How to Float a Vehicle Title to Sell | Sapling

How to Float a Vehicle Title to Sell

How to Float a Vehicle Title to Sell
Jun 16, 2011
2 minute read
...
Car dealerships often float titles to save money and time.

When a car or truck is sold, the title must be transferred from the original owner to the new owner. The Department of Motor Vehicles oversees title transfers and assesses the taxes and fees associated with changing ownership. If you are buying a car to then flip it for profit, you might not want to pay the taxes and fees, thus increasing your profit. "Floating the title" means you don't acknowledge your ownership for a period of time and transfer directly to the person to whom you sell the car. Floating is not permitted in consumer sales.

Step 1

Ask the auction house selling the car whether they have a float program. Many auction houses offer a float program for a nominal fee, giving you time to sell the vehicle.

Step 2

Obtain the Float Authorization Form from the auction house.

Step 3

Complete the form with the vehicle information and submit the signed paperwork to the auction house with the appropriate fee.

Step 4

Find a buyer for the car and obtain payment before the float period expires after 28 days, or another designed time frame.

Step 5

Complete the title registration in the new owner's name. Deliver the appropriate title transfer to the DMV.

Kimberlee Leonard

With more than 15 years of professional writing experience, Kimberlee finds it fun to take technical mumbo-jumbo and make it fun! Her first career was in financial services and insurance.

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