Obtaining a Title for your Vehicle using a Surety Bond

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Applying for a title, without the required ownership documents, you may be able to file a Surety Bond as a condition of getting the vehicle titled in your name. It could be the documents are unavailable, lost, destroyed or were never received. Always contact your state’s DMV or MVD first.

State by State Surety Bond Requirements

StateState Description of bond FormBond AmountState Contact
AlabamaCertificate of Title BondDetermined by Department of RevenueAL DOR
AlaskaVehicle Title Surety Bond1 1/2 X appraised valueAK DMV
ArizonaCertificate of Title Bond1.5 x ADOT valueAZ DOT
ArkansasCertificate of Title1 1/2 times value of vehicle as determined by the CommissionerAR DOF
CaliforniaMotor Vehicle Ownership Surety BondEqual to fair market value determined by written appraisal or by Kelly Blue BookCA DMV
ColoradoCertificate of Title BondTwice the reasonable value of the vehicle by guide book if vehicle newer than 7 yrs.; licensed CO automotive dealer. MUST be for the current condition of the motor vehicle at the time of titlingCO DMV
ConnecticutCertificate of Title Bondequal to twice the value of the vehicle
above specified as determined by the commissioner
CT DMV
DelawareNO BOND REQUIREDDE DMV
District of Columbia
FloridaTitle Surety Bond for a Motor VehicleTwice the value of vehicle Kelly Blue Book or NADAFL HSMV
GeorgiaMotor Vehicle Certificate of Title Bond 2 x the average retail value not less than $5000GA DOR
HawaiiNO BOND REQUIREDHawaii DOR
IdahoNO BOND REQUIREDID DOT
IllinoisNO BOND REQUIREDIL SOS
IowaSurety Bond1 1/2 times the determined current value of the vehicle determined by the DOTIA DOTCounty Specific
IndianaNO BOND REQUIREDIN BMV
KansasNO BOND REQUIREDKS DOR
KentuckyNO BOND REQUIREDKT DMV
LouisianaNO BOND REQUIREDLA OMV
MaineMaineVehicle Title Bond1.5X Vehicle Value as determined by the SOSME BMV
MarylandNO BOND REQUIREDMD MVA
MassachusettsSurety Bond1.5X NADA Clean Trade In ValueMA RMV
MichiganVehicle Uniform Surety Bondtwice the fair market value of the vehicle, established by a dealer appraisal or recognized vehicle appraisal guideMI DOS
MinnesotaMinnesotaOwnership and Security Interest Surety Bond 1.5 times the of value of the vehicle as determined by the DVSMN DVS
MississippiCertificate of Title Bondcall Title Bureau 601-923-7640MS DOR
MissouriMissouriCertificate of Title Bond2x Vehicle ValueMO DOR
MontanaBreak/Bond TitleNADA VAlueMT MVD
NebraskaCertificate of Title Surety Bond Vehicle1.5X the current value of the vehicle as shown by the property tax valuation or the NADA GuideNE DMV
NevadaTitle Bond1 1/2 X the value of vehicle Manufacturer's Suggested Retail PriceNV DMV
New HampshireCertificate of Title BondDetermined by the NH DMVNH DMV
New JerseyNO BOND REQUIREDNJ MVC
New MexicoGeneral Surety Bond, Indemnity Bond, or Certificate of Title Surety Bond 2 X the value of the vehicle determined by NADA average trade in valueNM MVD
New YorkCertificate of Title Bond1.5x value of vehicle determined by appraiserNY DMV
North CarolinaIndemnity Bond (N.C. General Statute 20-76)1 1/2 X value of vehicle as shown in the Value ScheduleNC DMV
North DakotaNO BOND REQUIREDND MVD
OhioNO BOND REQUIREDOH BMV
OklahomaNO BOND REQUIREDOklahoma Title Service
OregonNO BOND REQUIREDOR DMV
PennsylvaniaNO BOND REQUIREDPA
Rhode IslandNO BOND REQUIREDRI DMV
South CarolinaNO BOND REQUIREDSC DMV
South DakotaBonded Title BondDetermined by the MVDSD DOR
Tennessee Certificate of Title Bondone and one-half times the fair market value of your vehicleTN DOR
TexasCertificate of Title Surety Bond Form VTR-130-SB1 1/2 X value of vehicle as determined by the dept.TX DMV
UtahUtahMotor Vehicle Defective Title Bond2X vehicle value UT DMV
VirginiaNO BOND REQUIREDVA DMV
WashingtonWashingtonVehicle Ownership Bond1 1/2 X value of vehicle as determined by the dept.of licensingWA DOL
West VirginiaNO BOND REQUIREDWV DMV
WisconsinCertificate of Title BondDetermined by WI DOTWI DOT
WyomingCertificate of Title2x Value, nit bond required if value is less than $2,500Wyoming DOT

This surety bond is known by various names, depending on the State. Names include Defective Title Bond, Motor Vehicle Ownership Surety Bond, Certificate of Title Bond, Indemnity Bond, and Title Bond. 

What is the purpose of the bond?

The bond doesn’t protect you; it protects the state from you in case someone with the title claims that the vehicle is theirs.  In addition, it protects any prior or subsequent purchaser of the vehicle against loss or damage by the issuance of a Title Bond to the bondholder.

Who needs the bond?

Some states do not have a bond requirement and often different states have different requirements. Below is a summary of the steps necessary to obtain a Bonded Title for a car, or other motor vehicle:

 

Step 1: Contact your State’s Department of Motor Vehicles

  • Make sure that a surety bond is required by your state’s DMV. In some states, you aren’t required to post a bond to obtain a  title. However, other states will not issue a title even with a bond.
  • Get your bond amount from your state’s DMV. Some states dictate the bond amount. Other states base the bond amount on the “Bluebook” value, or as a multiple of the vehicle’s value. For instance, in Alabama, the DMV will give you a bond form with the amount completed. This bond form must be submitted with your application for the bond.

Step 2: Apply for your bond at Surety1.com

  • Complete the easy-to-navigate online application.
  • Provide the VIN number of the vehicle, as well as make, model and year.Bond for Lost Car Titles
  • Verify that all information entered is correct. This will avoid a change rider fee.
  • Bond amounts up to $7,500, premium + fees = $150.00 or less.
  • Bond amounts in excess of $7,500, an agent will provide a firm quote for the bond.

This is a one-time fee. The bond does not renew.

Step 3: Submit your bond to your state’s DMV

  • Turn the original bond that has a raised seal and wet signature into your State’s DMV.

Note: Surety1 will not write bonds for vehicles with salvage titles, or for vehicles in Texas that have a lien listed on the title.

Surety1, an AssuredPartners Agency is a bond-only agency located in Rancho Cordova, CA.  Since 2003, Surety1 has been a premier provider of surety bonds nationwide and maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Our team of surety bond professionals are available Monday – Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm, Pacific time.

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