If you are a Georgia resident, a bonded title can be an effective way to recover your vehicle title if you don’t have sufficient evidence of ownership.
What is a bonded title?
A bonded title is a type of title recovery method that requires the purchase of a surety bond, also known as a vehicle title bond, to secure the ownership of the vehicle. This is because, in order to receive a bonded title, you must have a major lack of proper documentation. The DMV in your state is essentially taking your word that you are the owner of the vehicle. The vehicle title bond provides security for the DMV to assign ownership in the event that there is an ownership discrepancy after the bonded title is issued.
How to get a bonded title in Georgia
Before beginning your bonded title process, make sure that your vehicle meets the eligibility for a bonded title.
Vehicle requirements for a bonded title in Georgia
- The vehicle is operable
- The vehicle does not have any liens or security interests
- The vehicle was not stolen
- The vehicle was not acquired through an abandoned vehicle process
- The applicant is a resident of Georgia
- The vehicle model is not older than 1985
How to apply for a bonded title in Georgia
If your vehicle meets the eligibility requirements of a Georgia bonded title, begin the application process by completing the Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application as well as the Certificate of Title Bond Affidavit.
Inspection
The bonded title process requires that all vehicles are inspected prior to the title being issued. To schedule your inspection, contact your local police department or highway patrol office. Once your inspection is complete, the officer who inspected the vehicle will complete the form Certification of Inspection by a Duly Constituted Georgia Law Enforcement Officer.
VIN report
A VIN history report is necessary to check the history of the vehicle and to prove to the county tag office that the vehicle is not ineligible for a title. To find your VIN history report, look up your VIN with an approved National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) provider.
If your vehicle was last titled outside of Georgia, you will be required to present a certified title history report.
Title bond
Once your vehicle has been inspected and approved to move on to the next step, the county tag office will tell you the value of the bond to purchase. This value is typically based on the book value of the vehicle. Most title bonds are required to be 1.5x the value of the vehicle, however, that doesn’t mean it costs that much to purchase. Most title bonds cost around $100-$150 for average-value vehicles. Bring your Certificate of Title Bond Affidavit to your title bond provider to complete their portion of the document.
Once you’ve completed the official documents, passed inspection, and obtained your title bond, submit all of your documents and any state title fees to the county tag office in your county. They will process your application and return to you a bonded title in your name.
After 3 years of having BONDED stamped on your vehicle title, the bonded title brand will dissipate and you will have a clean Georgia title in your name.
Looking for a quote for your title bond? Get one at ProBonds.com!
CarTitles.com takes the hassle out of applying for a title for your vehicle. Their team of title experts can help prepare your paperwork for your Georgia bonded title or any other title recovery method provided.