If you are a Wisconsin resident and don’t have sufficient evidence of ownership, a bonded title can be an effective way to get a vehicle title.
A bonded title is a brand of vehicle title that is available when the vehicle owner does not have sufficient evidence of ownership such as a signed certificate of title or prior title with their name. The vehicle owner is required to purchase a surety bond, also known as a title bond, to secure their claims to ownership. The title bond is required because, in a bonded title process, the DMV or comparable agency is essentially taking your word that you are the legal vehicle owner. The value of the bond comes into play if there is a discrepancy in ownership after the bonded title is issued.
To get started on the bonded title process in Wisconsin, make sure that your vehicle meets the above requirements and that you have obtained the necessary official documents. If your vehicle is eligible, complete the required official forms in their entirety, have them notarized, and submit them to your local Wisconsin DMV location.
After submitting, the Wisconsin DMV will look over your application and run a title search to determine the prior owner of the vehicle. If an active title record is found in the Wisconsin database, you must request the official motor vehicle records and contact the registered owner of the vehicle. If an out-of-state title record is found, the DMV will tell you the last titled state and you will have to request the motor vehicle records from that state to make contact with the registered owner. If no active title record is found, you may proceed with your bonded title application.
If no title record is found in state or out of state, the DMV will inform you of the bond value to purchase. Do not purchase a title bond until you’ve received confirmation from the DMV. Title bonds are nonrefundable. Most DMVs will calculate the value of the bond based on the value of the vehicle. While many surety bonds are valued at $10,000+, most of those bonds only cost around $100-$200 to purchase.
Once all of the above steps have been taken and the title bond has been purchased, you can then submit all of your ownership documents, official forms, and photos to the DMV to issue your bonded title.
A bonded title is a very valuable alternative method to getting a vehicle title. After receiving your bonded title, the certificate will have BONDED stamped across the top. After 5 years of having this title brand, you will be able to remove it from your title record to give your vehicle a clear title.
CarTitles.com takes the hassle out of applying for a title for your vehicle. Our team of title experts can help prepare your paperwork for your Wisconsin bonded title or any other title recovery method provided.
Looking for a quote for your title bond? Check out ProBonds.com!
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If you don’t own it, can you sell a car on behalf of someone else?
A car title is a legal government document. Similar to a passport or a social security card, this document is only valid if it is printed by an official government agency. You cannot print a car title online or buy one from a non-government agency.
The purpose of a car title is to prove that you own your vehicle and have proof of ownership for that vehicle. This makes it easier for you to sell or trade in your vehicle, as well as transferring ownership of the vehicle from owner to owner.
If you’re not the legal owner of the car, you cannot sell the vehicle without the owner’s signature and permission. However, if the owner signed a power of attorney, you may be able to sell the car on their behalf.
A power of attorney is a legal document that enables an individual to delegate authority over his or her financial affairs to another person. The person who holds power of attorney can handle asset transactions and banking activities on behalf of someone else. In most cases, this is done when someone is ill or incapacitated and cannot handle these tasks for themselves.
If the owner of your car has signed a power of attorney form giving you permission to sell his or her vehicle on their behalf, then you can legally sell it off as long as it’s not in violation of any other laws or contracts filed by either party involved.
Every state has a process to transfer a vehicle title from a deceased owner. This process may involve providing the owner’s death certificate and usually can only be done by relatives or with their written approval.
Looking for more information on the deceased owner title transfer process? Check out our article: What To Do If You Have A Lost Title & Deceased Owner
Oftentimes when a member of the military is deployed, they’ll leave their vehicle in the care of a trusted civilian relative. Before deploying, many military service members will provide a power of attorney to that relative to handle their assets while being deployed. If there is no power of attorney, contact the base where they are posted. The base will provide opportunities for military service members to sign documents and conduct other civilian business when necessary.
If the owner of the vehicle is in prison or jail, they likely did not have the time beforehand to sign a power of attorney. However, every prison or jail has a “signing day” typically once or twice per month where inmates are able to sign official documents needed for their outside life.
If the co-owner is an ex-spouse, the process to sell the vehicle may be a bit more difficult. If you can get your ex-spouse to sign off on the title transfer, then you will have no problems. If you cannot get your ex-spouse to sign the title or they are not able to be contacted, you can request a court-ordered title with your county clerk.
If you’re not the owner, it’s probably not yours to sell unless you have a power of attorney. The DMV won’t just take your word that you are the owner of a vehicle unless you have the signed certificate of title. Remember, selling a vehicle without a title is illegal in many jurisdictions. However, if you’re in one of these four scenarios, consider the options available to transfer the title.
CarTitles.com takes the hassle out of applying for a title for your vehicle. Our team of title experts can help prepare your paperwork for any title recovery method provided.
Car title scams are a scary reality. At CarTitles.com, we work with clients every day who have unfortunately fallen victim to a car title scam. A car title transfer is a legal process so one may think it’s difficult to pull off a car title scam, but it’s important to remember that scammers also know these legal processes and how to get around them without being detected.
Scammers are able to continue their scams because many people are unfamiliar with their tactics. CarTitles.com has been a trusted resource for consumer title information since 2009 and in these years of experience, we’ve gathered information on how these scams play out. Here is a list of the top 5 most common car title scams that we’ve seen over the years:
First off, it’s important to note that to get a new title it must be issued from the department of motor vehicles or an equivalent state government entity. You, as the vehicle owner, will be required to sign the official documents or sign a power of attorney.
The scam goes like this: A title company will claim to be able to get your title for you for a large amount of money, somewhere between $400-$800 usually. They won’t send you any documents to sign or a power of attorney, nor will they explain the process they are using. After you pay them this large amount of money, they’ll try to apply for a duplicate title in your name. Remember, they don’t have your legal permission to do so, so this method is automatically illegal. If the process works, they’ll keep the extra hundreds of dollars in profit and send you an illegal title that could end up being revoked. If the duplicate title scam doesn’t work, they’ll claim that your vehicle has a VIN problem and that violated their terms and conditions so they get to keep your money and you’re out of a title.
A mechanic’s lien is a legal process that allows body shops, repair shops, and towing companies to place a lien on a vehicle and sell it at auction to recover funds from an unpaid bill for the repair, storage, or towing fees.
The scam goes like this: A mechanic or tow company will claim that they can get you a title for your vehicle at a low cost. They’ll falsify documents to claim that the vehicle was brought in under legitimate circumstances and go through the entire mechanic’s lien process. Once the process is finished, you’ll either end up with an illegal title from a mechanic’s lien process or the company will auction off your vehicle to keep the profit. The worst part is because it’s a mechanic’s lien process and the company has “evidence” of the process, many times it’s their word over yours.
In the majority of cases, an abandoned vehicle is not allowed to be kept by the finder and must be towed and sold at auction. There are very few places that allow for vehicles that are claimed abandoned to be titled by the finder.
The scam goes like this: Someone will claim to be able to get you a title using the abandoned vehicle process. What will actually happen is that your vehicle will be claimed abandoned, towed from your property, and sold at auction. There are very few jurisdictions where this is not the case for an abandoned vehicle. The scammer may be the one to auction your vehicle or benefit from the auction.
Title washing is a federal offense! Title washing occurs when a title is branded with a permanent brand (such as salvage, junk, non-repairable, certificate of destruction, or parts-only) but someone attempts to remove the brand without going through the official inspection process.
The scam goes like this: Someone will claim to be able to clear your title from its permanent brand. They won’t tell you about the process they are using or they will be very vague in their description. The scammer will wash the title of the brand in any way they can, even if that means printing a fake title, and will return to you an illegal title. You may not even know it until it’s time to transfer your title to a new owner and the VIN will be flagged at the DMV. Even if you weren’t aware of this method being used, you may still be held liable and prosecuted for title washing.
The ownership transfer scam is one of the oldest scams in the book and is still seen frequently. If someone says you need to transfer ownership to get a clean title, this is a red flag.
The scam goes like this: Someone will claim to be able to clear the lien off of your title, remove the bonded stamp, or get a new name printed on the front. They’ll tell you that the easiest way for them to help is if you signed over the title so they can sign the documents personally without a power of attorney. Once you sign the title over, that’s it. The scammer can then transfer the title into their name because they have the signed certificate of title from you. If this happens, you won’t be able to report the vehicle as stolen because it’s no longer in your name.
Car title scams have been around for a while, but they continue to be popular among scammers due to the fact that they offer such a low-risk/high-reward scenario. Often, these scams are successful because they’re so unexpected and confusing for consumers. The best way to protect yourself from any type of scam is to be vigilant and educate yourself on common scam tactics.
Get expert advice for buying or selling your car with TelAdvice.com. Our team of automotive experts can provide you with tailored advice to navigate the process with confidence. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step towards a stress-free buying or selling experience.
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If you are a Tennessee resident, a bonded title can be an effective way to recover your vehicle title if you don’t have sufficient evidence of ownership.
To get started with a bonded title in Tennessee, make sure that your vehicle meets all of the above requirements. In Tennessee, the Department of Revenue Special Investigations Unit oversees the bonded title application process. If your vehicle is eligible, start gathering the required documents.
Before a bonded title can be issued in Tennessee, you must notify the prior owner of the title transfer. If you know who the prior owner is, you must contact them by certified mail and request that they return the original assigned certificate of title.
If you do not know the prior owner of the vehicle, you must notify the public of your intent to title the vehicle. In a general circulating publication through your county of residence, you must post your intent and allow the prior owner and any other security interests 10 days to come forward to reclaim the vehicle. Anyone who has an interest in the vehicle must contact you within 10 days of the publication via certified mail and the required method of contact must be posted in the publication.
Once your Surety Bond Application and Notarized Bill of Sale or Statement of Facts are approved, purchase your surety bond from an approved provider. There are two options for purchasing a title bond for a bonded title in Tennessee:
The process to get a bonded title in Tennessee is a great option for vehicles under 30 years old that are missing evidence of ownership. If you are a resident of Tennessee and you are missing sufficient evidence of ownership, consider obtaining a bonded title for your vehicle. After 3 years, you will be able to remove the BONDED stamp from the title and transfer it to a clean title. If it’s your car, you deserve a title in your name.
CarTitles.com takes the hassle out of applying for a title for your vehicle. Our team of title experts can help prepare your paperwork for your Tennessee bonded title or any other title recovery method provided.
If you are a resident of Nevada, a bonded title is a valuable method of vehicle title recovery available to you if you are lacking sufficient evidence of ownership.
There are minimal requirements to get a bonded title in Nevada, however, your vehicle must meet these specifications to be eligible:
Once your vehicle is approved by the Title Research Section, begin the Affidavit for Bonded Vehicle Title (VP 271). When completing this document, read all section instructions before filling in any spaces. Many spaces on this form will be required to be completed by a DMV agent or other authorized state agent.
Not all states require an inspection, but to get a bonded title in Nevada, you must schedule an inspection according to NRS 482.220 standards with a DMV agent or other authorized state agent. At this appointment, be sure to bring along your Affidavit for Bonded Vehicle Title (VP 271) as the inspector will be required to complete a portion of this official document. Take photos of all four sides of the vehicle for reference and to include in your application.
Once your inspection is complete and you’ve completed the appropriate sections on your Affidavit for Bonded Vehicle Title, mail the application as well as other supporting ownership documents to the Title Research Section. After the agency approves your affidavit, they will contact you with the bond amount to purchase and return your documents.
Typically, the bond amount is required to be 1.5x the book value of the vehicle. Your DMV agent will tell you the type of book value to use for this calculation. Remember, you’re not actually required to pay 1.5x the value of the vehicle upfront, just a portion of that to secure the title bond. After your bond has been purchased, complete the Vehicle Bond Affidavit (VP 272) and have it notarized by a public notary or witnessed by a DMV agent. Last, return all documents to the Title Research Section of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to complete the application process.
The process to get a bonded title in Nevada is slightly more simple than in other states. If you are a resident of Nevada and you are missing sufficient evidence of ownership, consider obtaining a bonded title for your vehicle. After 3 years, you will be able to remove the BONDED stamp from the title and transfer it to a clean title. If it’s your car, you deserve a title in your name.
CarTitles.com takes the hassle out of applying for a title for your vehicle. Our team of title experts can help prepare your paperwork for your Nevada bonded title or any other title recovery method provided.
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