How-To

How to Get a Bonded Title in California

Bought a vehicle without a proper title, or lost the paperwork on one you own? California uses a Motor Vehicle Ownership Surety Bond to get it titled in your name. Here is when it is required, how the amount is set, the steps, and what it costs.

California bonded title by the numbers

$5,000: Vehicle value at or above which a California motor vehicle ownership (bonded title) bond is required; CA DMV (Veh. Code §11710)
3 years: Term of a California motor vehicle ownership surety bond (non-renewable); CA DMV (Veh. Code §11710)
$8.6B: U.S. surety direct written premium; SFAA, 2022

What California requires

California does not use the phrase "bonded title," but it has the same tool: the Motor Vehicle Ownership Surety Bond, DMV form REG 5057. You post it when you cannot provide the normal evidence of ownership and the vehicle is worth $5,000 or more. It lets the DMV title and register the vehicle to you while protecting any prior owner or lienholder who might later come forward.

The bond amount is the vehicle's value

The bond is written for the vehicle's fair market value, established by a licensed dealer or insurance appraisal, or by averaging the high and low Kelley Blue Bookvalues on the DMV's Statement of Facts. You do not pick the number; the value does.

The steps

1. Apply with the DMV.Complete the application and Statement of Facts, and establish the vehicle's fair market value.
2. Verify the vehicle. Complete any required vehicle verification or inspection the DMV asks for.
3. Buy the bond.Purchase the Motor Vehicle Ownership Surety Bond for the vehicle's value from an admitted surety. This is the step we handle.
4. Submit and title. File the bond with your DMV paperwork, and the DMV issues the title in your name.

What it costs

The premium is small: typically 1% to 2% of the bond amount, with a minimum around $100 to $150. A $30,000 vehicle bond, for instance, might run about $270. The bond term is three years and non-renewable; if no valid ownership claim is made in that time, the title clears to a normal one. See the full bonded title bond page, then start a quotewith your vehicle's value.

Questions

FAQs

Reviewed by Michael Melshenker, CEO. Updated June 2026.

What is a bonded title in California?

California calls it a Motor Vehicle Ownership Surety Bond (form REG 5057). You post it when you cannot provide the usual proof of ownership for a vehicle, and it lets the DMV title and register the vehicle in your name while protecting any prior owner or lienholder.

When do I need one?

When the required evidence of ownership is not available and the vehicle is worth $5,000 or more. It also comes up when a vehicle is nontransferable or you cannot get a release from a prior legal owner or lienholder.

How much is the bond, and what does it cost?

The bond amount equals the vehicle's fair market value, often from a Kelley Blue Book average. The premium is small, typically 1% to 2% of the bond amount with a minimum around $100 to $150. For example, a $30,000 vehicle bond might cost about $270.

Is a bonded title a clean title?

It is a valid California title with a bond noted on it. The bond runs for three years; if no one makes a valid ownership claim in that time, the brand clears and you hold a normal title.