Skip to main content

M. BURR KEIM AGENCY · License & Permit Surety Bonds · Reviewed November 2026

Certificate of Title Bond

A certificate of title bond — sometimes called a bonded title bond — is a surety bond used when a vehicle owner cannot produce a clean certificate of title. It protects the state and any prior owner or lienholder while the state issues a replacement or bonded title.

Apply for This Bond Online How to Apply Questions

At a glance

Product
Certificate of Title Bond
Category
License & Permit Surety Bonds
Required amount
The bond amount is generally based on the vehicle’s value or the value of the disputed title interest, as determined by the state motor vehicle agency. Some states use a formula, such as one or two times the vehicle value, and the agency should state the required amount on its title application instructions.
Online issue
Instant issue up to $50,000 with proof of ownership. With acceptable credit and proof of ownership, instant issue is available above $50,000 up to $100,000. Proof of ownership may include a bill of sale, prior registration, insurance records, or other documents accepted by the state.
Term
Title bonds are often written for a fixed term set by the state, commonly one to three years, and some states require the bond to remain in force for a specific period before a clean title is issued. The state motor vehicle agency controls the required term.

Who needs a certificate of Title Bond?

  • Vehicle owners who cannot produce a clean certificate of title because it was lost, never transferred, or is otherwise defective.
  • Buyers of a vehicle with a title defect who need a bonded title before the state will register the vehicle.
  • Dealers or businesses handling a vehicle title problem that requires a surety bond under state motor vehicle rules.

Why is a certificate of Title Bond required?

State motor vehicle agencies use title bonds to protect prior owners, lienholders, and the state when the ownership history is incomplete. The bond gives an injured party a recovery source if the bonded title later turns out to be invalid or another party has a superior claim.

The bond is part of the title process, not a substitute for the title itself. The state motor vehicle agency decides whether a bonded title is available and sets the procedure, waiting period, and bond amount.

How much bond do I need?

The bond amount is generally based on the vehicle’s value or the value of the disputed title interest, as determined by the state motor vehicle agency. Some states use a formula, such as one or two times the vehicle value, and the agency should state the required amount on its title application instructions.

Instant issue up to $50,000 with proof of ownership. With acceptable credit and proof of ownership, instant issue is available above $50,000 up to $100,000. Proof of ownership may include a bill of sale, prior registration, insurance records, or other documents accepted by the state.

Bond amount is not the premium. The required amount is the maximum the surety could pay under the bond. The premium you pay is a separate charge based on the bond amount, the risk, the term, and your credit. The online application shows the premium before you bind coverage.

How much does a certificate of Title Bond cost?

Premium depends on the bond amount, the state, the term, and the applicant’s credit. Title bonds are typically written for a limited term, and the premium is usually modest relative to the vehicle value. Apply online for the current premium.

How to apply online

  1. Confirm the bond amount and obligee. Use the amount and legal name of the agency, court, client, or government entity that requires the bond. The obligee name must match the requiring party’s records.
  2. Gather the application information. Have the legal business or entity name, address, license or case number, ownership information, and the required bond amount ready.
  3. Start the CNA Surety application. Use the online application link on this page. The link includes the M. BURR KEIM AGENCY app code and agency code, so the application is routed to our agency.
  4. Pay the premium and bind coverage. If the bond is eligible for instant issue, the application will show the premium and let you complete the purchase online. Otherwise, the surety will review the application and contact you if additional information is needed.
  5. File the bond. Provide the issued bond to the agency, court, client, or government entity that requires it, and keep a copy for your records.
Apply for This Bond Online All Bonds

Certificate of Title Bond term and renewal

Title bonds are often written for a fixed term set by the state, commonly one to three years, and some states require the bond to remain in force for a specific period before a clean title is issued. The state motor vehicle agency controls the required term.

Good to know

  • Proof of ownership is required. Gather the bill of sale, prior registration, title search results, and any other ownership records the state requires before applying.
  • A title bond does not resolve competing ownership claims by itself. If another person or lienholder claims an interest in the vehicle, consult an attorney or the state motor vehicle agency before proceeding.

Certificate of Title Bond questions

A certificate of title bond — sometimes called a bonded title bond — is a surety bond used when a vehicle owner cannot produce a clean certificate of title. It protects the state and any prior owner or lienholder while the state issues a replacement or bonded title.

Vehicle owners who cannot produce a clean certificate of title because it was lost, never transferred, or is otherwise defective. Buyers of a vehicle with a title defect who need a bonded title before the state will register the vehicle. Dealers or businesses handling a vehicle title problem that requires a surety bond under state motor vehicle rules.

Premium depends on the bond amount, the state, the term, and the applicant’s credit. Title bonds are typically written for a limited term, and the premium is usually modest relative to the vehicle value. Apply online for the current premium.

The bond amount is generally based on the vehicle’s value or the value of the disputed title interest, as determined by the state motor vehicle agency. Some states use a formula, such as one or two times the vehicle value, and the agency should state the required amount on its title application instructions. Instant issue up to $50,000 with proof of ownership. With acceptable credit and proof of ownership, instant issue is available above $50,000 up to $100,000. Proof of ownership may include a bill of sale, prior registration, insurance records, or other documents accepted by the state.

Apply online through CNA Surety using the application link on this page. The link includes the M. BURR KEIM AGENCY app code and agency code, so the application is routed to our agency. Complete the application, pay the premium online if the bond is eligible for instant issue, and then file the bond with the agency, court, or client that requires it.

A bonded title is a certificate of title issued by a state after the owner purchases a surety bond to protect the state and any prior owner or lienholder. The bond stands behind the title for a period set by state law. If a valid competing claim appears, the bond may respond up to its limit.

The required term is set by the state motor vehicle agency, and many states require the bond to remain in force for one to three years. After the required period, the owner may be able to obtain a clean title. Confirm the term with the state before applying.

Online application and important note

Bond requirements, forms, amounts, and fees are set by the requiring agency, court, or carrier and can change. This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current requirement with the agency, court, client, or your attorney before applying. M. BURR KEIM AGENCY is an insurance and surety bond agency; the bond or policy is issued by the carrier named on the document.