How to Get a Title for a Car With No Title
A car with no title can almost always be titled legally through one of three paths: a duplicate title from the last titled owner, a bonded title backed by a surety bond, or a court-ordered title. Which one applies depends on your state and how you acquired the car. Our service runs the whole path for a flat $649.
The first step is free: our eligibility quiz checks the VIN against theft and lien records and tells you which path fits before you spend a dollar.
Published price
$649
Typical turnaround: 3-6 weeks
Plus exact government fees, itemized before you pay. Full list on the pricing page.
Get my exact quoteThe three legal paths to a missing title
Duplicate title: if the last titled owner is reachable and cooperative, the fastest fix is a duplicate issued to them and properly assigned to you. We prepare everything so the seller only has to sign.
Bonded title: when the paper trail is broken, most states issue a title backed by a surety bond, typically costing 1 to 1.5 times a small percentage of the vehicle value, that protects prior owners for a set period (commonly three years) and then converts to a clean title. This is the workhorse path and we run it end to end.
Court-ordered title: a handful of states with no bonded process (and messier cases everywhere) use a quiet title or magistrate process. Slower, but solid. We prepare the filing and walk you through the hearing where one is required.
What about abandoned vehicles?
A vehicle abandoned on your property has its own process: notice to the last owner and lienholders, a waiting period, then a state-specific path to title. It is paperwork-heavy but it works, and it is included in this service. What we will not do is process a car you do not have a lawful claim to; the VIN check up front protects you and us.
Questions people ask us
Can you get a title with just a bill of sale?
In most states yes, through the bonded title process. The bill of sale establishes your claim, the surety bond protects prior owners, and the state issues a title in your name. Our quiz confirms your state and quotes the bond cost along with our fee.
How long does a bonded title take?
Typically 4 to 8 weeks start to finish: valuation and bond purchase in the first week, then state processing. Some states add a VIN inspection appointment. Your portal shows each milestone.
What if the car turns out to be stolen or has a lien?
Our KYC check runs the VIN against theft and lien records before your order proceeds. If something surfaces, we stop, tell you exactly what we found, and refund the service fee minus the check cost. You will not be surprised at the DMV.
Is the old Vermont loophole still available?
No. Vermont closed its registration-without-title path for non-residents in 2023. Anyone still selling it is selling paperwork that will not survive your state DMV. The bonded title process is the legitimate replacement.