If you don't have the title to a vehicle, but you have proof that the vehicle was sold to you, you may need to obtain a bonded title to show ownership. There are a few different situations under which you may need a bonded title.

Lost the Title

If you purchased a vehicle and somehow lost the title before you transferred it into your name, you may need to get a bonded title. In this situation, you will want to bring the bill of sale or the receipt with you to get a bonded title. Keep in mind, if you transferred the title to your name and just lost the title paperwork, you can just ask the DMV for a duplicate title. You only need to get a bonded title if you lost the title before getting it switched to your name.

Title Wasn't Signed Properly

When you purchase a vehicle, you should look over the paperwork closely. An improperly signed title occurs when the name that was signed on the title isn't the same as the name on the title. If that has happened to you, and the DMV will not accept the signature of whoever signed the title over, you are going to need to provide proof that you purchased the vehicle legally and lawfully. You will need to prove that you did pay for the vehicle. As such, you may want to contact the person who signed the title and see if they can correct the title's signature.

Only Used a Bill of Sale

If you only used a bill of sale to purchase a vehicle, sometimes, you need a bonded title to sign over the rights to the title. A bonded title can be used, along with the bill of rights, to help you secure a title for a vehicle. However, sometimes, the person selling the car may not have a title. If this is the case, a bonded title, along with the bill of sales, can be used to help establish your rights to the vehicle instead.

Purchased a Vehicle with a Bill of Sale or Title

If someone sold or gave you a vehicle without signing any paperwork, you will need to work to prove that it belongs to you. As such, you will want to get a notarized statement that establishes how you got ownership of a vehicle.

If you have a vehicle that you don't have a title for, and the vehicle was never registered in your name, you will want to get a bonded title so you can work to establish your ownership of the vehicle. Contact a company that provides bonded titles for more information.