North Carolina Vehicle Indemnity Bond (North Carolina Title Bond)

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Bond Penalty: One and one half times the vehicle value

A North Carolina indemnity bond, or title bond is a mechanism available to motor vehicle and mobile home owners that have lost a title or possess a defective title. Not all vehicles are "bondable". Per the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the indemnity bond options is not available to the following:

  • Abandoned vehicles.
  • Vehicles carrying mechanics and/or storage liens.
  • Outstanding liens for which cancellations cannot be issued.
  • If litigation is pending regarding the ownership of the vehicle.
  • Vehicles not domiciled in North Carolina.
  • The applicant is a non-resident and the vehicle has not been previously registered in North Carolina.

If none of the preceding apply, then application for registration with a North Carolina title bond can be filed. The surety bond must be written by an insurance company licensed to do business in the state and be equal to no less than one and one half times the vehicle's value. To determine the vehicle value for purposes of bonding you may visit any local title and registration office or call (919) 715-7000. A preliminary value may be obtained from Kelly Blue Book. The title bond must be valid for no less than three years. There are specific inspection and paperwork requirements which you must accomplish in order to file the surety bond. You can review them 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.

North Carolina surety bond leader, Surety One, Inc. is a specialist in the bonding needs of the motor vehicle industry. 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 North Carolina indemnity bond need.

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