How To Quickly Get A Duplicate Title In Florida

How To Quickly Get A Duplicate Title In Florida

A vehicle title, also known as certificate of title or pink slip, is a legal document that establishes a person or business as the legal owner of a vehicle. It is a document of vital importance issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your local state and should be kept in a secure and safe place.

If the document becomes lost, it is important to obtain a duplicate title. The duplicate title invalidates the lost title. It is also recommended that a police report be filed if the title was stolen to avoid fraud and further theft.

How Do I Get a Duplicate Car Title in Florida?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) maintains titles in one of two status: paper or electronic.

  • An electronic title is one that is held electronically. It cannot be lost or stolen because it does not exist in paper form. It is usually new vehicles that are financed which have electronic titles. Once the loan is paid off, the title can remain electronic. You might have an electronic title and only need to have it printed should you need to transfer ownership of the vehicle.

  • Paper titles are, you guessed it, held in paper form by the vehicle owner or lien holder. These can become lost, stolen, or damaged and must be replaced in those instances. 

Here is how you can have your electronic title printed or replace your paper title by ordering a duplicate:

Online Title Applications

If your title is electronically held, you can put in a request that it be printed and mailed to you by visiting the state website or via eTags.com which provides a duplicate title service with additional benefits overing ordering with the state for an additional fee.  Here are some important things to note:

  • The state website will only process requests to print and mail an electronically held title.  eTags can handle both requests (print an electronically held title or duplicate a paper title) but identification must be emailed or uploaded via the provided upload page. eTags also accepts mail or faxed copies.
  • Shipping varies depending on what website you order from. The state website indicates a shipping time between 7 to 10 days for electronic titles being printed and mailed. eTags services provide expedited processing and shipping for most title but identification must be received promptly. A priority ship option can be added for an additional fee.
  • If using the state website to print and mail an electronically held title, the title will be shipped to the current address on the DMV record. eTags can mail your title, after printing an electronically held one or duplicating a paper one, to any address but a document such as proof of residence or notarized may be requested.
Florida DMV website: GoRenew

In-Person Duplicate Title Applications

Typically, vehicle owners or representatives of a vehicle owned by a business can go to their local tax collector’s office or a private tag office to handle vehicle-related transactions including requesting a duplicate title or printing of an electronically held title.

It is important to note that Florida identifies “Fast Title” as an additional service. If you request a title in person without the additional Fast Title service, the office you visit will submit your application and the title will arrive to you in the mail. With the additional Fast Title service, they will process your application and hand you the title the same day. Not all offices offer Fast Title so be sure to call ahead to confirm if you want that additional service.

As for in-person visits, you must submit the following items to the clerk:

  • If your title is a paper title that was lost, stolen, or damaged, a completed HSMV 82101 form. If you are requesting that your electronic title be printed, the office will provide an authorization form which varies by county.
  • Proof of identity –  You can bring your driver’s license, ID card, or passport for this.

Note that fees due are also contingent to the county where you live. Many counties in Florida charge an additional fee which is added to the required state fee to print or duplicate a title. 

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. The title will mailed to the current address on your DMV record. 

What if There is a Lien on the Vehicle?

A lien is placed on a vehicle title when a creditor or other party with interest submits the proper application to the FL DMV. This essentially prevents the vehicle from being sold or otherwise transferred to a new owner until the lien is satisfied (or else the lien holder takes possession of the vehicle).

If the lien is not satisfied (loan or other debt paid off), the title must be requested by the lien holder. This would only typically apply when the vehicle owner moves to a new state and needs to register their car there for which a title is usually required. If the lien is satisfied, the lien can be removed by submitting the additional HSMV 82666 form along with other required documents and proof of lien satisfaction (such as a payment receipt) in person. Usually through, a lienholder is process the paperwork for lien removal with the DMV. If instead you receive a lien release letter, you may have to submit the lien removal request yourself.

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26 Replies to “How To Quickly Get A Duplicate Title In Florida”

  1. I’m not sure I actually was under the impression that this was something to do with a way of getting a lost title

  2. I have a 1998 Cadillac Seville that the title has been stolen, my question to you is how do I get a replacement title so I can transfer it and make it legal.

  3. I have moved to Washington state and need my title to register my car in Wa. There is no lien on the vehicle. Please advise as your website is very confusing.

    1. If your title is held electronic in FL, go to GoRenew.com to request that it be printed. You’ll need to check the mailing address options to assure that you can provide your WA address to have your title sent there. Alternatively, you can use a private online service like eTags.com but they may require proof that you now reside in WA before the title can be shipped there.

    1. You can visit a Tax Collector office, use GoRenew.com if your title is held electronic, or a private online service like eTags.com

    1. First enter your VIN on this Florida DMV page: https://services.flhsmv.gov/MVCheckWeb/. It will show if a vehicle has a lien. The Florida DMV requires that lienholders do the following within 30 days of a lien being satisfied (paid off): Remove the lien electronically and either keep the lien-free title in electronic status or have a paper title shipped to you OR they must send you an official lien release letter that you can take to a Tax Collectors office to have the lien removed.

    1. You can visit a Tax Collector office, use GoRenew.com if your title is held electronic, or a private online service like eTags.com

      1. Hi Brad, We recommended searching for your states DMV website to see if they offer an online option to request your title. You may also search for alternate online options in case your state does not offer an online solution. Alternatively, you can visit a DMV office near you. Please note that an appointment may be required and, in some states, titles are not issued the same day. They are mailed to you. Best of Luck.

    1. You can visit a Tax Collector office, use GoRenew.com if your title is held electronic, or a private online service like eTags.com

    1. You can visit a Tax Collector office, use GoRenew.com if your title is held electronic, or a private online service like eTags.com

    1. In FL, “fast title” usually refers to a title printed the same day it is submitted in the DMV system. Not all states do this. You can in fact fill-in the title application form online by typing your information. However, if you request your title in person, you will need to print the pre-filled form, sign it and take hand it in. You can also use a private online service like eTags.com through which you complete and sign all forms digitally, no need to print.

    1. If the title is electronic, go to GoRenew.com and go through all the steps to verify your identity and driver record. Once in, you’ll see a list of all the vehicles you own and any vehicles with electronic titles can be requested to be printed and mailed to you. If the title is not electronic, you’ll need to visit a Tax Collector office or use a private service online like eTags.com

  4. Question: I live in California and I would like to buy a vehicle from Carmax in Florida. The vehicle has an electronic title. What is the process for me to be able to buy that vehicle in Florida and then have the ownership certificate changed to California?

    1. If you are buying the vehicle from Carmax, they would work with the current owner to get the electronic title printed so that the vehicle ownership can be transferred. If you were buying the vehicle directly from the current owner or if Carmax is stating that you would need to handle the title transfer, you would then have the current owner print their title which they can do via the FL DMV site GoRenew.com or a third-party like eTags.com for expedited service. Once they receive the title, they would sign the seller sections and hand you, the buyer, the title to sign the buyer sections. FL titles only need to have information and signatures on the front, unlike CA titles that require information on the back of the title. Best of luck!

  5. My permanent address is David B***** 6*** B***** Rd B***** Mi 4****

    My snowbird address is 9***** C***** Ct. L***** Fl. 3****.I am selling my car registered in Fl to a Mi dealer but need a quick paper title to complete the transaction.

    My permanent address 6*** B***** Rd B***** Mi 4****. 2023

    1. If your vehicle has an FL title and you now need to register it in Michigan, you can visit the FL DMV site GoRenew.com and request the title if it is currently held electronically. You’ll need to confirm if you can request for the title to be shipped to MI before you complete the order. You may also use a private online service like eTags for expedited service.

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