SECTION 217.405. Evidence of Ownership

(a) Evidence of ownership in the name of or properly assigned to the applicant must accompany the title application submitted to the department.

(b) The evidence of ownership for a replica, custom vehicle, street rod, or glider kit built by a manufacturer must be a manufacturer's certificate of origin, indicating:

(1) the vehicle identification number assigned to the vehicle by the manufacturer;

(2) the make as ASVE, unless a glider kit;

(3) a notation the vehicle is a replica and what the vehicle is a replica of if a replica, custom vehicle, or street rod; and

(4) the municipality and state in which the vehicle was completed.

(c) The evidence of ownership for an assembled vehicle not previously titled as an assembled vehicle by the owner, or built by a hobbyist, must contain the identifying number(s) of the corresponding basic component part(s). Evidence of ownership is required for basic component parts used from a vehicle titled in the name of the applicant, depending on the year and manufacturer of the vehicle. The following evidence of ownership is required if the assembled vehicle is constructed with basic component parts from a vehicle not titled in the name of the applicant:

(1) Motor. A bill of sale is required.

(2) Frame. A bill of sale, certificate of origin, or title depending on the year and manufacturer of the frame.

(3) Body. A bill of sale, certificate of origin, or title depending on the year and manufacturer of the body.

(4) Kit. A bill of sale or certificate of origin for the kit.

(5) New fabrication. A bill of sale, invoice, or receipts covering the material used to construct the basic component part.

(d) An owner who is unable to obtain the evidence of ownership required under subsection (a) of this section may:

(1) file a bond with the department in accordance with Transportation Code §501.053, and §217.9 of this chapter (relating to Bonded Titles); and

(2) submit an application for title in the same manner as an applicant in accordance with Transportation Code Chapter 731, and this subchapter.

(e) The department will assign a number or reassign the manufacturer's vehicle identification number to an assembled vehicle based on the result of the vehicle inspection under §217.404(a)(9)(A) or (B) of this subchapter (relating to Initial Application for Title). The owner under subsection (d) of this section establishing the vehicle identification number of an assembled vehicle under §217.404(a)(9)(A) or (B) of this subchapter, may use the vehicle identification number to satisfy the vehicle identification number requirement under §217.9 of this chapter and obtain a bond under §217.9 of this chapter to be filed with the department. The bond will be evidence of ownership under subsection (a) of this section.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.405 adopted to be effective June 22, 2020, 45 TexReg 4058