How to Get a Rebuilt Title in Florida
To get a rebuilt title in Florida, you’ll need to bring documentation of the car’s repair history to the FLHSMV and your local tax collector office.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
To get a rebuilt title in Florida, you’ll have to submit documentation of the car’s repairs to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) Department. Once your car passes inspection, you can take your application to the local tax collector office for a rebuilt title.
Being totaled doesn’t have to spell the end for a car. With a rebuilt title, you can get a once-wrecked car back on the road and even sell it to a new owner! Applying for a rebuilt title, however, can be a long process.
That’s why
car insurance
comparison and broker app Jerry
has created a guide to applying for a rebuilt title in Florida. With this guide, you’ll find out which documents you’ll need, where to submit them, and how to pay for a rebuilt title in the Sunshine State. We'll even help you find affordable Florida car insurance
.What is a rebuilt title?
A
rebuilt title
certifies that a vehicle that was once deemed a total loss by an insurance company has now been restored to drivable condition. It’s one of two types of branded titles that indicate a major accident in a car’s history. By contrast, a salvage title is assigned to cars that have been totaled and not yet repaired. Typically, a car gets a salvage title if a salvage yard or owner decides to keep it and try to fix it rather than having it destroyed for scrap.
Does my car need a rebuilt title?
If you want to sell or drive a car that was once totaled, you’ll need a rebuilt title. Because this is the only way to certify that the car is once again road-worthy, it’s an essential step on the way to a successful sale.
You won’t be able to operate a rebuilt car legally on public roads until it’s got the correct title, so don’t skip this step!
MORE: How to insure a car with a salvage title
How to get a rebuilt title in Florida
There are two basic steps to getting a rebuilt title in Florida. First, you’ll submit a number of documents to your local FLHSMV compliance examiner to demonstrate that the car has been properly restored. Then you’ll take the same application materials to your local tax collector office to apply for a rebuilt title.
Send your application to the FLHSMV compliance examiner
This is the most time-consuming part of the process, and also the most important.
Here’s what you’ll need to include in your application:
- Proof of ownership including the original title and any bill of sale
- Bills of sale or receipts for all major replaced components
- Photographs of the car in its salvage condition (i.e., before it was rebuilt)
- $40 inspection fee and Florida sales tax
That’s a lot of documentation, but make sure you don’t miss any of these steps. In particular, check carefully to make sure that you’ve got receipts to match all the repairs listed on the builder’s statement. If the form indicates that the engine was replaced and there’s no receipt to document that transaction, the FLHSMV may reject your application.
Apply to the tax collector’s office for a title
Once the car passes its inspection, the compliance examiner will return your documents, which you must then bring to your local tax collector office to apply for a rebuilt title. Make sure that all the documents are in a sealed envelope—if the seal is broken, it could tank your application.
The base fee for a title application in Florida is $77.25.
The tax collector's office will review your application and send your title by mail within a few weeks.
Essential documents for a rebuilt Florida title
Applying for a rebuilt title in Florida requires a ton of documentation, so keep this checklist in mind:
- Original Florida title
- Bill of sale and any other proof of ownership documents
- Receipts or bills of sale for all major replacement parts
- Photographs of the car before repairs
- $40 inspection fee and Florida sales tax
How long does a rebuilt title take in Florida?
Because the process varies from vehicle to vehicle, it’s hard to give a solid estimate for the time it takes to get a rebuilt title in Florida. In general, you can expect the title to arrive 1-2 weeks after your application is complete.
Finding cheap car insurance in Florida
Once your rebuilt title application is complete, it’s time to shop for insurance! If you’re tired of filling out forms and calculating fees, don’t worry—there’s a way to get the lowest rate on the insurance you need without spending hours on applications and documentation.
How? Easy: just download
Jerry
, the No. 1 rated car insurance
app. As a licensed broker with access to quotes from 50+ top insurance providers, Jerry can instantly search for the definitive lowest rates and find you options in just 45 seconds. Once you’ve chosen the rate that works for you, you won’t be alone with sign-up. Jerry’s incredible customer service team works with you to complete all the necessary paperwork; they’ll even help you cancel your old policy!
The results are clear: the average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance. After all the money you’ve sunk into rebuilding your car, those savings could make a huge difference!
“I usedJerryto switch from my old insurer to Progressive. I’m now paying half of what I used to! It’s nice to know Jerry will continue to monitor my account and alert me to new rates.” —Keilah S.
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Is a rebuilt title bad in Florida?
It depends. If you’re shopping for a used car, a rebuilt title can get you a great price on a drivable vehicle—but even with the best repairs, a car that’s been totaled in the past typically will have some issues down the road. If you’re trying to sell or drive your car, however, a rebuilt title is the best way to go.
How much does it cost to get a rebuilt title in Florida?
The costs to get a rebuilt title in Florida vary from case to case, since you have to take into account—the cost to repair the vehicle from its wrecked condition, the $40 inspection fee, the $77.25 titling fee, and Florida sales tax
In general, expect to pay at least $117.25 for your rebuilt title—but that figure doesn’t include repair estimates and other incidental costs.
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