Bonded Title for a Motorcycle: How It Works in Each State

This table covers only the states in this guide. "Named eligible" means the agency's own bonded-title material lists a motorcycle; "Standard vehicle route — confirm" means the route is written for "vehicle" or "motor vehicle" with no motorcycle-specific text, so confirm it applies to your bike; "No bonded route found" means we found no surety-bond route; the state uses a different mechanism.

Georgia and Florida: information only.

States with something distinctive for motorcycles

Alabama — a flat bond schedule, not a multiple. Alabama is the only state here that sets the bond by class and model-year age rather than as a multiple of value. Motorcycles have their own bracket: "Less than five (5) model years old - $25,000," "Five (5) model years old but less than ten (10) model years old - $10,000," and "Ten (10) or more model years old - $5,000" (Rule 810-5-75-.34). The bond runs three years, and you must apply for the title "within ninety (90) days from the date the surety bond was executed."

California — fair market value and a CHP step. California is not a 1.5× state. The REG 5057 bond is written for the bike's fair market value and is triggered only when ownership proof is unavailable and a condition such as a value of $5,000 or more applies. A used motorcycle with no DMV record is referred to the CHP for VIN and engine-number verification, unless it is a non-resident's motorcycle with documents from another state or will be registered off-highway only.

Missouri — a low-value, older-bike route. The bond path exists only for a vehicle seven years or older worth no more than $3,000, at 2× value (minimum $100), for three years, plus a Highway Patrol examination ($25). A motorcycle worth more than $3,000 has no bond route under this statute — confirm the alternative with the Missouri DOR.

Tennessee — residents, over $3,000.01, under 30 years. Tennessee's surety-bond application names a motorcycle among eligible types ("car, truck, golf cart, motorcycle, camper, trailer, etc."), but only for Tennessee residents with a bike worth more than $3,000.01 and newer than 30 years old. You email the application to the Department for review, then complete the Multi-purpose Application at the county clerk.

Michigan — you may not need a bond. A bond may be required only if the Secretary of State is unsatisfied as to ownership of a bike worth over $2,500 or under 10 years old. A motorcycle worth $2,500 or less and 10+ years old is self-certified instead. When a bond is used, file TR-121 with the TR-205 Self-Certification, plus a TR-54 inspection if there's no Michigan record.

Colorado — no bond at 25+ years. A motorcycle 25 years old or older uses the In Lieu of Bond checklist DR 2462 (C.R.S. 42-6-115), not a bond. Everything else uses DR 2922 at a bond of "not less than twice the reasonable value," with a P.O.S.T. certified VIN inspection on DR 2704.

Washington — bond is the exception. Unless a bond is required, an owner uses a three-year registration without title; a bond is required only for a licensed dealer or when the Washington record shows an existing lien. A full motorcycle still gets the Washington State Patrol inspection (mopeds are exempt).

Georgia — age cutoffs and mopeds. The bond is 2× average retail value, minimum $5,000, but is not available for 1985-or-older models. A 1962-or-older bike needs no title (an optional Conditional Title is available), and mopeds are not titled.

Florida — eligible, but narrow. A motorcycle is an eligible type for a bonded title, but only on a casual sale with money exchanged, a current Florida paper title with no lien, a Florida-resident applicant, and a model year inside the eligible window (2010 down to 1997 for 2026); bikes more than 29 model years old are excluded. The bond is twice the value and expires three years from issuance.

Nevada — one office, one amount. All bonded titles "are handled exclusively by the Title Research Section in Carson City," and the bond "must remain in effect for three (3) years." Nevada tells you one exact amount — "Do not buy a bond until the DMV tells you one exact amount" — so treat any figure before that as an estimate.

No bonded route found — Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey. We found no surety-bond title route in these states. Pennsylvania withholds a title without sufficient documents (75 Pa.C.S. § 1108); the fallback is a court order with Form MV-1. Indiana uses a court-order packet with a State Form 39530 physical inspection by law enforcement or a BMV branch. Ohio titles through a clerk of a court of common pleas (ORC 4505.06). New Jersey uses an eight-step "improper evidence of ownership" MVC procedure (OS/SS-142), verifying the bike by photos and a VIN tracing rather than an inspection.

• Estimate the amount: Title bond calculator. Because most states set the bond as a multiple of your motorcycle's value (and Alabama uses a flat schedule), the calculator gives an estimate only — the agency sets the final amount.
• Understand the steps: How to get a bonded title.
• Up one level: Vehicle title bonds — the hub for all vehicle types.
• Dealers: processing customer title bonds in volume? See Title professionals.

Licensed-state pages with a motorcycle bond route

Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Maryland · Michigan · Missouri · Nevada · North Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Washington