Texas lost title bonds.
From $100. Enter your DMV amount.

When you can't prove ownership of a vehicle, Texas lets you get a bonded title — file a surety bond under Transportation Code § 501.053 and the DMV issues the title. Apply at the DMV first: they send a 2-page letter stating the exact bond amount (1.5× the vehicle's value). Enter that figure — pricing starts from $100.

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For owners with missing, lost, or rejected proof of ownership under Transportation Code § 501.053

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Amount is set by the DMV at 1.5× the vehicle value — it comes in your 2-page rejection letter

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From $100 — enter the amount on your DMV letter and your exact price appears at the application

0.9% of bond amount$100 minimumNo credit reviewnot even a soft pullFastinstant underwriting for most

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How it works

Apply to bonded title in one sitting.

Get your DMV letter first, then enter the amount, pay, and take the executed bond back to the DMV. Here is the whole thing:

STEP 1 · AT THE DMV

Get your bond amount letter

Apply for a bonded title at the DMV. They issue a 2-page letter stating the required bond amount (1.5× the vehicle’s value). You need that letter before you buy the bond.

TODAY · ONLINE

Apply online & get issued

Enter your details, the vehicle, and the bond amount from your DMV letter. The application collects no credit information — most applicants are issued the moment they pay.

SAME DAY

File with the DMV

Take the executed bond back to the DMV to get your bonded title. The bond stays in effect for three years, after which a clean title issues. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the office insists.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bonded title actually does

When you buy or inherit a vehicle and the paperwork is missing, lost, or rejected, Texas lets you establish ownership with a bonded title under Transportation Code § 501.053. You post a surety bond, the DMV issues a certificate of title in your name marked 'Bonded,' and the bond protects prior owners, lienholders, and future buyers against any superior claim.

Apply at the DMV before you buy the bond. The DMV determines the vehicle's value — from its Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) calculator or a NADA appraisal — and issues a 2-page letter stating the required bond amount, which is 1.5 times that value. That letter is the figure you enter here.

A Texas title bond expires on the third anniversary of its effective date. If no valid claim is made during the three years, the 'bonded' brand is removed and a clean title issues. If someone with a better claim is harmed, they can recover against the bond — and if the surety pays, you repay the surety.

Tex. Transp. Code § 501.053 (TxDMV bonded title)Texas Transportation Code § 501.053 lets an applicant with insufficient evidence of ownership obtain a bonded certificate of title by filing a surety bond. The Department of Motor Vehicles sets the bond amount at one and one-half times the vehicle’s value (from Standard Presumptive Value or a NADA appraisal) and states it in a notice to the applicant. The bond expires on the third anniversary of its effective date.

You need this bond if you are

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A buyer with no title — the seller never delivered one or it was lost

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Titling an inherited or gifted vehicle with gaps in the ownership chain

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Holding a rejected title the DMV will not accept as proof of ownership

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Registering an abandoned or project vehicle that needs a bonded title to get on the road

Get your DMV letter, then apply here.

Enter the bond amount from your DMV 2-page letter — your exact price is set at the application, and most applicants are issued instantly, ready to take back to the DMV.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Texas lost title bond?Premiums are variable, starting from $100. The bond amount is set by the DMV at 1.5× the vehicle’s value, so smaller vehicles tend to land near the $100 minimum and the premium scales up from there. Enter the figure on your DMV letter and your exact price appears at the application.

Why do I need a letter from the DMV first?Texas requires you to apply for the bonded title at the DMV before buying the bond. The DMV determines the vehicle’s value and issues a 2-page letter stating the exact required bond amount (1.5× the value). That letter is the figure you enter here — buying before you have it risks the wrong amount.

Is there a credit check?The application collects no credit information, and most applications approve instantly. Larger bond amounts may get a quick review.

What does the bond protect against?It protects prior owners, lienholders, and future buyers who later prove a superior ownership claim to the vehicle. If a valid claim is paid, you repay the surety — it is a guarantee that backs your bonded title, not insurance for you.

How long does the bond last?A Texas lost title bond expires on the third anniversary of its effective date. If no valid claim is made in those three years, the "bonded" brand is removed and a clean certificate of title issues.

Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.

How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.

Related bonds

Other Texas bonds.

Bonded title, priced from $100.

Get your DMV letter, then a short application, exact pricing at the application. Take it back to the DMV the same day.

Start application

Your premiumfrom $100

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