regular maintenance checks for your car

If you are selling a car, you must have the car's title. This title shows that you are the legal owner of the car. If you cannot find your car's title, you can get a bonded title to replace it. Below is information on what this is so you can start the process. 

Bonded Title

A title for a car contains legal information such as who the owner of the car is. When you buy or sell a car, it must be transferred to the new owner. To do this you will need the title.  

A bonded title is also called a lost title bond or certificate of title surety bond. This title shows who the car owner is. The new owner can use the bonded title to register the car with the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles), to get insurance for the car, or to sell the car at a later date. 

Most states accept bonded titles for many vehicles, such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, motorhomes, and buses. 

How to Obtain a Bonded Title

In most states, you can get a bonded title quickly online, or you can call a title company to do this over the phone. Once everything is set up, your bonded title will be mailed to you. 

First, contact your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to get instructions on how to obtain a bonded title. You will have to pay a fee for a bonded title. How much this is depends on the state that you live in, but it may be hundreds or even a few thousand dollars. This is because the DMV has to evaluate your car to determine how much it is worth. 

Make sure you have the bill of sale from when you purchased your car. You can also get the car estimated yourself so you know approximately how much it is worth. The DMV will tell you if you need to have other documents to give to them to approve your bonded title. 

You should be aware that a bonded title can be contested for a certain amount of time. How long this is depends on where you live, but for many states, it is a couple of years after your bond is issued. After this time, a buyer cannot contest the title after they purchase your car. 

Talk with a professional in your area to learn more about bonded titles.