Lost Car Title in Texas? We Can Help You Replace Your Vehicle Title
Lost your Texas vehicle title? If the vehicle is titled in your name, you may be able to obtain a replacement title without going through the entire title transfer process again.
Houston Texans Auto Title Service helps Texas vehicle owners understand their options when a car title is lost, stolen, damaged, or unavailable.
We also help customers who have more complicated title situations, including:
Lost title with a lien
Lost title without a lien
Multiple owners listed on a title
Vehicle owner is deceased
Heirship and inherited vehicles
Missing or unavailable title documents
Other Texas vehicle title problems
If the vehicle is already titled in your name and your Texas title has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you may be able to apply for a certified copy of the title.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles uses Form VTR-34, Application for a Certified Copy of Title, for this purpose.
A certified copy of title is commonly referred to as a replacement title.
The requirements can vary depending on whether there is a lien on the vehicle, whether there are multiple owners, and whether the registered owner is living or deceased.
Lost Title With No Lien
If your vehicle is titled in your name and there is no lien recorded on the vehicle, replacing a lost Texas title is generally more straightforward.
You may need to complete the appropriate application and provide acceptable identification and other required documentation.
Your situation may look like this:
You own the vehicle → Your name is on the Texas title → No lien → Title was lost
In this situation, you generally need to request a certified copy of the title rather than obtain a bonded title.
Important
A lost title does not automatically mean you need a bonded title.
If the vehicle is already properly titled in your name, a replacement-title process may be the appropriate solution.
Lost Title With a Lien
What happens if you lost the title but the vehicle still has a lien?
This situation can be different.
A lienholder may have an interest in the vehicle and may have possession of the title or control over the title record.
Examples of lienholders include:
Banks
Credit unions
Finance companies
Other lending institutions
If the vehicle has an active lien, you may need to work with the lienholder to obtain the appropriate documentation or determine how the replacement title should be handled.
Before requesting a replacement title
Find out:
Is the lien still active?
Who is listed as the lienholder?
Has the loan been paid off?
Was a lien release issued?
If the loan was paid off but the lien has not been properly released, additional steps may be required.
Do not assume that losing the title means you need a surety title bond.
A surety title bond is generally associated with certain ownership-documentation problems—not simply losing a title that is already properly recorded in your name.
What If the Lien Has Already Been Paid Off?
If you previously financed your vehicle but have now paid off the loan, you may need to make sure the lien has been properly released.
If the lien has been released in the Texas title record, you may be able to request a replacement title.
If the lien release has not been properly documented, contact the lienholder and ask what documentation is needed.
Keep your lien-release paperwork.
It may become important when resolving your title records.
Another common question is:
“What happens if two or more people are listed on the vehicle title?”
The answer can depend on how the owners are listed and the circumstances surrounding the request.
For example, a title may list:
John Smith
Jane Smith
or
John Smith
Smith Consulting LLC
When multiple owners are on the title all owners are required to participate in the transaction or provide the appropriate documentation.
If the title is in both a companies name and an individuals name you will need two seperate signers. The individual whose name is on the title will sign and another person will need to sign on behalf of the company.
Heirship Vehicle Title: What If the Registered Owner Is Deceased?
If the person listed as the vehicle owner has died, you may be trying to figure out:
“How do I get the vehicle title in my name?”
This is different from simply replacing a lost title.
If the title is lost and the registered owner is deceased, the first issue may be establishing who has the legal authority to handle the vehicle.
Texas provides procedures for transferring ownership of a vehicle belonging to a deceased person.
Depending on the circumstances, documentation may include an Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle (Form VTR-262) and other required documents.
The appropriate process can depend on whether the deceased person had a will, whether an estate was opened, who the heirs are, and how the vehicle is titled.
If the Registered Owner Is Deceased
Do not:
Sign the deceased owner's name
Alter an old title
Use white-out
Create your own title assignment
Assume you automatically own the vehicle
Instead, determine the proper heirship or estate procedure.
Houston Bonded Title & Surety Company can help you understand what type of title service may apply to your situation.
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281-790-2933
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Houston Bonded Title & Surety Company
2855 Mangum Rd., Suite 204
Houston, TX 77092