Understanding Florida Statute 320.27
Florida law strictly regulates the sale of motor vehicles to protect consumers. According to Florida Statutes Section 320.27, anyone who buys, sells, brokers, or deals in motor vehicles must be licensed as a motor vehicle dealer. The law defines a broker as someone who, for a fee, arranges or offers to arrange a transaction involving the sale of a motor vehicle. Keyosk operates in strict compliance with these regulations by explicitly excluding ourselves from any brokerage activities. We do not act as an agent for the buyer, we do not accept fees from the buyer, and we do not negotiate the terms of a sale. Our activities are purely informational and logistical, operating well outside the legal definition of a motor vehicle broker in the state of Florida.
Our Role as a Booking Platform
To remain compliant with Florida regulations, our services are limited to the front end of the customer journey. We function as an advertising and scheduling conduit. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) oversees dealership licensing and operations. Under their guidelines, platforms that merely display inventory and facilitate communication between a buyer and a licensed dealership do not require a dealer license, provided they do not partake in the actual sale process. When we confirm a vehicle's availability, we are exchanging information. When we book an appointment, we are scheduling a meeting. The actual transaction-the negotiations, the contract drafting, the exchange of funds, and the transfer of the title-happens exclusively between the consumer and the licensed Florida dealership. Keyosk has zero involvement in the legal transfer of the vehicle.
No Agency Representation
A key distinction in Florida law involves agency. A broker typically represents one of the parties in a transaction. Keyosk does not represent you, nor do we represent the dealership in the capacity of an agent during a sale. We do not have the power of attorney to sign documents, we cannot accept a deposit on a vehicle, and we cannot legally bind either party to a contract. You are representing yourself when you visit the dealership. Our platform is simply the tool you used to discover the vehicle and organize the time to inspect it. By maintaining this strict operational boundary, Keyosk ensures that our service is completely legal and compliant with all state regulations governing the automotive retail industry.