Gifting a Car in Florida: Taxes, Fees & Rules (2026)
A true gift — no payment and no assumed loan — is tax-free for anyone (Rule 12A-1.007). Assuming a loan makes it taxable on the balance. The $75.25 title fee is still due either way. The title fee of $75.25 still applies. Verified against official Florida sources on 2026-07-17.
Gift vs. selling for $1: don't use the $1 trick
The old advice to "sell it for a dollar" usually backfires. A $1 sale is still a sale — in states that tax the higher of price or book value, that means tax on the full book value; in others it simply voids the gift exemption you were entitled to use. The documented gift route (affidavits, the right box on the title) is what actually produces $0 tax where an exemption exists.
What you'll still pay in Florida
Even a fully exempt gift pays the standard title transfer fee of $75.25. The recipient also takes on normal registration costs going forward. File the title application within 30 days of delivery or pay a $20 delinquent fee (FS §319.23).
Good to know
- $75.25 is the e-title transfer fee; an original title for a used vehicle is $85.25, paper title +$2.50.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay taxes on a gifted car in Florida?
A true gift — no payment and no assumed loan — is tax-free for anyone (Rule 12A-1.007). Assuming a loan makes it taxable on the balance. The $75.25 title fee is still due either way.
Is it better to gift a car or sell it for $1 in Florida?
Gift it — properly. A $1 "sale" is still a sale in most states and can trigger tax on book value or invite a review, while a documented gift uses the actual exemption. A true gift — no payment and no assumed loan — is tax-free for anyone (Rule 12A-1.007). Assuming a loan makes it taxable on the balance. The $75.25 title fee is still due either way. Follow the gift procedure, not the $1 shortcut.
What does the title transfer cost on a gifted car in Florida?
The title fee is $75.25 — that's due on gifts too, even when the tax is exempt. File the title application within 30 days of delivery or pay a $20 delinquent fee (FS §319.23).
Does the IRS tax a gifted car?
Almost never for normal vehicles — car values fall under the IRS annual gift-tax exclusion for most givers, so no federal gift tax or return is required. The state-level rules above are what actually matter.
Verified against official sources (flhsmv.gov, leg.state.fl.us) — last reviewed 2026-07-17. Estimates are informational only.