Registration and Title Bulletin #010-07

These documents contain text of correspondence sent by TxDOT to the county tax assessor-collectors, statutory agents who provide vehicle registration and titling services for citizens in Texas. This information is provided to apprise the general public of issues affecting the state’s vehicle titling and registration process.

PURPOSE
This is to inform you that bonded title procedures have been amended to facilitate the appraisal requirements.

DETAILS
Previous bonded title procedures required a Regional Office to determine the appraised value by using the highest value recorded in a motor vehicle value guide or by an online service. If a value could not be determined, customers were required to obtain two appraisals and the highest value would then be used.

With the new changes, we will no longer require two appraisals, use the highest value to determine the vehicle value, or require a rejection sheet to be submitted with the bonded title paperwork. The amended procedures are:

• Only one appraisal will be required;
• Average Retail Value will be used to determine the vehicle value;
• Licensed insurance adjuster or licensed motor vehicle dealer must complete appraisals; and
• Reason(s) for rejection will be incorporated into the rejection letter prepared by the regions and the Form 36 Rejection List will be eliminated.

Customers who dispute a determined vehicle value may obtain an appraisal from a licensed insurance adjuster or motor vehicle dealer. The appraisal must contain the: Year Model, Make, Body Style, Vehicle Identification Number, Licensed Motor Vehicle Dealer or Licensed Insurance Adjuster Name and Business License Number, Complete Business Address (including city, state, and zip code), Business Telephone Number (including area code), Printed Name of Appraiser, Signature of Appraiser, and Appraisal amount.

The department will not provide appraisal forms; however, a sample of an acceptable form with required information is attached. Copies of the sample appraisal form may be provided to requestors.

COUNTY ACTION
Verify submitted appraisals are completed in full and include all required information.

CONTACT
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact your local Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Regional Office.

In some cases the Registration and Title Bulletins (RTB) contain attachments. If you require a copy of the original signed RTB and the attachments, please e-mail us and include the RTB number. Repeat requests are subject to charges in accordance with Open Record policies. A subscription service is also available for an annual fee of $250. Subscribers will automatically receive all RTB mailings as they are issued.