Florida vs Michigan: Truck Bill of Sale Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side: Florida vs Michigan truck sale
| Feature | Florida | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Official bill of sale form | HSMV 82050 — Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Vessel Bill of Sale | TR-52 — Vehicle Bill of Sale |
| Sales / use tax rate | 6% sales/use tax · Florida procedure | 6% sales/use tax · Michigan procedure |
| Title fee (buyer pays) | $75 | $15 |
| Title transfer deadline | 30 days from sale | 15 days from sale |
| Notarization requirement | Not required | Not required |
| Lien release process | HSMV 82260 | TR-11L |
| Odometer disclosure cutoff | Required for trucks newer than 2011 | Required for trucks newer than 2011 |
| VIN inspection (out-of-state) | Required (out-of-state vehicles) | Required (out-of-state vehicles) |
| Titling agency | FLHSMV | Michigan SOS |
When to choose Florida vs Michigan
Michigan charges 6% vs 6% in Florida, a 0.00-point spread the buyer pays at title transfer. Florida requires title transfer within 30 days; Michigan allows 15. Tight 15-day deadlines push back-dated late fees onto buyers who delay. Both states publish official bill of sale forms (Florida: HSMV 82050, Michigan: TR-52), so the form itself is a non-issue — what matters is which one your titling agency accepts and how the odometer block reads. For a truck sale comparison, the buyer-side cost stack is dominated by sales/use tax, title fee, and any inspection or notary trip. Sellers should match the bill of sale format to the buyer's titling state because the buyer files the title transfer, not the seller.
Cross-state transfer: Florida to Michigan
If the truck moves from Florida to Michigan after the sale, the buyer registers and titles in Michigan — not Florida. The seller's bill of sale should still match Florida sale-side conventions (because the sale happened there), but the buyer takes that bill of sale plus the endorsed Florida title to Michigan SOS within 15 days of arrival. Michigan will assess 6% sales or use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued. Michigan requires a VIN inspection for vehicles arriving from out of state — Out-of-state vehicles must have a VIN inspection by a Michigan Secretary of State office before a Michigan title is issued. The federal odometer disclosure rules apply regardless of which state owns the title at sale time; trucks newer than 2011 need a written odometer reading on the bill of sale or title. If a lien existed on the Florida title, the Florida lienholder must release it (HSMV 82260) before Michigan SOS will issue a clean title to the buyer.
Generate a state-specific truck bill of sale
Pick the buyer's titling state — the form ships pre-filled with the right odometer block, signature lines, and state-specific fields.
Frequently asked questions — Florida vs Michigan
Is the truck bill of sale form different in Florida vs Michigan?▾
Yes. Florida uses HSMV 82050 (Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Vessel Bill of Sale) and Michigan uses TR-52 (Vehicle Bill of Sale). The buyer files the bill of sale at the state where they title the truck, so match the form to the titling state, not the sale state.
Which state has lower sales tax on a private-party truck sale, Florida or Michigan?▾
Both states share the same 6% published state rate. Local rates can shift the effective total — check the buyer's home county before closing.
What is the title transfer deadline for a truck in Florida vs Michigan?▾
Florida requires the buyer to title the truck within 30 days of sale. Michigan allows 15 days. Missing the deadline triggers late fees and back-dated registration penalties in both states.
Do I need to notarize the truck bill of sale in Florida or Michigan?▾
Neither Florida nor Michigan requires notarization of the truck bill of sale. A signed document with both parties' full names, addresses, and the date is sufficient.
If I sell a truck in Florida and the buyer registers it in Michigan, which state's rules apply?▾
The buyer titles and registers the truck in Michigan — Michigan's rules govern the title transfer. The seller's bill of sale should still reflect Florida sale-side conventions because the sale closed there. Michigan SOS will assess 6% sales/use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued, regardless of where the sale occurred.