Bonded Title Rules by State

Which states issue bonded titles, the bond amount each requires, and what states without bonds use instead.

States that issue bonded titles

State	Bonded titles?	Bond amount	Bond term	Main form
Alabama	Yes	Fixed: $10,000 to $50,000 by vehicle age	3 years	MVT 10-1
Arizona	Yes	1.5x value	Not stated	40-1001
California	Yes	1x fair market value	Not stated	REG 5057
Colorado	Yes	2x appraised value	Not stated	DR 2922
Florida	Yes	2x current retail value	3 years	HSMV 82033
Georgia	Yes	2x average retail value, $5,000 minimum	Not stated	MV-46
Illinois	Yes	1.5x value	3 years	Not confirmed
Michigan	Yes	2x value	3 years	TR-121
Minnesota	Yes (vehicles over 5 years old)	1.5x value	3 years	See DVS
Missouri	Yes (older, low-value vehicles)	2x value, $100 minimum	3 years	Not confirmed
Nevada	Yes	1.5x MSRP	3 years	VP 271, VP 272
North Carolina	Yes	1.5x value, $100 minimum	3 years	MVR-92D
Tennessee	Yes	1.5x fair market value	3 years	Surety bond application
Texas	Yes	1.5x value	Not stated	VTR-130-SOF
Washington	Yes	1.5x value	3 years	TD-420-054
Wisconsin	Yes	Set by the state from price guides	5 years	MV2082

The multiplier is not the same everywhere

Many guides say the bond is 1.5 times the vehicle's value. In the states we checked, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado and Missouri use 2 times, California uses 1 times, and Alabama uses a fixed schedule. Check your own state's rule before you buy a bond.

States that use a court order or affidavit instead

State	What to use instead
Ohio	Court-ordered title from the county Common Pleas court. No bonded title route found.
Pennsylvania	Court order. A bond is not on PennDOT's list of acceptable proof of ownership.
Indiana	Court order for a private sale with no title; affidavit of ownership may apply at $5,000 or less.
Kentucky	Court-ordered title with a sheriff's inspection. No bonded title route found.
Virginia	Form VSA 12, an affidavit in lieu of title in which the owner promises to indemnify the DMV.
New York	For vehicles 1972 and older, which NY does not title: statement of ownership or a certified-mail attempt to reach the seller.

The Vermont loophole is closed

Vermont once let out-of-state owners register a vehicle without a title. Since July 1, 2024, only Vermont residents can register a vehicle there (Vermont DMV).

Sources

Sources: Alabama Admin. Code 810-5-75-.34; ADOT MVD, Bonded title; California DMV, Form REG 5057; Colorado DMV, Bonding for title; FLHSMV, Bonded title procedure TL-70 (Rev 04/25); Georgia DOR, Bonded vehicle title; Illinois Public Act 104-0682; Michigan SOS, Form TR-121; Minnesota DVS, No proof of ownership; RSMo 301.192; Nevada DMV, Bonded titles; NCDMV, Bonded vehicles; Tennessee Revenue, The surety bond process; TxDMV, Bought a vehicle with no title; Washington DOL, Form TD-420-054; Wisconsin DMV, Surety bond; Franklin County (Ohio) Clerk, Court-ordered titles; PennDOT Bulletin 23-11 (2023); Indiana BMV FAQ (2023); Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Vehicle titling; Virginia DMV, Form VSA 12; NY DMV, Proof of ownership not available; Vermont DMV, Dealer bulletin 24-4. 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.