Classic, Antique & Collector Car Bonded Titles

Where a state offers the route, a surety bond stands in for the missing proof of ownership so the state will issue a title. Before you look at cost, work through these four questions, because the answer changes which route (if any) applies:

1. Which agency titles the car? It is usually the state DMV, motor vehicle division, department of revenue, secretary of state, or in some states a court. Nevada routes every bonded title through one office (the Title Research Section in Carson City); Ohio titles through the clerk of a court of common pleas; in Pennsylvania, a court order is the fallback when ownership documents are missing.
2. Is the car too old — or too valuable — for the bond route? Georgia excludes 1985-and-older model years from its bonded-title program; Florida excludes any vehicle more than 29 model years old. Missouri's bond route only covers vehicles valued at $3,000 or less; Tennessee's only covers vehicles valued over $3,000.01 and under 30 years old.
3. Does age actually waive the bond? In Colorado, a vehicle 25 years old or older uses an "In Lieu of Bond" process rather than a purchased bond. In Michigan, the Secretary of State may require a bond only for a vehicle worth over $2,500 or under 10 years old.
4. What's the alternative if there is no bond route? Pennsylvania and Indiana use a court order and New Jersey uses a multi-step Motor Vehicle Commission procedure; in Ohio, where every title application is filed with a clerk of courts, we found no bond route — confirm the process with the clerk. We found no bonded route in these states.

Use the title bond calculator once you know your state's multiple, see how to get a bonded title for the general process, or step back up to all vehicle title bonds.

Texas — 25-year appraisal option and a value floor

TxDMV uses a bond of "1 ½ times the value of the vehicle" for three years (Transportation Code § 501.053, via the TxDMV Motor Vehicle Title Manual, sec. 8.3). For an older car the manual gives a specific break: "If the motor vehicle is 25 years old or older, the applicant has the option to obtain an appraisal to determine the value of the vehicle in lieu of using the national reference guide value. Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) is not available for these older vehicles." If a 25+ year vehicle appraises under $4,000, "the value of the vehicle is set at $4,000." If there is no Texas record, you must provide VIN verification on Form VTR-68-A.

North Carolina — antiques are inspected and photographed

An antique in North Carolina is a vehicle "manufactured at least 30 years ago," and "Antique vehicles must be inspected and photographed by North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) when being presented for first-time titling and registration." The indemnity-bond route (Form MVR-92A) sets the bond at "one and one-half (1½) times the value of the vehicle as shown in the Value Schedule provided by the Division" with a $100 minimum, on file three years. For a car not listed in the Value Schedule, "two appraisals from North Carolina dealers will be required" and the bond is "one and one-half (1½) times the highest appraisal." An odometer reading is required only if the vehicle is less than 10 years old.

California — not a 1.5× state, and only in narrow cases

California does not issue a routine bonded title. A Motor Vehicle Ownership Surety Bond (REG 5057) is used only when ownership evidence is unavailable and a trigger applies; "the bond must be obtained for the fair market value of the vehicle" (1.0×). A value of "$5,000 or more" is one such trigger — confirm the others, and whether any age rule changes the requirement, with the California DMV. For an older collector vehicle, the DMV handbook page we reviewed notes a plate courtesy: "Under certain conditions, the owner of a collector vehicle may be permitted to retain old license plates that are no longer on the database."

Colorado — no bond at 25 years, plus a rebuilder's path

Colorado waives the purchased bond for the oldest cars. The "In Lieu of Bond for Motor Vehicles 25 Years Old or Older" checklist (DR 2462, under C.R.S. 42-6-115) replaces the standard DR 2922 bond (which requires "a good and sufficient bond with a corporate surety not less than twice the reasonable value of the vehicle"). The in-lieu route still needs a Colorado Certified VIN Inspection (DR 2704) by a P.O.S.T. certified inspector, a title-record search (DR 2489A — confirm the current search fee with the DMV), and the DR 2394 affidavit; a bill of sale must be presented "within twenty four months after such sale." A not-roadworthy collector car "valued principally because of the vehicle's early date of manufacture, design, historical interest or value as a collector's item," at least 25 years old and at least a rolling chassis, may instead receive a rebuilder's title (DR 2187).

Nevada — the bond can be based on original retail price

Nevada handles all bonded titles through the Title Research Section in Carson City, and the bond "must remain in effect for three (3) years." The amount is "usually 1.5 times the vehicle's original retail price" (the form states 1.5× the value as determined by the Department). For a classic, that original-MSRP basis can matter. The DMV's own instruction is blunt: "Do not buy a bond until the DMV tells you one exact amount." An odometer statement is exempt for a model year over 20 years old (Form VP 271).

Alabama — a flat schedule, not a multiple

Alabama does not use a multiple of value. Rule 810-5-75-.34 sets a flat bond by vehicle class and model-year age, held "for a period of three (3) years." For passenger vehicles and pickup trucks the amounts are $50,000 / $25,000 / $10,000 for under 5 / 5-to-under-10 / 10-or-more model years; motorcycles use $25,000 / $10,000 / $5,000. A classic that is 10 or more model years old falls in the lowest bracket for its class. You must apply for the title "within ninety (90) days from the date the surety bond was executed" using Form MVT 10-1A (electronic surety bond request) and MVT 5-1E (title application through a designated agent).

Missouri and Tennessee — value and age gates

Missouri's bond route is narrow by statute (RSMo 301.192): it applies only "when application is made for a certificate of ownership for a motor vehicle or trailer seven years old or older and the value of vehicle does not exceed three thousand dollars." A valuable collector car is therefore outside the bond route. A vehicle examination certificate from the Missouri State Highway Patrol is required ($25), and an odometer statement is needed only "if less than twenty years of age."

Tennessee's Surety Bond Application (RV-F1313201, under Rule 1320-08-09) is "only for Tennessee residents and the value must be over $3000.01 and newer than 30 years old." The bond is 1.5× value for three years; the application is emailed to the Department (Suretybond.title@tn.gov) and, once approved, finished at the county clerk. If a vehicle is 30 years or older, or valued at $3,000.01 or less, the bond route does not apply — confirm the alternative with the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

Georgia and Florida — model-year cutoffs (information only)

Georgia's bonded title "Cannot be a 1985 or older year model vehicle," and the bond is "two times the average retail value of the vehicle ... but not less than $5,000." A 1962-or-older vehicle is not titled by default but "may now receive Conditional Titles" with a bill of sale, an $18 title fee and TAVT based on a $100 vehicle value; the conditional title carries a disclaimer that it "may not reflect all liens." A 1963–1985 model can be titled only if you already hold the title or a proper assignment.

Florida's bonded title (procedure TL-70) is "twice the value" for three years and is limited to a casual sale of an "automobile, truck weighing less than 8,000 pounds (net weight) or a motorcycle." It excludes any "Vehicle with model year more than 29 years as of January 1st of the current year" and any "model years 2011 or newer"; for 2026 the eligible model years run 2010 down to 1997. Where a car is not eligible but a Florida title is still required, FLHSMV points to procedure TL-07.

Michigan — a value-and-age test decides whether you post a bond

Michigan's Secretary of State "may require the applicant to file a properly executed surety bond" only where it "is not satisfied as to the ownership of a vehicle having a value over $2,500.00 or that is less than 10 years old" (MCL 257.217); the bond is "twice the value of the vehicle." For a vehicle "valued at $2,500.00 or less and that is 10 years old or older," the Secretary of State instead requires the applicant to certify ownership. Every bond (Form TR-121) also needs a TR-205 Self-Certification of Vehicle Ownership, plus a TR-54 VIN inspection by a Michigan law enforcement agency if there is no Michigan record.

Washington — a classic car still gets the State Patrol inspection

In Washington a bond is required only when "the applicant is a Washington state licensed vehicle dealer" or "the Washington record shows there is an existing lien" (WAC 308-56A-210); otherwise an owner uses a three-year registration without title. The bond, when needed, is "one and one-half times the value of the vehicle." A classic car is not on the Washington State Patrol inspection-exemption list (the exempt list covers mopeds, trailers under 2,000 lb scale weight, NEFRU vehicles, travel and park model trailers, and campers (each of these three only at model year 10 or older), and manufactured and mobile homes at all times), so expect the WSP inspection unless there is a Washington record or you hold a title or registration certificate from Washington or another jurisdiction.

States where we found no bonded route

• Pennsylvania: the vehicle code lets PennDOT register a vehicle but "withhold issuance of a certificate of title until the applicant presents documents reasonably sufficient" (75 Pa.C.S. § 1108). The fallback is a court order with Form MV-1. "Antique" (manufactured more than 25 years before the current year) and "classic" are plate categories, not title shortcuts — a title is still required.
• Indiana: "If you are unable to establish ownership through any one of the available BMV title application processes, you must obtain a court order." Inspection uses State Form 39530, and odometer disclosure (State Form 43230) is exempt for "all trailers and motor vehicles weighing over 16,000 pounds."
• Ohio: We found no title-bond route in ORC Chapter 4505; the application "shall be filed with the clerk of any court of common pleas," and an out-of-state vehicle needs the physical inspection certificate required by section 4505.061.
• New Jersey: the Motor Vehicle Commission uses an "improper evidence of ownership" packet (OS/SS-142) with a notice period and photo-based VIN identification — not a surety bond.

Because no bonded route was found in these four states, we do not quote a title bond there; follow the agency's own procedure using the links below.