Georgia Title Bond

A Georgia title bond is an effective mechanism for clearing a questionable or defective motor vehicle title. Georgia Code (§40-3-28) specifically authorizes the surety bond option so long as the motor vehicle and applicant meet certain criteria. Per the Department of Motor Vehicles an applicant may obtain a title by bonding if the following criteria are met:

• The owner must be a legal resident of Georgia
• The vehicle must require a Georgia title
• Cannot be a 1985 or older year model vehicle
• Cannot be an abandoned vehicle

"If the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent is not satisfied as to the ownership of the vehicle or that there are no undisclosed security interests in it, the commissioner or authorized county tag agent may register the vehicle, . . . [by requiring] the applicant to file with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or authorized county tag agent a surety bond in the form prescribed by the Commissioner and issued by a bonding, surety, or insurance company licensed to do business in Georgia." The Georgia title bond must be in an amount equal to TWICE THE AVERAGE RETAIL VALUE of the vehicle as determined by the Commissioner or authorized county tag agent. In no even may the surety bond be in an amount less than five thousand dollars ($5,000). The Commissioner enjoys a direct right of action to recover on the surety bond for any breach of its conditions, which must continue in full force and effect for four years from issue. Concurrent with filing of the bond with a local tag office, an applicant must submit the following items:

• Completed and signed Form MV-1 Title/Tag Application.
• Completed and signed Form MV-46A Certificate of Title Bond Affidavit.
  • Must be completed in the same name as the name shown on Form MV-46 Certificate of Title Bond.
  • The signature on this form must be notarized.
• Completed and signed Form T-22B Certification of Inspection.
  • If the Form T-22B Certificate of Inspection indicates that the serial plate is missing, a Form T-128 Missing Serial Plate Affidavit is required.
• A report from National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) or an equivalent system authorized by the Department.
  • If the report indicates the title of record is from a jurisdiction other than Georgia, the application for a Georgia Certificate of Title must be accompanied by a certified title history from the state of issuance.
  • If the Georgia or other state certified title history indicates a security interest or lien, a notice of release of a security interest or lien (Form T-4 Notice of Satisfaction of Security Interest or Lien Holder Affidavit) must be included.
• Any available ownership papers (e.g., Title, Bill of Sale, Lien Release, etc)

The title fee is currently eighteen dollars which must be paid at application filing. The surety bond must be filed no more than six months from its date of issue. Looking for a local tag office? Use the convenient search engine here.

As part of the certificate of title bond underwriting process we must request some evidence that the applicant legally possesses the motor vehicle. Examples of "ownership evidence" can be a bill of sale, power of attorney, receipt, canceled check or money order, temporary registration/maker, affidavit of legal possession or endorsed copy of at title. Need a bill of sale format? See "What We Need From You" on this page for a template.

Georgia surety bond leader, Surety One, Inc. is a specialist in the bonding needs of motor vehicle dealers and private parties with a title bond need.. We offer same-day quoting and issue of vehicle title bonds. Questions about this surety bond? Call us at (800) 373-2804, email us at Underwriting@SuretyOne.com or click here for live chat about your Georgia title bond requirement.

Surety bond application review and quoting are free of charge. There is no obligation to purchase.

What We Need From You