AD Buys Junk Cars warns Florida sellers to verify dealer licenses

AD Buys Junk Cars is urging Palm Beach County vehicle owners to confirm a buyer holds the proper Florida dealer or salvage license before selling a junk, damaged or end-of-life vehicle. The warning matters because unlicensed buyers can leave sellers exposed to unpaid tolls, citations and other liability if title transfers are not completed.

Why it matters: - Florida sellers can stay on the hook for a vehicle if ownership is not properly transferred. - That can leave former owners responsible for toll violations, parking citations, abandoned vehicle removal costs and, in some cases, civil liability. - The guidance is aimed at Palm Beach County and surrounding South Florida residents responding to “cash for junk cars” ads.

What happened: - AD Buys Junk Cars, a Lake Worth Beach-based Florida used motor vehicle dealer and salvage dealer, issued guidance for people selling junk, damaged or end-of-life vehicles. - The company warned that some “cash for junk cars” ads are placed by towing companies that are licensed to tow, not to buy vehicles. - Under Section 320.27, Florida Statutes, businesses that regularly buy, sell or deal in motor vehicles must hold a state-issued motor vehicle dealer license from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. - Businesses that buy wrecked or dismantled vehicles for parts or scrap are subject to separate salvage dealer licensing rules.

The details: - Licensed dealers can process ownership transfers, complete title paperwork and report the sale to Florida motor vehicle authorities. - Unlicensed buyers often leave title paperwork incomplete. - AD Buys Junk Cars recommends that sellers ask for a Florida motor vehicle dealer license or salvage dealer license number before agreeing to a sale. - Sellers can verify the license through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. - Sellers should complete the title transfer at the time of sale and sign the title over to the buyer. - Sellers should record the odometer reading and sale price where required. - Sellers should file a Notice of Sale using form HSMV 82050 with a Florida motor vehicle service center. - Sellers should remove the license plate because Florida plates belong to the seller, not the vehicle. - Plates should be transferred to another vehicle or surrendered. - Adrian Hilario, owner of AD Buys Junk Cars, said many people assume the sale is finished once the car is loaded and payment is made. - Hilario said that is not the case if the title is never transferred. - The company said title problems are one of the most common reasons vehicle owners turn to unlicensed buyers. - Florida law already provides procedures for issues such as lost titles and deceased-owner transfers. - A licensed dealer can explain what documentation the state requires for a lawful transfer.

Between the lines: - The guidance is also a consumer-protection play in a market where fast-cash offers can look simpler than the formal title process. - The warning suggests some sellers may be trading convenience for legal risk when they use buyers who cannot lawfully complete the transfer. - AD Buys Junk Cars is also positioning its own licenses as proof that it can handle both purchase and paperwork correctly. - The company holds a Florida Used Motor Vehicle Dealer license and a Salvage Dealer license. - Those licenses authorize the company to buy running and non-running vehicles, salvage and rebuildable vehicles, and vehicles damaged by collision, flood or fire. - The company says it provides the guidance in both English and Spanish to match the community it serves.

What's next: - Vehicle owners who are considering a junk or salvage sale may need to check a buyer’s license status before agreeing to a pickup. - Sellers dealing with title complications can use Florida’s established transfer procedures instead of handing over a vehicle without paperwork. - AD Buys Junk Cars says more information about the company and Florida vehicle-sale requirements is available at the company’s website. - The company also lists social media pages on Facebook and X.

The bottom line: - In Florida, a quick cash offer is not enough if the buyer cannot legally complete the sale. Verified licensing and a finished title transfer are the key protections for sellers.