Bonded Title: What It Is and How to Get One

How a bonded title works, the steps to get one, who can and cannot use one, and when the bond ends.

What a bonded title is

A bonded title is a regular certificate of title issued with a surety bond behind it. You buy the bond, and it protects the state, earlier owners and lienholders if someone else turns out to own the vehicle (SuretyBonds.com). Washington issues the title marked "BONDED", and after 3 years you can apply for a title without that mark.

Who pays if someone makes a claim

The surety pays valid claims up to the bond amount, and you have to repay the surety (SuretyBonds.com). The bond protects other people, not you. If the true owner turns up, you can lose the money and the vehicle.

How to get one

Check that your state issues bonded titles. Several, including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana, use a court order instead. See <a href="/bonded-title-by-state">bonded titles by state</a>.
Gather what proof you have: a bill of sale, a canceled check or the old title. Texas accepts any of these as evidence.
Get the VIN inspected if your state requires it. Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Washington and Georgia all have an inspection step.
Get the vehicle valued the way your state requires: a state value table, a price guide or a dealer appraisal.
Buy a surety bond for the amount your state sets, usually 1.5 or 2 times the value.
File the bond and title application before your state's deadline: 6 months from the bond date in Georgia and Washington, 90 days in Alabama, and one year from the state's notice in Texas.

Vehicles that do not qualify

Texas, North Carolina and Georgia refuse bonded titles for abandoned, junked or stolen vehicles, vehicles held under a mechanic's or storage lien, and vehicles in a pending lawsuit. Georgia also excludes model year 1985 and older. Texas refuses one when a lienholder recorded in the last 10 years will not release the lien.

When the bond ends

Most states keep the bond for 3 years. Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Washington and Alabama all say 3 years. Wisconsin keeps its "BOND POSTED" brand for 5 years. If no claim is made, you then get a regular title.

Sources

Sources: SuretyBonds.com, Title bonds; SuretyBonds.com, Georgia bonded title guide; Washington DOL, Form TD-420-054; TxDMV, Bought a vehicle with no title; Georgia DOR, Bonded vehicle title; NCDMV, Bonded vehicles; Alabama Admin. Code 810-5-75-.34; FLHSMV, Bonded title procedure TL-70 (Rev 04/25); Wisconsin DMV, Surety bond. Retrieved Oct 30, 2026.

Rules and fees come from the official state pages and surety pages cited on each guide; anything we calculated is labeled as an estimate. Confirm with your DMV before you buy a bond. Run the calculator for your own range.