Bonded Titles - EZ Title & Registration
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Bonded Titles
Missing title?
There may still be a path forward.
When the paperwork is missing, incomplete or not enough to prove ownership, Arizona may allow a bonded-title process. EZ Title & Registration can help with the inspection, record research, required owner/lienholder contact, bond preparation and final title transaction.
A bonded title is not an automatic substitute for missing ownership documents. The vehicle record and your specific situation determine whether the bond process can be used.
A title backed by a surety bond when ownership cannot be proven the normal way.
Arizona can require a bond when MVD is not satisfied with the available proof of ownership or needs protection against an undisclosed ownership or lien claim. The bond protects qualifying prior owners, lienholders and later parties if a valid claim arises because the title was issued.
Arizona law sets the bond at 1.5 times the value of the vehicle or mobile home as determined for the process. The bond remains subject to claims for the statutory period.
If research finds a valid owner or lienholder who can provide the missing paperwork, the correct solution may be to obtain those documents instead of completing a bond.
Five steps from “I have no title” to a completed review.
The exact checklist changes based on what the inspection and motor-vehicle records show, which is why starting with the bond purchase would be impressively backwards.
VIN / Vehicle Inspection
A certified inspector verifies the vehicle identity and documents the VIN, year, make, body style and other required information.
Affidavit & Record Research
Your reason for requesting the bond is documented and available Arizona/out-of-state ownership and lien records are researched.
Owner / Lienholder Contact
When records identify prior owners or lienholders, required attempts are made to obtain the proper ownership or lien-release documents.
Bond Amount & Surety
After the record work is complete, the vehicle value is established and the required bond amount is set at 1.5× that value.
Final Title Transaction
The surety bond and supporting documents are submitted to complete the title transfer. Registration can also be completed when the vehicle qualifies.
The current ADOT bonded-title application specifically instructs applicants to purchase the bond after the inspection, research and notification steps. Penalty fees can apply when a purchased bond is not submitted within 30 days of its purchase date.
What happens at each stage?
Open the section that matches the part of the bond process you are dealing with.
01 Vehicle Inspection The bonded-title process starts by verifying the vehicle itself
ADOT’s bonded-title application requires an inspection by a certified inspector at MVD, an Authorized Third Party or a qualifying law-enforcement agency. A standard bonded-title case normally begins with a Level I inspection.
Bring what you have
- Bill of sale, prior title, registration, MCO or any other ownership paperwork.
- Valid identification.
- Receipts or invoices for major parts when the vehicle or trailer was built, repaired or reconstructed.
02 Ownership & Lien Research Finding out whose interest is already attached to the vehicle
After inspection, the ownership history is researched. Arizona records may identify a prior owner, lienholder or another state where the vehicle was titled. Out-of-state records can require additional documentation from that jurisdiction.
What the research can find
No ownership record found
- The process may be more straightforward.
- The bond amount still must be established.
- All application and ownership evidence still must be reviewed.
Owner or lienholder found
- That party generally must be contacted.
- Proper title documents or a lien release may resolve the issue.
- A disputed or unresolved claim can stop the bond process.
03 Previous Owner & Lienholder Notifications Required attempts to obtain the documents that should have transferred ownership
If the record identifies an owner or lienholder, the bonded-title application requires attempts to contact the appropriate parties and obtain the ownership or lien documentation needed for a normal title transfer.
If an owner is found
The goal is to obtain the proper ownership documentation from the owner of record when possible.
If a lienholder is found
A lien release or qualifying proof concerning the lienholder may be required. ADOT’s current application warns that if required lien documentation cannot be provided, the bonded-title process can stop and the matter can become judicial.
04 When a Bond May Not Be the Right Solution Some ownership problems require a different legal or MVD process
A bond is useful when the documentation is insufficient, but it cannot solve every ownership problem.
- Active ownership dispute: when another person is asserting ownership, a court or other legal process may be required.
- Unresolved lien: if a lienholder’s interest cannot be properly released or resolved, the bond process may stop.
- VIN identity issue: an altered, missing or unreadable VIN may require higher-level inspection and separate resolution.
- Abandoned, towing or storage situations: these can have separate statutory processes rather than a standard bonded-title path.
- Dealer title problem: if a licensed dealer failed to provide proper title paperwork, a dealer-title complaint or another remedy may be appropriate. Have the transaction reviewed before purchasing a bond.
- Probate, divorce, repossession or court-controlled ownership: the governing legal documents may determine the correct transfer method.
05 Bonded Titles for Trailers & Homemade Builds Missing title, incomplete assignment or missing essential-part records
Arizona’s vehicle/trailer bond application specifically includes situations where a person built the vehicle or trailer and does not have required receipts or documents for essential parts valued over $1,000.
Bring every document you do have
- Receipts for materials and components.
- Bill of sale or information showing how you obtained the trailer or major parts.
- Any old registration, title, VIN plate information or serial-number documentation.
- Accurate trailer dimensions and other information needed for inspection.
06 Bonded Titles for Mobile Homes Separate application, property-tax clearance and county valuation requirements
Mobile homes use a separate bonded-title application and have additional county requirements. The current application requires property-tax clearance and market value information involving the County Treasurer and County Assessor.
- The home must be inspected and its identity verified.
- Ownership and lienholder research still applies.
- Delinquent personal-property taxes can prevent MVD from issuing or transferring a mobile-home title.
- The County Assessor’s market value is used when the required bond amount is established.
- Affixed mobile homes can involve a different real-property/title analysis.
07 Official Forms & Resources Current ADOT bonded-title applications and process information
Use the current ADOT forms when reviewing the process. We can also prepare the required bonded-title paperwork as part of the service.
The bond amount is not the amount you hand over.
Arizona requires the face amount of the bond to equal one and one-half times the vehicle or mobile-home value. The surety company charges a premium to issue that bond. Your actual total also depends on the bonded-title service, MVD title/registration fees and any other transaction-specific charges.
We determine what the transaction actually needs before the bond is purchased, because buying a bond too early is an excellent way to spend money twice.
Example: If the approved vehicle value were $10,000, the required bond amount would be $15,000. That does not mean the bond premium costs $15,000. The surety determines the premium for issuing the required bond.
The questions everyone asks after buying a vehicle with no title.
Preferably these questions happen before the purchase, but humans remain committed to suspense.
How long does a bonded title take?
How long does the Arizona surety bond remain relevant?
Can a bonded title clear an active lien?
Can I drive the vehicle while the bond process is pending?
Does a bond fix salvage or other title brands?
Can EZ Title handle the process for me?
We’ll figure out whether a bond is actually the right path.
Bring the vehicle and every ownership document you have to an EZ Title & Registration location. We’ll start with the inspection and determine the next steps from the record instead of making you guess your way through the process.
General information: Bonded-title requirements vary by vehicle, ownership history, liens, document type and transaction. Additional research, notices, inspections, court action, fees or MVD review may be required. EZ Title & Registration is an Arizona Authorized Third Party provider. This page is intended to explain common Arizona bonded-title situations and is not legal advice.