The State of Illinois may require a bond to obtain a title for a vehicle when the applicant is unable to provide a properly assigned Certificate of Title or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO).
The state will not accept a bond to obtain a title on abandoned vehicles, repossessions, mechanics liens or estates, or to remove a lienholder. If the last title for the vehicle shows a lien, you must get a lien release before moving forward.
How to register a bonded title in Illinois
Step 1: You will need evidence of ownership, such as a bill of sale or canceled check. If you do not have evidence of ownership, a notarized statement explaining how you came into possession of the vehicle is required. You can find the Statement of Ownership form (VSD 895) online, https://ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/vsd895.pdf.
Step 2: A written appraisal of the current wholesale value of the vehicle from a licensed new or used vehicle dealer. You can also obtain an appraisal from a used vehicle price guide. You will need copies of the front cover and pertinent pages of the guide.An Affirmation of Appraisal form (VSD 896) must be used for the Appraisal. You can find this form online, https://ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/vsd896.pdf.
Step 3: Enter an application for the bond. You will enter the value of the vehicle per the appraisal you obtained. The system will calculate the bond amount to be 1.5 times the value.
Step 4: Fill out an electronic Registration and Title Application through the state, https://ilsos.gov/departments/vehicles/title_and_registration/pert.html. You can print this application once you have filled it out online. You will also need a completed Motor Vehicle Use Tax Return form and tax payment to submit with all other documents. You can find this form online, https://ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/rtopr48.pdf.
For questions regarding sales tax, please contact the Illinois Department of Revenue at 217-785-6606.
Upon completion of the required items for the bond, submit all documents and payment to the following address or go to the nearest Secretary of State facility.
Secretary of State
Vehicle Titles Division
Attn: Bonded Titles
609 Howlett Building
501 S Second St.
Springfield, IL 62756-7000
You can call Vehicle Services Department with the state for any questions about obtaining a Certificate of Title by bond at 217-782-9796.
You can find more information about a bond for a title in the State of Illinois online at https://ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/rtopr26.pdf.
You’ll know if you need a surety bond because some entity will have required you to obtain one. They must also inform you of which specific bond type you’ll need. There are thousands of bonds across the country, all of which vary by state and industry.
Visit EZSuretyBonds.com to browse hundreds of bonds by state, type, or industry.
