Florida Duplicate Mobile Home Title — Lost or Destroyed (2025)

Important Distinction In Florida, mobile homes titled as personal property go through DHSMV (this guide). If your home has been converted to real property (titled via a deed with the county), contact your county property appraiser instead — DHSMV no longer maintains a title record for real-property-converted homes.

Which Agency Handles Florida Mobile Home Titles?

Florida is one of the states where the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) handles manufactured home titles, using a system similar to vehicle titles. This means your mobile home likely has a Florida Certificate of Title — the same blue-bordered document used for cars and trucks, but with the mobile home's year, make, model, serial number, and decal number recorded on it.

The key difference from regular vehicles: mobile homes are physically immovable once installed, which means the duplicate title process is handled locally at your county tax collector's office (acting as DHSMV's agent) rather than at a driver's license office. Some large counties have dedicated motor vehicle title offices.

Florida Form HSMV 82101 — Application for Duplicate Title

The form you need is HSMV 82101, titled "Application for Duplicate or Lost in Transit/Reassignment for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home or Vessel Title Certificate." Despite its long name, the mobile home section is simple.

Download it directly from the DHSMV website at flhsmv.gov, or pick up a copy at your county tax collector's office. As of 2025, the most current version is dated 09/23 — verify you have the current version if printing from an older source.

What You'll Fill Out on HSMV 82101

Section 1: Vehicle/mobile home information — year, make, serial number, Florida decal number (if known)
Section 2: Reason for duplicate — "lost," "destroyed," or "stolen" (each has a checkbox)
Section 3: Owner information — your name exactly as it appears on the current title record
Section 4: Signature — must be signed in front of a Florida notary or in person at the tax collector's office (a notary public can execute the form as well)
Lienholder section: If there's a lender on the title, they must also sign or be notified — their duplicate title rights differ from yours

Notarization Required Form HSMV 82101 for a lost title must be notarized. You can sign it at the tax collector's office (they have notaries on staff, typically at no charge for this purpose) or before any Florida-licensed notary public.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Florida Duplicate Mobile Home Title

Find your mobile home's information You'll need the serial number (usually on a metal plate inside a cabinet, on the door frame, or on the HUD data plate) and the Florida decal number (issued by the county, typically on a sticker near the door). If you don't have either, see the "If You Don't Know the Serial Number" section below.
Download and complete HSMV 82101 Fill out all sections applicable to your situation. Leave the notary section blank until you are in front of a notary. Write the mobile home serial number carefully — it typically has multiple sections (e.g., "FL1234A" and "FL1234B" for a doublewide).
Get the form notarized Take the completed (but unsigned) form to a notary. Your county tax collector's office provides this service free when you are applying for a duplicate title in person. Alternatively, UPS Store, banks, or shipping centers typically charge $5–$15 for notarization.
Gather required documents See the documents list below.
Submit to your county tax collector's office Bring everything in person, or mail to your county tax collector's motor vehicle division. In-person is faster and avoids mail processing delays. Find your county tax collector: flhsmv.gov/offices/.
Pay the fees See fee schedule below.
Receive duplicate title In-person processing: typically same-day or next-day. If the county must order from DHSMV's central office (for older or complex records), allow 5–15 business days.

Required Documents

Completed and notarized HSMV 82101
Government-issued photo ID (Florida driver's license preferred; out-of-state ID accepted)
If there is a lienholder on the title: lienholder consent or a letter confirming they agree to the duplicate issuance
Payment for fees
If submitting on behalf of someone else: written authorization or power of attorney from the titled owner
If the owner is deceased: death certificate and documentation of your authority (letters of administration, affidavit of heirship, etc.)

Complete Fee Breakdown — Florida Duplicate Mobile Home Title

Florida's mobile home title fees involve two separate components that many guides miss: the DHSMV title fee and the county recording fee. Both are required in most situations.

Fee Component	Amount	Paid To
Duplicate title fee (DHSMV)	$75.75	County tax collector (remitted to DHSMV)
County service charge	$2.50	County tax collector (retained locally)
Notary fee (if done elsewhere)	$5–$15	Notary public
County recording fee (if applicable)	$10–$30+	County clerk of court — see note below
Typical total	$78–$125	Varies by county

About the County Recording Fee Florida requires mobile homes to have a current "mobile home sticker" (annual registration decal) issued by the county tax collector, separate from the title. If your decal registration is overdue, you may owe back registration fees before the duplicate title is processed. Additionally, if the home is on real property you own, the county may require a statement of mobile home title be recorded in county records — check with your specific county tax collector for whether this applies to your situation.

If You Don't Know the Serial Number

The serial number is essential for a duplicate title application. If you don't have it:

Look on the home itself: The HUD data plate is typically inside a cabinet (near the electrical panel or in a bedroom closet) and shows the serial/model number. The serial number is also stamped on the steel frame chassis — visible from underneath the home at the tongue or rear.
Check your county records: The county property appraiser's office often has the serial number on file if the home has been assessed for property taxes.
Call DHSMV: With your name, address where the home is located, and approximate year of the home, DHSMV can sometimes locate the title record by searching their database. Call (850) 617-2000.
Check previous paperwork: Prior insurance documents, park rental agreements, or purchase contracts often include the serial number.

What If There's a Lien on the Title?

If there's an outstanding lien, the lienholder has legal rights over the title. Florida's procedure in this case:

The duplicate title will be issued directly to the lienholder (not to you) unless the lienholder provides written consent for you to receive it
If the loan is paid off and you have paperwork proving it but the lien is still on the DHSMV record, request a lien release from the lender first, then apply for a clean duplicate title
If the lender is out of business, see our guide to dealing with an unresponsive or closed lender

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Florida duplicate mobile home title by mail, or do I have to go in person? +

You can submit by mail to your county tax collector's motor vehicle division. Mail the notarized HSMV 82101, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the fees. Allow 2–4 weeks for mail processing. In-person is faster (often same-day) and avoids the risk of a rejected submission requiring back-and-forth by mail.

What if the mobile home is in someone else's name but they gave it to me? +

A duplicate title is only issued to the recorded owner on the title. If the home was informally transferred (a handshake deal with no paperwork), you'll need to first establish the legal transfer before you can get any title documents. The prior owner needs to be located to sign transfer documents — or if they're deceased, an estate process must be followed. A duplicate title application in your name will be rejected if you're not the recorded owner.

My mobile home is in a Florida park. Does the park have any role in the title? +

No. The park owns the land and your lease agreement is separate from the DHSMV title. The park has no right to hold, control, or withhold your title documents. Your title is a state document between you and DHSMV. The park's only connection to the title process might be that they need to provide an address for the home on your forms, or that you notify them of ownership changes per your lease agreement.

Can I sell my Florida mobile home without the title? +

Technically, you can apply for a duplicate and sell simultaneously, but a buyer should never close without seeing the title. Any reputable buyer will require the duplicate title before paying — and correctly so. Apply for the duplicate first, receive it, then proceed with the sale. Plan this into your timeline; the duplicate takes at least a few days in-person and potentially several weeks by mail.

My mobile home was destroyed in a hurricane — do I still need to do anything with the title? +

If the home is being scrapped or removed from its site entirely, you should cancel (void) the title with DHSMV to avoid future property tax assessments and to remove it from the county records. This is separate from the insurance claim process. Contact your county tax collector to initiate a "mobile home retirement" or title cancellation. You'll need the title (or a duplicate if lost), plus documentation of the home's removal or destruction.

Disclaimer This guide is for informational purposes only. DHSMV forms, fees, and county procedures change periodically. Always verify current requirements with your local county tax collector or DHSMV at flhsmv.gov before filing. For complex situations, consult a Florida attorney.

Florida Duplicate Mobile Home Title — When the Original Is Lost or Destroyed