Other Commercial
Certificate of Title Bond
A certificate of title bond (bonded title) lets you get a vehicle title when you cannot prove ownership with a properly assigned title.
- Required by
- State title agencies (Alabama Department of Revenue; Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)
- Bond amount
- Set by whoever requires the bond. We confirm it.
What this bond guarantees
The bond protects prior owners, lienholders, and later buyers if the title turns out to be defective or someone else has a valid claim to the vehicle. It covers their losses, including reasonable attorney fees. In Alabama the bond runs three years, after which the title can be cleared.
Who needs it
- Buyers who received no title or a defective title
- Owners of vehicles, trailers, or manufactured homes with lost title history
- People who inherited or were given a vehicle without paperwork
What the underwriter looks at
- Vehicle type and age, which set the bond amount
- Value of the vehicle
- Applicant's credit
Requirements vary by state and by who asks for the bond. Send us the request you received and we will confirm exactly what it calls for.
Common questions
How much is the bond in Alabama?
Alabama sets standard amounts by vehicle type and age in Administrative Code 810-5-75-.34. For example, a passenger car or pickup is $50,000 if under 5 years old, $25,000 from 5 to under 10 years, and $10,000 if 10 years or older.
How do I start?
In Alabama you request bonding on form MVT 10-1A. If approved, the department issues form MVT 10-1, and you file the title application within 90 days of the bond date.