Florida HSMV Form 86065: Dispute Repossession Stop – If the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has placed your name on a list that blocks you from receiving a license plate or revalidation sticker, Form HSMV 86065 may be the solution you need. This official form allows registered owners to dispute a repossession recovery attempt stop when they were not the owner of the vehicle at the time of the attempt because the vehicle had already been sold to a licensed dealer.
This guide explains everything U.S. vehicle owners in Florida need to know about Florida HSMV Form 86065, including when to use it, how to complete it, what proof is required, where to mail it, and how it fits into Florida’s repossession and registration laws.
What Is Florida HSMV Form 86065?
Form HSMV 86065 is the official “Notification of Dispute on a Repossession Recovery Attempt for a Motor Vehicle” issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Division of Motor Vehicles. The current version is dated June 2009 (HSMV 86065 (06/09) S) and remains the active form listed on the official FLHSMV forms page.
The form is used when Department records list you as the registered owner of a vehicle at the time a repossession recovery attempt was filed. As a result, your name was placed on a restricted list under Florida law that prevents the issuance of a license plate or revalidation sticker for any motor vehicle.
You can download the official form directly from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles here: Download Florida HSMV Form 86065 (PDF).
Why Does a Repossession Recovery Attempt Stop Exist?
Under Florida Statute § 320.1316, a lienholder who claims a lien on a vehicle can notify the Department when the owner fails to surrender the vehicle after a demand. The Department then places the registered owner’s name on a list of persons who may not be issued a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement plate under § 320.03(8).
This stop applies not only to the specific vehicle but can affect the owner’s ability to register or renew other vehicles. The stop remains in place until the vehicle is surrendered, the lien is satisfied, or the owner successfully disputes inclusion on the list.
Lienholders typically use Form HSMV 82191 (Notice or Discharge of Repossession Recovery Attempt) together with Form HSMV 82192 (Notice to Surrender Motor Vehicle/Vessel) to place the stop.
When Should You Use Form HSMV 86065?
Use Form HSMV 86065 when:
- Your name appears on the Department’s list because of a repossession recovery attempt.
- You were not the registered owner of the vehicle at the time of the recovery attempt.
- You sold the vehicle to a licensed motor vehicle, mobile home, or recreational vehicle dealer before the repossession recovery attempt occurred.
- You have documentary proof of that sale to the dealer.
Florida Statute § 320.1316 specifically recognizes that trading the vehicle in to a licensed motor vehicle dealer before the demand for surrender constitutes “good cause” for removal from the list. Form 86065 is the administrative tool designed for this exact situation.
Note that the statute also allows disputes through civil action in the county where you reside. Form 86065 provides a faster administrative path when the sale-to-dealer facts apply.
Information Required on Form HSMV 86065
The form is straightforward. You will need to provide:
- Name of the registered owner (and co-owner, if applicable) against whom the repossession recovery attempt was filed
- Owner’s and co-owner’s Florida driver license or identification numbers
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Make/Manufacturer
- Year
- Body style
- Color
- Florida Title Number
- License plate number (if known)
- Weight (if applicable)
- Name and complete address of the dealership that purchased the vehicle
You must attach proof that verifies you were not the registered owner at the time of the repossession recovery attempt and that the vehicle was sold to a licensed dealer.
Finally, you sign the form under penalties of perjury, declaring that the facts stated are true.
Required Supporting Documentation
The form specifically states: “The attached proof verifies that I was not the registered owner at the time of Repossession Recovery Attempt and that the motor vehicle was sold to a motor vehicle, mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer.”
Strong supporting documents typically include:
- A bill of sale or purchase agreement showing the sale to the licensed dealer
- Dealer reassignment documents or title transfer paperwork
- Any documentation showing the Florida Certificate of Title was transferred to the dealer before the recovery attempt date
Without clear proof of the sale to a licensed dealer prior to the recovery attempt, the Department is unlikely to remove the stop based on this form alone.
How to Complete and Submit Form HSMV 86065
- Download the official form from the FLHSMV website: https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/86065.pdf.
- Print the form and complete all sections accurately in black or blue ink (or fill it digitally if using a fillable version from a trusted source and then print).
- Attach clear copies of your proof of sale to the licensed dealer.
- Sign and date the form under the perjury clause.
- Mail the completed form and supporting documents to:
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Division of Motor Vehicles
2900 Apalachee Parkway
Neil Kirkman Building, Attn: Repossession Recovery Attempt, MS# 68
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Keep copies of everything you send for your records. Consider using certified mail with return receipt for proof of delivery.
What Happens After You Submit the Form?
The Department reviews the completed Form HSMV 86065 and the attached proof. If the documentation establishes that you sold the vehicle to a licensed dealer before the repossession recovery attempt and were therefore not the registered owner at the relevant time, the Department can remove your name from the restricted list.
Once removed, you should again be eligible to obtain license plates or revalidation stickers for your vehicles. Processing times can vary; contact the Department or your local tax collector’s office if you need status updates after a reasonable period.
If the Department does not remove the stop, or if your situation does not fit the “sold to dealer” criteria, you retain the right under § 320.1316 to file a civil action in the county where you reside to challenge inclusion on the list.
Related Forms and Processes
- HSMV 82191 – Notice or Discharge of Repossession Recovery Attempt (used by the lienholder to place or remove the stop)
- HSMV 82192 – Notice to Surrender Motor Vehicle/Vessel (the demand letter sent to the owner)
- Other dispute forms exist for different types of registration stops (for example, dealer registration fee disputes use a different form)
Local tax collector offices cannot remove a repossession recovery attempt stop. Only the Department in Tallahassee or a successful court action can clear it (or a discharge filed by the lienholder).
Important Legal Notes for Florida Vehicle Owners
Florida is a self-help repossession state. Lenders generally may repossess a vehicle after default without prior notice or a court order, provided they do not breach the peace (Florida Statute Chapter 679). The repossession recovery attempt stop is a separate administrative tool that lienholders can use when the vehicle is not recovered.
Always verify the current version of forms and statutes on official government websites, as procedures can be updated. The information in this article is based on the official Form HSMV 86065, Florida Statutes §§ 320.1316 and 320.03(8), and guidance from Florida tax collector offices and the FLHSMV forms listing.
If your situation involves complex ownership issues, multiple lienholders, or potential wrongful repossession claims, consult a Florida-licensed attorney who handles consumer or vehicle title matters.