How to register vehicle without title in texas

If purchasing a vehicle from a private seller, you – as the buyer – and the seller are responsible for handling all required documents to transfer ownership of the vehicle. To transfer ownership of a vehicle you purchased in a private sale, you will need:

• The original vehicle title with: 
  • Complete and accurate odometer reading or mileage statement
  • Seller’s portion completed
  • Seller’s signature
• Proof of Michigan No-Fault insurance
• Valid driver’s license or ID (for both the buyer and the seller)

As soon as you purchase the vehicle, you will need to transfer the title within 15 days at a Secretary of State office. It is strongly recommended that you and the seller visit a Secretary of State office together to complete this step. 

If you’re a new Texas resident, it’s probably an exciting time for you – there’s a lot to see and do in the country’s second-largest state, from exploring the state’s cities to checking out the Gulf Coast and the hill country, and getting there by car is half the fun. First, though, you’ll need to get your car registered. It’s a fairly straightforward process, and we’ll walk you through it.

First Time Texas Vehicle Registration

New Texas residents have 30 days from the day they formally arrive to register their vehicles. It’s important to know that vehicle registrations are handled by the Texas DMV; Texas driver licenses are actually handled by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

To register a car in Texas, the first thing you’ll need to do is get a certified vehicle inspection. You can do that by taking the vehicle to an approved Texas DPS inspection station, and you can find one by using the Texas DPS Vehicle Inspection Station webpage. Next, you’ll need to make sure that you have proof of insurance and proof of ownership for each of your vehicles. Texas does have an auto insurance requirement; the state requires you to have coverage for a minimum of $30,000 per injured person, up to a total of $60,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage. While you’re not required to title your vehicle in Texas, if you hold the title you’ll need to download and complete a copy of Form 130-U. If you don’t have your title because the vehicle is under a lien, you’ll need to download and complete Form VTR-272. Both of these forms are found on the Texas DMV “New to Texas” webpage. Once you have all of the required info and forms, you can head to your local county tax office to pay for your registration and get your new plates and tags.

Renewing Your Texas Car Registration

Renewing your Texas registration is a simple process. Once you’ve received your renewal registration notice, you’ll need to make sure that your vehicle has a current passing inspection. If you’re not sure when you need to get your vehicle inspected, visit the Texas Vehicle Inspection website. There you’ll be able to determine when your vehicle was last inspected, and when you’ll need to have it inspected again.

You can register your vehicle online at the Texas DMV website; you can also register it in person or by mail. Mail-in registration instructions will be found on your registration renewal notice. If you haven’t received that notice, you can still register in person at your county tax office. Remember that your registration sticker expires on the last day of the month shown on that sticker, so make sure you plan accordingly!

A bonded title is a regular title that is marked “bonded”. Maybe you have heard of a salvage title or a rebuilt title? Those are titles that have a title brand. A bonded title is just a title with a “bonded” brand. It implies there is a surety bond attached to the title.

The “bonded” brand can be removed from the title in 3-5 years, and you can go apply for a clean title. To get a bonded title, your local DMV will require you to purchase a Lost Title Bond (surety bond) as a form of insurance for them and any previous owners of the vehicle.

To register a car without a title, ask the previous owner to to fill out the transfer of ownership paperwork so that you can be issued a new title. If you’re unable get in touch in the owner, or the title is lost or stolen, apply for a bonded title with your Secretary of State office. Then, visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles office to complete the registration. However, make sure to call or check the DMV website ahead of time to ensure that you bring the proper documentation For more advice, including how to purchase a surety bond before applying for a bonded title, keep reading.

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If you receive incomplete or incorrect evidence of ownership or have lost the evidence of ownership and cannot contact the seller for the necessary documentation, you may have the option of using the bonded title procedure to transfer ownership. Here are the steps to do so.

• 1- Determine Your Eligibility
• 2- Purchase a Surety Bond
• 3- Apply for a Bonded Title

In order to qualify, you must be:

• A Texas resident, or
• Military personnel stationed in Texas.

The vehicle must be in your possession and cannot be considered junked, nonrepairable, or otherwise ineligible for a title. Although not required to be operational, it must be a complete vehicle including a frame, body and motor or if a motorcycle, a frame and motor.

If you meet the above eligibility requirements you may take or mail the following documents and a $15.00 administrative fee (TxDMV accepts cash, checks, and money orders as payment) to the nearest TxDMV Regional Service Center:

Documents

• Bonded Title Application (Form VTR-130-SOF)
• Any supporting evidence of ownership (Bill of Sale, Invoice, Cancelled Check, etc.)
• Acceptable photo ID

Out of State Vehicles

If the applicant is a Texas resident, but the evidence indicates that the vehicle is an out of state vehicle, the vehicle identification number must be verified by a Texas certified Safety Inspection Station (Vehicle Inspection Report).

Additionally, if the vehicle has never been titled or registered in Texas then a vehicle identification number inspection is required from an auto theft investigator on the Law Enforcement Identification Number Inspection (Form VTR-68-A). Inquire with local law enforcement agencies such as the police department or sheriff’s office to determine when and where your local law enforcement offers these inspections. These inspections are not offered by the TxDMV. Upon completion of the inspection, the inspecting officer will provide you with a Form VTR-68-A.

Upon Approval

If your documents are approved, you will be issued a Notice of Determination for a Bonded Title or Tax Assessor-Collector Hearing (Form VTR-130-ND) stating the amount of the bond you must purchase. The amount is equal to 1 ½ times the value of the vehicle. The department will determine the value of the vehicle using:

• The Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) from our web site as the primary source
• If an SPV is not available, the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) reference guide will be used, or
• If a value is not available either through SPV or NADA, a licensed motor vehicle dealer or insurance adjuster may appraise the vehicle on form Motor Vehicle Appraisal for Tax Collector Hearing / Bonded Title (Form VTR-125) provided by TxDMV.

Note: For appraisals under $4,000 on vehicles 25 years old or older, the value will be set at $4,000.

Take the Notice of Determination for a Bonded Title or Tax Assessor-Collector Hearing (Form VTR-130-ND) and other documents given to you by the TxDMV Regional Service Center to an auto insurance agency or any agency that is licensed to sell vehicle Surety Bonds in Texas.

You have one year from the date of the notice to purchase a Surety Bond in the amount shown on the notice, otherwise a new notice and bond will be required.

Note: If records indicate that the vehicle has a lien that is less than 10 years old, the surety bonding company is responsible for ensuring that the lien has been satisfied or released.

3- Apply for a Bonded Title

Within 30 days of purchasing the surety bond, take the original Notice of Determination for a Bonded Title or Tax Assessor-Collector Hearing (Form VTR-130-ND) given to you by the Regional Service Center and the documents listed in Step 1, to your county tax office, in addition to:

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