice goin’.