A surviving spouse in Florida can take a deceased spouse off a jointly owned title, or move a title from the deceased spouse’s name into their own, with HSMV 82152, Application for Surviving Spouse Transfer of Title. Florida law says there’s no title fee for this, except $10 if you want an expedited title. Registration fees may still be due.
When to use it
- The title is in both spouses’ names and you want to remove the deceased co-owner, or
- The title is in the deceased spouse’s name only and you are changing it to yours.
For other heirs, or if the estate is being probated, the documents are different. Ask your tax collector office.
What you need
- HSMV 82152, completed and signed
- An original or certified copy of the death certificate (mandatory)
- A copy of the marriage certificate, unless your name is on the death certificate
- Proof of identity: a valid driver license or ID card from any state, or a valid passport
- Registration fees, if you register the car at the same time
Filling in HSMV 82152
It’s a two-page fillable PDF.
- Section 1, owner information: your name as on your driver license, date of birth, Florida DL or ID number, mailing address, email and physical Florida street address.
- Section 2, vehicle: Florida title number, VIN, make, year, body and color.
- Choose: expedited title ($10), title mailed, or title held electronically.
- Tick the boxes that apply: that the car won’t be driven until it’s properly registered (if you aren’t registering now), and that the title is lost or destroyed (if it is).
- Sign and date under the perjury statement.
Registration
The free title transfer doesn’t cover registration. Registration fees, which depend on the order of names on the title and your birthday, are due when you transfer. If you don’t register now, you certify on the form that the car won’t be driven on Florida roads until it is.
Selling the car instead?
FLHSMV’s procedures allow a surviving spouse who doesn’t want to keep the car to assign the deceased spouse’s title directly to the buyer, with the same supporting documents. Ask your tax collector office to confirm what to bring, then see Florida title transfer after a private sale.