They are just checking the vin to make sure that is really the car the title is for. What state is the title from? Has it been signed off on by the previous owner? Last but definitely not least, is it a conforming title? Meaning, does it have a federal odometer statement included on it where the previous owner signs off? If it's conforming and the person whose name is on the title has signed off aaaaand you are listed as the buyer (not your buddy) you can still get a title and tag pretty easily. If it's not conforming, you are going to have to come up with some sort of bill of sale with an odometer statement to keep the mileage original and documented which I'm sure you want to do. Sales tax is paid on the purchase price of the car, in pinellas it's 7% on the first $5000, 6% on everything above that. Figure $1550 if you go in and tell them you paid $25,000 for it You could always tell them less, but being that it is what it is, I'm not sure how cheap you could get away with. There is a $10 late fee if you don't transfer the title within, I believe, 30 days (that's what it is for dealers). I'd love to see their face when you walk in with a title 11 years after the purchase date. Of course if the purchase date was never filled in, you could have just bought it last week