Form TR-121 at a glance
What it is: The TR-121 Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond is to title or register without a properly assigned ownership document.
Who signs: The person applying for the title or registration must sign the surety bond. If a business or organization is applying for the title or registration, a representative of the business or organization must sign the surety bond. Applicants are named as the “Principal” and must include their complete residence or business address. A representative of the insurance company or bonding agency must sign the surety bond. A duly authorized agent of the surety company must issue the bond. If the agent is a licensed nonresident agent, a licensed resident agent must countersign the bond.
Before you can title or register a titled motor vehicle, titled trailer, trailer coach, moped, watercraft, ORV, or snowmobile without a properly assigned ownership document, you must file a Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond (TR-121) with the Michigan Department of State along with your title or registration application.
What to bring and attach to Form TR-121
Proof of the bond company's authorization to issue surety bonds must accompany the surety bond. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs must license the surety company.
In addition to the TR-121 Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond, all applicants must complete a TR-205 Self-Certification of Vehicle Ownership form. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. Forms with insufficient information will not be accepted.
A filled-in Form TR-121 example: a bond for a snowmobile with no title
How to fill out Form TR-121, box by box
Type of item bonded
Type of item bonded: Vehicle, Trailer Coach, Titled Trailer, ORV, Moped, Watercraft or Snowmobile.
Information about the subject of this bond
Information about the subject of this bond: Year, Make, Body style and VIN/HIN.
The surety bond must list the complete VIN/HIN. If there is no Michigan record, a TR-54 VIN/HIN inspection must be completed by a Michigan law enforcement agency and submitted with the Surety Bond.
Principal, bond amount and surety company
Printed name of Principal and Address of Principal.
Bond amount and Bond execution date.
The bond's amount must equal twice the value of the item in question.
Printed name of Authorized Surety Company.
The signatures
Signature of principal (or authorized agent) and printed name of principal (or authorized agent).
Signature of authorized agent of surety company and printed name of authorized agent of surety company.
More rules for Form TR-121
A surety bond is issued for three years.
A registration may be purchased as part of your transaction. For vehicles, proof of Michigan no-fault insurance must be presented.
Use tax is due on 6% of the value (1/2 of the surety bond amount) or the purchase price, whichever is higher, as required by the Sales and Use Tax Act (MCL 205.179).
Because the Michigan Department of State is not satisfied as to the ownership of this vehicle/watercraft/snowmobile, the department requires the applicant to file this bond as a condition of issuing a Michigan title or registration pursuant to section 217(1) (d) of the Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300, as amended (MCL 257.217), and Sections 803 and 821 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act as amended (324.80307 and 324.82105).
Any interested party may bring an action in the party's own name to recover on this bond any damages sustained by the party for any breach of the conditions for which the bond is deposited, and may recover costs and reasonable attorney fees.
If the bonded item is no longer titled or registered in this state and the currently valid title or registration is surrendered, the latest the bond will be in effect is at the end of three years from the time it was issued, unless the department receives notification of pending action to recover on this bond.
Common questions about Form TR-121
Is there a deadline?
The effective date of the bond must be no later than the date of application for the title or registration.
Where do I file it?
Submit the TR-121 Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond, the bond company's authorization to issue surety bonds, the TR-205 Self-Certification of Vehicle Ownership form, and all other supporting documents to a secretary of state office.
Sources
[1] Form TR-121 (09/2025), Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond, Michigan Department of State (the Official source link on this page).