How to Get a Bonded Title in Arizona
If you’re holding a vehicle without a clean title in Arizona, a bonded title (also called a surety bond title) is the standard legal remedy. This process lets you establish documented legal ownership even when the original title chain is incomplete, the seller is unreachable, or the title was never issued.
Our downloadable guide walks you through the entire Arizona process — every form, every fee, and every step — so you can complete it yourself without hiring an attorney.
Step-by-step PDF. Instant download. Everything you need for Arizona's bonded title process.
Get the Arizona Guide →
What You Need to Know First — Arizona
Arizona’s bonded title process is handled through the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and is one of the more streamlined in the country. Arizona allows online scheduling of VIN inspections, which speeds things up considerably.
The Arizona Bonded Title Process
File Form 96-0236 (Affidavit of Affixture is for mobile homes; standard vehicles use Form 96-0236). Arizona requires a Level 1 VIN inspection for bonded title applicants.
Required Surety Bond Amount
Arizona uses a bond formula of 1.5× the vehicle’s appraised value. Your bond premium — the amount you actually pay to a surety company — is typically 1–3% of the bond amount per year. For example, if your vehicle is valued at $10,000 and the bond requirement is 1.5× value ($15,000 bond), you’d pay approximately $150–$450 per year in bond premiums.
The guide includes a step-by-step bond amount calculation worksheet and a list of licensed surety bond companies serving Arizona.
Fees and Costs
Arizona title fees are $4 base plus a $32 title and registration service fee. Surety bond premiums vary by vehicle value.
These figures reflect the most recently published fee schedules. Our guide is updated annually each July to reflect any changes.
Timeline
Most applicants in Arizona complete the bonded title process in approximately 4–8 weeks. The guide includes a checklist and timeline tracker so you know exactly where you are in the process at every step.
What’s in the Arizona Guide?
The PDF includes four sections:
Section 1 — Overview: What a bonded title is, when you need one, and whether Arizona’s bonded title process applies to your situation.
Section 2 — Step-by-Step Process: Every action in the correct order, from gathering documentation through receiving your Arizona bonded title.
Section 3 — Checklist: A single-page checklist you can print and use to track your progress through the process.
Section 4 — Appendix: Direct links to all Arizona DMV forms, fee schedules, surety bond companies, and applicable statutes — verified and current as of the guide’s publication date.
Frequently Asked Questions — Arizona
Do I need an attorney to get a bonded title in Arizona? For most straightforward cases, no. The bonded title process is an administrative procedure designed for self-filing. The guide provides everything you need to complete the application yourself.
Can I drive the vehicle while waiting for my bonded title? In most cases, yes — with a temporary registration or under specific conditions described in Section 2 of the guide. Arizona’s specific rules on this are covered in detail.
What if someone challenges my bonded title later? The surety bond protects against this. If a prior legitimate owner files a claim during the bond period, the bonding company compensates them (up to the bond amount). Your guide explains how to build a strong documentation record that minimizes this risk.
Part of the Bonded Title DIY Guides — All 50 States series. Also available in the Mountain West Regional Bundle.