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 Texas 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. You must be a resident of the State of Texas, a member of the military stationed in Texas, or have a vehicle that was last title in Texas.
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Texas statute 501.053 requires residents who do not have adequate proof that they own their vehicle to purchase a surety bond prior to obtaining a duplicate title. The Texas legislature enacted the bonding requirement to ensure that the rightful vehicle owner will receive compensation if the title applicant does not actually own the vehicle. The bond will be active for three years from the date of issuance and must be in an amount equal to one and a half times the vehicle’s value.
If your vehicle has never been titled or registered in Texas, you’ll need to provide a Law Enforcement Identification Number Inspection form, also known as a VTR-68-A form. This form can only be given to you by an auto theft investigator officer, who will be conducting a vehicle identification number inspection on your vehicle. You can contact your local law enforcement authorities to determine when and where these inspections are done, as the Texas DMV does not provide them.
You’ll provide your Application for a Texas Title and/or Registration form, your official Texas certificate of title bond, and all other application materials listed in step 3. If you have a commercial vehicle or truck, you’ll also need to provide a weight certificate. Imported vehicles must have documents that indicate the vehicle was properly imported and is compliant or exempt from federal safety regulations.
You can submit your application to your local DMV in person or by mail.
You have 30 days within the issuance of your surety bond to submit all your bonded title application materials to your local county tag office. If it is not submitted within the allotted time, your county tax office will not accept your application or surety bond. Since the Texas bonded title works the same as the original title, you now have proof of ownership for your vehicle. A bonded title is effective for 3 years, and at the end of that time will replace the vehicle’s original title.
Texas 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.
Texas statute 501.053 dictates that the bond amount must be equal to one and a half times the vehicle’s vehicle. To determine the vehicle’s value, the Department of Motor Vehicles will either use the Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) from its website or utilize the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) appraisal guide. If no value is available through either SPV or NADA, title applicants may have their vehicle appraised by a licensed auto dealer or insurance adjuster. The appraisal must be completed on this form.
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.
The Texas 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).
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles requires title applicants to purchase a surety bond if the applicant cannot present the department with tangible proof that they own the vehicle and are unable to contact the vehicle’s previous owner. Lost title bonds are typically required for the following reasons:
In Texas, bonded title applicants should submit the completed bond form, including the power of attorney, to their local DMV office. The Texas 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:
Texas 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 value.
To avoid claims against their bond, bonded title applicants in Texas must ensure that they are the rightful owners of the motor vehicle.
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