Florida VIN Check & Vehicle History
Decode any 17-digit VIN and uncover the title brand, salvage history, recalls and market value before you buy a used car in Florida.
Free VIN check — no signup requiredV Reviewed by the Vincheck.me Editorial Team · 5 min read · Updated Jun 10, 2026
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Why run a Florida VIN check
Florida is one of the largest vehicle markets in the nation, with 19.6 million registered vehicles as of 2022 (FHWA MV-1). Its roads record roughly 395,000 crashes per year — 395,175 in 2023 per FLHSMV, an average of more than 1,000 per day — and 3,396 traffic fatalities in 2023 (NHTSA FARS). Vehicle theft is a significant concern: 46,213 vehicles were stolen in 2023, placing Florida third nationally by volume according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, at a rate of approximately 202 thefts per 100,000 residents. Florida has no statewide emissions test and no safety inspection requirement for private passenger vehicles, making VIN and title verification especially important when purchasing a used car. FLHSMV administers titles, and any out-of-state or previously salvaged vehicle must have a physical VIN check on Form HSMV 82042 before a Florida title will be issued.
Florida driving & vehicle-theft data
What a Florida VIN report shows
Title brand (clean, salvage, rebuilt)
Reported accidents & damage
Odometer / mileage history
Liens & loan records
Theft & recovery records
Open NHTSA safety recalls
Salvage & flood history
Sales & ownership timeline
Full factory specifications
Estimated market value
Florida title brands & salvage rules
Across the U.S., a vehicle’s title can carry one of several brands. Always confirm the current brand before buying:
- Clean
- Salvage
- Rebuilt / Reconstructed
- Flood / Water Damage
- Manufacturer Buyback (Lemon)
- Junk / Non-Repairable
- Odometer Discrepancy
Florida total-loss / salvage rule: Under FL Statute 319.30, a motor vehicle is a 'total loss' when an insurer pays to replace it, OR (for uninsured vehicles) when repair/rebuild cost equals 80% or more of the replacement cost of a like vehicle. For title-branding purposes: a late-model vehicle with current retail cost of at least $7,500 is declared 'unrebuildable' (certificate of destruction) when estimated repair costs equal 90% or more of current retail cost; a vehicle with current retail cost below $7,500 or that is not a late-model vehicle is subject to a certificate of destruction only if its residual value is as parts/scrap. The 80% threshold applies to the total-loss definition for uninsured vehicles and to mobile homes. Source: flsenate.gov
Florida title brands include: Rebuilt (vehicle built from salvage/junk or assembled from parts, requiring FLHSMV physical inspection and a decal affixed to the vehicle), Flood Vehicle, Kit Car, Glider Kit, Replica, Custom Vehicle, Street Rod Vehicle, Manufacturer's Buy Back (for lemon-law repurchase under Chapter 681), Taxicab, Police Vehicle, Short-Term-Lease Vehicle, and Total Loss Vehicle. A salvage title holder must apply for a rebuilt title, pass a FLHSMV physical inspection of the vehicle and all major component parts, and receive a rebuilt decal before the vehicle can be registered and driven on public roads. Statutes: FL Stat. 319.14 and 319.30.
Florida vehicle rules at a glance
| Emissions / smog test | Florida has no statewide vehicle emissions/smog test requirement. The state operated a program in select counties from 1991 to 2000, but it was discontinued. No county in Florida currently requires emissions testing for vehicle registration or renewal. Florida Statute 316.2935 prohibits tampering with air pollution control devices and bans visible exhaust emissions for more than 5 continuous seconds, but no periodic inspection is required. Source: leg.state.fl.us |
|---|---|
| Vehicle sales tax | 6% — Florida state base sales and use tax on motor vehicles is 6%. Most counties also impose a discretionary sales surtax (0.5%–1.5%) that applies to the first $5,000 of the vehicle's purchase price. Source: floridarevenue.com |
| Lemon-law deadline | The Florida Lemon Law rights period ends 24 months after the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer (FL Statute 681.102). During that period, if the same nonconformity has been subject to repair three or more times (plus a final manufacturer attempt if applicable) and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days, a rebuttable presumption arises that a reasonable number of repair attempts have been made. The manufacturer must then repurchase or replace the vehicle within 40 days. Source: flsenate.gov |
| Odometer disclosure | Upon transfer of a used motor vehicle, the transferor must complete an odometer disclosure statement (in the form required by 49 C.F.R. § 580.5) on the certificate of title, and the transferee must acknowledge by signing. Failure is a second-degree misdemeanor. Exemptions apply to vehicles with GVWR over 16,000 lbs., non-self-propelled vehicles, and vehicles exempt under federal law. Age-based exemptions: vehicles with model year 2011 or newer are exempt after 20 years; model year 2010 or older are exempt after 10 years. Source: flsenate.gov |
How to check a VIN in Florida
- Decode the VIN for free. Enter the 17-digit VIN above to instantly decode the make, model, year, engine and factory equipment from the NHTSA database.
- Review the title & history. Check the title brand, odometer reading, recalls and any salvage or flood records flagged on the report.
- Verify with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles keeps the official Florida title record, and a physical VIN verification on form HSMV 82042 is required for out-of-state or rebuilt vehicles. See flhsmv.gov.
- Cross-check NMVTIS. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System aggregates title, brand and total-loss data from FLHSMV and every other state.
Check a VIN by make
VIN check in other states
Florida VIN check — frequently asked questions
Which agency handles vehicle titles and VIN verification in Florida?
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is the state agency responsible for vehicle titles, registrations, and motor vehicle law enforcement. FLHSMV can be reached at (850) 617-2000 or at https://www.flhsmv.gov/. Day-to-day titling transactions are typically processed through the county tax collector's office acting as an agent of FLHSMV.
Is a car with a rebuilt/salvage title legal to drive and register in Florida?
Yes, but only after completing the required process. Under Florida Statute 319.14, a salvage vehicle that has been repaired must be submitted to FLHSMV for a physical inspection verifying the VIN and all major component parts. Once the inspection passes, FLHSMV affixes a rebuilt decal to the vehicle and issues a certificate of title stamped to show it was rebuilt. The vehicle can then be registered and legally driven. A vehicle with only a salvage (or certificate of destruction) title cannot be registered or driven on public roads.
How do I get a VIN verification done in Florida?
For a used motor vehicle not currently titled in Florida (e.g., an out-of-state vehicle), the owner must complete Form HSMV 82042 — Vehicle Identification Number and Odometer Verification. Part A is an owner's affidavit, and Part B requires a physical inspection and signature by an authorized verifier: a Florida-licensed dealer, Florida notary public, any-state law enforcement officer, Florida DMV/Tax Collector employee, or a FLHSMV Division of Motor Vehicles inspector. The completed form is submitted to the county tax collector's office at the time of titling. New vehicles and certain trailer/recreational vehicle types are exempt. Download the form at https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/82042.pdf.
Does Florida require an emissions/smog test?
No. Florida has had no statewide vehicle emissions or smog testing requirement since the program was discontinued in 2000. No county in Florida requires emissions testing for vehicle registration or renewal. Florida Statute 316.2935 does prohibit tampering with factory-installed air pollution control devices and bans visible exhaust for more than 5 continuous seconds, but there is no periodic inspection requirement.
How much is vehicle sales tax in Florida?
Florida charges a state sales and use tax of 6% on new and used motor vehicles (Florida Department of Revenue, GT-800030). In addition, most counties impose a discretionary sales surtax of 0.5%–1.5%, which applies only to the first $5,000 of the purchase price. So the combined tax on a $20,000 vehicle would be $1,200 (6% state) plus up to $75 in county surtax (1.5% of $5,000), depending on the county where the buyer resides. Source: https://floridarevenue.com/Forms_library/current/brochure/gt800030.pdf.
What does Florida's lemon law cover and what's the deadline?
Florida's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act (Chapter 681, Florida Statutes) covers new motor vehicles sold or leased in Florida. The 'Lemon Law rights period' is the 24 months after original delivery of the vehicle to the consumer (FL Stat. 681.102). Within that period, if the same nonconformity has been subject to repair three or more times (plus a manufacturer's final attempt) and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days, the law presumes the manufacturer has failed to fix it. The manufacturer must then either repurchase the vehicle (refunding the full purchase price less a use offset) or replace it within 40 days. Source: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2023/681.102 and https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2023/681.104.
What are the salvage and total-loss title rules in Florida?
Under Florida Statute 319.30, a motor vehicle becomes a 'total loss' when an insurer pays to replace it, or — for uninsured vehicles — when repair cost equals 80% or more of replacement cost. For late-model vehicles (model year within the prior 5 years) with a current retail value of at least $7,500, if repair costs are 90% or more of current retail cost, the vehicle must receive a certificate of destruction and is declared unrebuildable. Vehicles under $7,500 in value or not late-model are declared unrebuildable only if their residual value is limited to parts or scrap. Source: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2023/319.30.
What title brands does Florida use on vehicle titles?
Florida stamps or brands titles with designations including: Rebuilt, Flood Vehicle, Kit Car, Glider Kit, Replica, Custom Vehicle, Street Rod Vehicle, Manufacturer's Buy Back (lemon-law repurchase), Total Loss Vehicle, Taxicab, Police Vehicle, and Short-Term-Lease Vehicle (Florida Statutes 319.14 and 319.30). A 'Rebuilt' brand means the vehicle was previously salvage or assembled from parts and has passed FLHSMV physical inspection; a rebuilt decal is affixed to the vehicle. Buyers should always check the title history when purchasing a used vehicle in Florida to identify any of these brands.
Run a free Florida VIN check
Vincheck.me provides free VIN decoding and vehicle-history information for Florida (FLHSMV) and all 50 states. Data is compiled from public sources including NHTSA, the U.S. Census Bureau, FHWA, NICB and Florida state statutes. We are an independent service and are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or any government agency.