Bought a Vehicle Out of State? Titling It in Texas

By the book: "A vehicle must be titled in your name within 30 days of the date of sale to avoid delinquent transfer penalties" (TxDMV, out-of-state and foreign vehicles). The penalty amounts aren't posted — confirm with your county tax office.

Two out-of-state snags lead to a bonded title:

• The out-of-state title was assigned to a third party. Per the TxDMV Title Manual, "the options for the 'first Texas owner' to obtain title are to pursue a tax assessor-collector hearing or a bonded title" (Motor Vehicle Title Manual, sec. 18.2).
• You bought the vehicle without a title at all. TxDMV's FAQ names a bonded title (Form VTR-130-SOF) as an option here, and lists evidence of ownership as a "Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, title, bill of sale, or out-of-state registration receipt" (TxDMV FAQ).

The tax assessor-collector hearing is the other path: "request a hearing on the refusal to issue title with the Tax Assessor Collector in the county where you reside under Texas Transportation Code §501.052" (TxDMV, title litigation). A bonded title isn't available for a salvage or nonrepairable vehicle under §501.053(f), which is one reason to run the NMVTIS check before you buy. If you buy salvage vehicles for resale rather than for your own use, see the salvage dealer license in Texas page.

How the Texas bonded title works for an out-of-state car

• The bond amount "is equal to 1 ½ times the value of the vehicle," with value taken from the Standard Presumptive Value first (TxDMV, bought a vehicle with no title).
• If the vehicle has never been titled or registered in Texas — the usual case for an out-of-state purchase — the application needs a VIN inspection: "a vehicle identification number inspection is required from an auto theft investigator on the Law Enforcement Identification Number Inspection (Form VTR-68-A)," and "These inspections are not offered by TxDMV" (TxDMV, bought a vehicle with no title). More on arranging one: Texas VIN inspection.
• You file the Bonded Title Application (Form VTR-130-SOF) at a TxDMV Regional Service Center, which reviews it first. That review results in a Notice of Determination (Form VTR-130-ND) "stating the amount of the bond you must purchase," and your county tax office issues the title. A $15.00 administrative fee applies to the TxDMV review. See where to file in Texas.
• The bond "expires on the third anniversary of the date the bond became effective," under Texas Transportation Code §501.053 (Motor Vehicle Title Manual, sec. 8.3).

Watch two more clocks once you're on this route: you have one year from the date of the Notice of Determination to purchase the bond, and within 30 days of purchasing the bond you take the paperwork to your county tax office (TxDMV, bought a vehicle with no title).

For how other states handle it, see the national out-of-state purchase page. Other Texas bonds are covered in our guide to bond requirements across Texas.