If you do not have proof of ownership (a title) for your boat, motor vehicle, motorhome, mobile home, motorcycle or other titled property, you can provide the State of Illinois with a Certificate of Title Bond in order to replace your lost, stolen, damaged or defective title. You will be able to register your vehicle with this new title.
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Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 5/3-109 requires individuals who own a car, truck, or SUV without the original title to purchase and file an Illinois title bond as part of the vehicle registration process. The bond acts as a legal obligation to repay monetary losses incurred if the car turns out to be stolen or if the title turns out to be fraudulent or otherwise invalid. In the event of theft or forgery, this surety bond will ensure that the rightful owner of the car is compensated for the full value of the vehicle.
The bonded title can be used the same as a standard car title if you are trying to insure, register, or sell your vehicle.
Please note an Illinois certificate of title bond is required if you have insufficient vehicle ownership. If you’re planning to sell vehicles, a separate Illinois motor vehicle dealer bond is required.
Illinois certificate of title bond costs start at $100. The exact cost will vary depending on the surety bond amount required by the Illinois Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department.
The Illinois Lost Title Bond costs either $100 or 1.5% of the bond amount, whichever is greater (rates may vary for bonds greater than $25,000).
You can purchase Illinois title bonds online 24/7. You must provide the following information for Vehicle Services Department approval.
Once your order has been processed, your surety bond documentation will be issued. You’ll receive a digital copy of your surety bond by email, and your physical documentation will be delivered based on your preferred shipping method.
Illinois requires residents to purchase a surety bond as part of the application process to obtain a bonded title. The bond ensures that the rightful vehicle owner will not suffer a financial loss if the title applicant is seeking to obtain the title fraudulently. If the title applicant is engaging in fraud, then the rightful vehicle owner can file a claim against the bond and receive compensation up to the full amount of the bond. In short, the bond acts as a safeguard against people attempting to obtain ownership of a vehicle through unethical means.
The Illinois Secretary of State will require a title applicant to purchase a surety bond if the applicant cannot present the secretary with adequate proof that the applicant does in fact own the vehicle. Typically, lost title bonds are required for the following reasons:
Bonded titles aren’t available for vehicles with a lien unless the applicant gets a certificate of lien release. The title bond will then protect the previous title lienholder.
The Illinois Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department enforces registration requirements for vehicles with lost, stolen, or missing titles.
Illinois certificate of title surety bonds are issued for a 3-year term. Each bond must be returned at the end of the term unless the Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department is notified of a claim filed against the bond.
The bond amount must be the titled item’s value as determined by Kelley Blue Book and multiplied by 1.5, which is outlined in the Illinois Vehicle Code. If you need help determining your surety bond amount, contact the Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department.
To determine the vehicle’s wholesale value, title applicants must have it appraised by either a:
We do not conduct a credit check for bonds that are less than $25,000. At limits over $25,000, we will review your standing to determine the qualification and rates for the bond.
If the Illinois Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department requires your surety bond documentation to be updated for any reason, contact your surety provider.
The most common changes for these bonds include:
Illinois vehicle title bonds expire at the end of their 3-year term and do not need to be renewed.
To apply for a bonded title, complete the following steps:
In Illinois, bonded title applicants should mail the completed bond form, including the power of attorney, to the following address:
Secretary of State
Vehicle Titles Division Attn: Bonded Titles
609 Howlett Building
501 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62756-7000
The Illinois Lost Title Surety Bond requires signatures from both the surety company that issues the bond and the bonded title applicant. The surety company should include the following information on the bond form:
Illinois requires all motor vehicle owners to purchase auto insurance with the following minimum limits:
Bonded title applicants must purchase and maintain a surety bond in an amount equal to one and a half times the vehicle’s current wholesale value.
To avoid claims against their bond, bonded title applicants in Illinois must ensure that they are the rightful owners of the motor vehicle.
Get the best rates for your lost, stolen, or damaged title bond today. Title bonds available for cars, trucks, trailers, aircraft, and more.