Bonded Title in Washington State: How to Get One [2026]
A bonded title in Washington is a title you get by posting a surety bond worth 1.5 times the vehicle's value when you cannot prove ownership. It carries a BONDED designation for three years. You can often choose registration without a title instead, which needs no bond.
What a Bonded Title Is
A bonded title is how Washington lets you obtain a title when you cannot prove you own a vehicle in the usual way. Instead of a signed title from the previous owner, you post a surety bond. The bond protects any previous owner, secured party or future purchaser from loss if someone else turns out to have a better claim to the vehicle. The title is issued with a BONDED designation that stays for three years (RCW 46.12.680).
When Washington Treats Ownership as In Doubt
The DOL can register a vehicle and withhold the title when it is not satisfied with the ownership, or when it cannot confirm there are no undisclosed security interests. In practice, this tends to happen when:
- you bought a vehicle and never received a signed title;
- the seller cannot be found, or the title was never transferred;
- a previous owner or a lienholder cannot provide the releases you need.
If instead the title was issued in your name and you lost it, you probably need a duplicate rather than a bond. See how to get a duplicate title in Washington.
Your Three Options
| Option | What you get | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Registration without title | Plates and registration in your name, no title for three years | No bond needed |
| Bonded title | Plates, registration and a title with a BONDED designation | Bond equal to 1.5 times the vehicle's value; required for a Washington dealer or when the record shows a lien |
| Court judgment | A court order awarding you ownership of the vehicle | You petition a district or superior court |
The rules come from RCW 46.12.680 and WAC 308-56A-210. Check them and dol.wa.gov before you apply, since forms and fees change.
How the Bond Amount Works
The bond must be one and one-half times the value of the vehicle, in a form the DOL approves. For example, if the DOL values a vehicle at $2,000, the bond amount is $3,000. That is the amount of coverage, not what you pay. A bonding company charges a premium, and you can ask a bonding agent for a quote.
The DOL sets the value using its automated valuing system, a published appraisal guide, or an appraisal from a licensed dealer or appraisal company.
Step by Step: Getting a Bonded Title
Confirm you cannot get the title the usual way
Contact the previous owner, check for a lien, and see whether a duplicate title is possible. If you were the titled owner, a duplicate is simpler than a bond.
Decide between registration without title and a bonded title
Registration without title lasts three years and needs no bond. A bonded title gives you a title with a BONDED designation. A bond is required if the applicant is a Washington dealer or the record shows a lien.
Get a WSP inspection or an exemption
The DOL requires a Washington State Patrol inspection, with limited exemptions. If your vehicle is exempt, you provide an exemption affidavit instead.
Complete the affidavit
Use the Bonded Title or Three-Year Registration Without Title Affidavit. Everyone who will appear as a registered owner must sign it.
Get the bond, if you chose a bonded title
The bond must be one and one-half times the vehicle's value, in a form the DOL approves. Value comes from the DOL's valuing system, a published guide, or an appraisal.
Submit your documents to the DOL
Send the affidavit, the title application, the inspection or exemption and the bond. Check dol.wa.gov for current fees and forms.
After three years, you apply for a certificate of title, and the new title does not reference the bond.
Is It Worth It for an Older Car?
Add up the DOL fees, the Washington State Patrol inspection and the bond premium, then compare the total with what the vehicle is worth. For an older, high-mileage car that may be a close call. In our recent Washington purchases, older cars with 178,000 to 350,000 miles sold for $200 to $280 (see what we actually paid for high-mileage cars). If the car is that valuable to you, a bonded title may be worth it. If it is worth very little, you may want to weigh the cost carefully.
Selling After You Have a Bonded Title
To sell any vehicle you need a valid title in your name, signed over to the buyer. See how to sell a car without a title in Washington for the full picture and the bill of sale guide for the paperwork at the sale.
TOWWO buys vehicles with a clean, salvage or rebuilt title in hand. No title means we cannot complete the purchase. If you hold a bonded title, call us at (425) 800-6828 to ask whether we can buy the vehicle before you request an offer.
Have Your Title in Hand?
Get a cash offer from TOWWO in about 60 seconds. Free towing on completed purchases, paid at pickup, running or not.
Get My Offer →Questions about your title? Call (425) 800-6828.