Surety Bond - Bond Title - FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A surety bond is a contract between three parties—the principal (you), the surety (us) and the obligee (the entity requiring the bond)—in which the surety financially guarantees to an obligee that the principal will act in accordance with the terms established by the bond.
How Much Does the Texas Lost Title Bond Cost? 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).
A Texas Bonded Title (also known as a Certificate of Title Bond, Defective Title Bond, Lost Vehicle Title Bond or DMV Bond) allows a vehicle owner to claim ownership and register the vehicle with the state when a title has been lost, stolen or is missing.

So you will go to your local Texas DMV office, not your local DPS office. You can apply for a duplicate title (a certified copy of your lost or damaged title) in person at the DMV office or by mail. NOTE: if there is a lien on the vehicle then the lien holder will need to submit the application

Applying by mail will take up to a week to process but will cost slightly less than applying in person. You should print off and prepare Form VTR-34 (Application for a Certified Copy of Title), just as you would if you were applying in person.

Yes, you can sell a car without a title if you have proof of ownership. Selling a car without proof of ownership is illegal in most states. That said, it's not uncommon to discover that you don't have your car's title in your possession.

To prove that you own the car, you'll need some sort of receipt or invoice from when you bought it. Even if you buy the car privately, make sure the seller gives you some sort of written agreement detailing the date of sale, the amount you paid and the method of payment.