Florida Regulations for Non-Dealer Buyers on Copart Auctions

CarProxy Editors

Published in Buying on CopartJanuary 19th 20265 min read

Florida Regulations for Non-Dealer Buyers on Online Auto Auctions

Florida regulations for non-dealer buyers on Copart include additional requirements. Non-dealer buyers can’t simply bid on Copart directly, they require a Copart broker to bid & purchase. Because Florida’s auto auction licensing and vehicle titling laws are specific and enforced by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), it’s essential for non-dealer buyers to understand what they can and cannot do, what paperwork is required, and how titles work in the state.

Broker Requirement for Florida Buyers

Salvage and clean title vehicles both require a licensed Copart broker, like CarProxy. Copart’s own licensing rules state that individuals without a dealer or business license need a broker’s help for titled items, and this applies to buyers whether they live in Florida or are out-of-state purchasing Florida-located inventory. Although you can create a Copart account, as soon as you try to bid on a vehicle that requires a broker, you’ll be redirected to a broker.

Understanding Florida Title Rules

Clean Titles

When you buy a vehicle with a clean title through a broker, the title still must be properly assigned to you in Florida. Your broker will typically handle the title endorsement process, after which you’ll take the signed title to the FLHSMV or a tag agency to complete the transfer, pay sales tax, and register the vehicle.

Salvage Titles

Florida distinguishes vehicles that are declared a total loss, salvage, from those that have been repaired and made road-worthy, rebuilt. A salvage title means:

The vehicle has been declared a total loss, and
It cannot be registered or driven on public roads until it is repaired and retitled as rebuilt.

After purchase, a salvage-titled vehicle must be repaired, and you must document the repair process, including parts and receipts, before applying to the FLHSMV for a rebuilt title. Until a rebuilt title is issued, salvage vehicles remain legally unregistered and not road-legal.

Special Title Situations in Florida

Florida also has specific rules about other title types you may encounter at auction:

Certificate of Destruction: This title type (or older “un-rebuildable” salvage branding) generally cannot be converted to a rebuilt title in Florida and is typically only suitable for export, parts, or dismantling.
Derelict Vehicles: Vehicles meeting certain conditions (very old, low value) may require a derelict motor vehicle certificate and additional FLHSMV documentation if they are to be legally dismantled or processed.

Because Copart sells vehicles “as is, where is,” it is the buyer’s responsibility to know what type of title they are bidding on and what limitations that title carries under Florida law. Any successful bid that wins an auction will be binding even if you realize after the auction that the title is restricted.

Inspection and Rebuilt Title Process

Florida requires a rebuilt salvage vehicle to pass a rebuilt inspection before a rebuilt title is issued. This inspection ensures the structural integrity and safety of the vehicle after repair, but unlike some states, Florida does not require a separate emissions or annual safety test beyond rebuilt certification for road use.To apply for a rebuilt title, you will generally need:

Photos and repair documentation
Receipts for parts used, showing VIN compliance
Completed rebuilt application forms

These must be submitted to the FLHSMV or a tag agency before your vehicle can be titled and registered as road-legal.

Expect Title Processing Time

Even after purchase, title printing and mailing can take several weeks. Florida residents often process titles through a tag agency, which may add time but ensures compliance with state rules.