Massachusetts bonded title & title bond

Massachusetts Vehicle Title Bonds

Also called a motor vehicle ownership surety bond or defective title bond. In Massachusetts, get an instant estimate with one simple input—your vehicle's fair market value.

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Massachusetts (MA)

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At a glance

Massachusetts Bonded Title Key Facts

Bond amount1.5x the vehicle's value (one and one-half times the value)

Bond term3 years

Governing authorityMassachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles

Governed by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, § 12.

The basics

What Is a Bonded Title in Massachusetts?

Yes — Massachusetts issues a bonded title. A bonded title in Massachusetts is a regular certificate of title the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) issues for an “undocumented” vehicle on the strength of a surety bond. A vehicle is “undocumented” when you do not have all the papers normally needed to transfer ownership and title it — for example, the seller never gave you a title. As a condition of titling the vehicle, the RMV may require you to file a surety bond equal to one and one-half times (1.5x) the vehicle's value.

Good to know — There is no minimum vehicle value. A surety bond may be required whenever the RMV is not satisfied as to who owns the vehicle or that there are no undisclosed liens or security interests.

The bond protects any prior owner, lienholder, or later buyer if someone else turns out to have a claim on the vehicle. You file it together with your title application — it does not replace the application.

Massachusetts sets the bond at 1.5 times your vehicle's value, using the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) clean trade-in value. The bond stays in effect for three years; after that, if no one has made a valid claim, the bond ends.

Titling an undocumented vehicle is at the RMV's discretion. The RMV decides whether to title the vehicle and whether a bond is required, based on the proof of ownership you can provide.

Eligibility

Do You Qualify for a Massachusetts Bonded Title?

You may qualify when all of the following are true.

You cannot provide all the documents normally required to transfer ownership and title the vehicle (for example, the title was never assigned to you).
You can show how you got the vehicle — for example, a bill of sale, canceled checks, or a prior registration.
You can provide a notarized affidavit describing the vehicle's history as you know it, including its model year, make, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
The bond is issued by a company licensed to write surety bonds in Massachusetts.

Step by step

How to Get a Bonded Title in Massachusetts: Step by Step

Confirm you need a bonded title

Massachusetts uses a surety bond when a vehicle is “undocumented” — you do not have the documents normally required to transfer ownership and title it. If you can produce the normal proof of ownership instead, you do not need a bond.

Tip: Titling an undocumented vehicle is at the RMV’s discretion, so gather as much proof of ownership as you can.

Gather your proof and write a notarized affidavit

Put together any proof of how you got the vehicle — a bill of sale, canceled checks, or a prior registration — and write a notarized affidavit attesting to the vehicle's complete history as you know it, including its model year, make, and VIN.

Tip: The affidavit must be notarized; bring valid photo ID to the notary.

Get the RMV’s approval and your bond amount

Submit your affidavit and proof of ownership to the RMV. If the RMV approves bonding, it sets your bond amount at one and one-half times (1.5x) the vehicle's value, using the NADA clean trade-in value. Enter your value in the calculator above to estimate your premium.

Tip: Get the value right — your bond amount is based on the NADA clean trade-in value.

Buy your surety bond

Buy a surety bond equal to the amount the RMV set (1.5x the vehicle’s value) from a company licensed to write surety bonds in Massachusetts. Once issued, the bond stays in effect for three years.

Tip: The bond must come from a surety company licensed in Massachusetts.

Complete the Registration and Title Application (RTA)

Fill out the RMV’s Registration and Title Application (RTA), which is the combined title and registration form. The RMV may also ask for a VIN verification on the Proof of Visual Inspection form.

Registration and Title Application

Tip: Print the form on white 8½" x 11" paper; the RMV will not accept colored paper, card stock, white-outs, or alterations.

File your application and bond with the RMV

Submit the completed RTA, the executed surety bond, your notarized affidavit, and your proof of ownership. You can start online at Mass.gov/RMV and finish at an RMV Service Center, or mail your title application to the RMV Title Division, P.O. Box 55885, Boston, MA 02205-5885, with a check or money order payable to MassDOT.

Tip: The title is generally processed and mailed in about 6 to 8 weeks.

Paperwork

Massachusetts Title Bond Documents

Registration and Title Application

The RMV’s combined title and registration application (replaces the former RMV-1 and RMV-3).

View form

Certificate of title surety bond

The surety bond itself, executed by a licensed surety company in the form the Registrar prescribes (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, § 12). Massachusetts does not publish a numbered RMV bond form for this.

Proof of Visual Inspection (VIN)

Used to verify the vehicle’s VIN. The RMV may require a VIN verification when a vehicle lacks standard documentation.

View form

You'll also need

A notarized affidavit attesting to the vehicle's complete history as known, including its model year, make, and VIN

Proof of how you acquired the vehicle, such as a bill of sale, canceled checks, or a prior registration

The executed surety bond equal to 1.5x the vehicle's NADA clean trade-in value

Government-issued photo ID

A completed VIN verification (Proof of Visual Inspection) if the RMV requires one

Cost

How Massachusetts Title Bond Pricing Works

You do not pay the full bond amount. In Massachusetts the surety bond must equal one and one-half times (1.5x) your vehicle's value, which the RMV sets from the NADA clean trade-in value. You pay a premium, which is a smaller percentage of that bond amount.

Your premium depends on the bond amount and underwriting. Use the calculator above for an estimate; your final premium may vary. The $75 certificate of title fee, any registration fee, and sales tax are state charges, separate from the surety bond premium.

Worked example

If your vehicle's NADA clean trade-in value is $8,000, the bond amount is 1.5x that, or $12,000. You pay only the premium on the $12,000 bond, not the full $12,000.

Get help

Filing Information

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles

857-368-8000

Websitewww.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-registry-of-motor-vehicles

Where to fileStart your title application online at Mass.gov/RMV, then bring your supporting documents — including the executed surety bond, your notarized affidavit, and proof of how you got the vehicle — to an RMV Service Center. Title applications sent by mail go to the RMV Title Division, P.O. Box 55885, Boston, MA 02205-5885.

Find a Filing Officewww.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-registry-of-motor-vehicles/locations

FAQ

Massachusetts Bonded Title FAQ

Does Massachusetts issue a bonded title?

Yes. The RMV issues a certificate of title for an “undocumented” vehicle backed by a surety bond under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, § 12 when it is not satisfied as to who owns the vehicle or that there are no undisclosed liens.

How much is a Massachusetts title bond?

The bond amount equals one and one-half times (1.5x) your vehicle's value, set from the NADA clean trade-in value. You pay a premium — a percentage of that amount — not the full bond amount. Use the calculator above to estimate it.

How is my vehicle’s value determined in Massachusetts?

The RMV uses the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) clean trade-in value of the vehicle, then sets the bond at one and one-half times that value.

How long does a Massachusetts title bond last?

Three years. Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, § 12, the bond and any deposit are returned at the end of three years, or earlier if the vehicle is no longer registered in the Commonwealth and the title is surrendered to the registrar.

What is an “undocumented” vehicle in Massachusetts?

A vehicle is undocumented when you do not have all the documents required to transfer ownership and apply for a certificate of title. The RMV can title an undocumented vehicle at its discretion and may require a surety bond.

Where do I file my Massachusetts bonded title paperwork?

Start online at Mass.gov/RMV and finish at an RMV Service Center, or mail your title application to the RMV Title Division, P.O. Box 55885, Boston, MA 02205-5885, with a check or money order payable to MassDOT. Call 857-368-8000 with questions.

What does it cost to apply for the title?

The certificate of title fee is $75. A separate registration fee and 6.25% sales tax may also apply. These state fees are separate from the surety bond premium.

Sources

Mass RMV — Title types and definitions (undocumented vehicle; bond equal to 1.5x the NADA clean trade-in value; notarized affidavit)Mass RMV — Apply for a certificate of title (apply online, then visit a Service Center; title mailed in about 6 to 8 weeks; Title Division mailing address)Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, § 12 (Withholding of certificate; bond — one and one-half times the value; three-year term)Mass RMV — Registry of Motor Vehicles Fees ($75 certificate of title fee)Mass RMV — Registration and Title Application (RTA) form Mass RMV — Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (agency contact, phone 857-368-8000, Service Center locations)

Last verified 2026-06-23. Requirements change — confirm current details with Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles before you file. This page is informational and not legal advice.

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VehicleTitleBond.com is operated by Insurance Services by Shield, a California and Texas licensed insurance agency (CA License #6018195, TX License #3446536). Insurance Services by Shield is not an insurance carrier and does not underwrite bonds or insurance policies. Bond and coverage availability, pricing, and issuance are subject to carrier underwriting approval, eligibility, applicable state requirements, and policy or bond terms. Availability varies by state.