Overview
The catch is in the word 'nothing': if the recipient takes over even a small remaining loan balance, Florida treats that as consideration and taxes the vehicle's fair market value, not the $0 you didn't charge. You'll still pay the standard title fee (and registration if you're transferring or issuing a plate) - only the sales tax line disappears on a genuine gift. The calculator below shows both outcomes.
01 - Official fees
Florida gift a car fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax on a bona fide gift | $0 | no money, trade, service, or assumed lien |
| Title fee | $75.25–$85.25 | same as any transfer, by title situation |
| Registration (if plates change hands) | $27.60–$45.60/yr | by weight |
| License plate transfer | $4.50 | if recipient uses their own existing plate |
| 'Gift' with an assumed loan | 6% + surtax on fair market value | treated as a sale |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county tax collector's office (FLHSMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to gift a car in Florida
- 1
Confirm nothing of value is changing hands - no cash, no trade, no loan the recipient is taking over.
- 2
Giver signs the title over to the recipient, writing the sale price as $0 or 'gift.'
- 3
Complete the sales tax exemption certification section of the title application, declaring it a gift.
- 4
Recipient brings the signed title, the application, proof of Florida insurance, and ID to the county tax collector within 30 days.
- 5
Pay the title fee (and registration, if needed) - no sales tax is collected on a verified gift.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Florida vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Florida gift a car FAQ
Do I have to be related to someone to gift them a car tax-free in Florida?
No - Florida's exemption isn't limited to family. Any recipient qualifies as long as the transfer is genuinely free: no money, no trade-in, no services rendered, and no outstanding loan the recipient is picking up.
What if the recipient pays off my remaining loan balance?
That's consideration, not a gift, in Florida's eyes - the county will tax the vehicle's fair market value at the standard 6% plus county surtax, exactly as if it had been sold at that price.
Is there a special form for gifting a car in Florida?
There's no separate gift-tax form like some states use - you declare it directly on the standard title application (HSMV 82040), in the section certifying the transfer is exempt from sales tax as a gift.
Does the recipient still pay a title fee on a gifted car?
Yes - the $75.25–$85.25 title fee applies to every transfer regardless of whether tax is owed. Only the sales tax line is waived on a genuine gift.
Can I 'gift' a car for $1 to make the paperwork simpler?
Don't - a $1 'sale' isn't a gift under Florida's rule and can actually draw more scrutiny than declaring it correctly as either a true $0 gift or an honestly priced sale.
Does the $225 initial registration fee still apply to a gifted car?
Yes, if the recipient has no Florida plate of their own to transfer onto it - the initial registration fee is about the plate history, not how you acquired the vehicle.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.