How to get a rebuilt bug titled?

[Cantbecivil]

So now that I'm getting into the rebuild I've been thinking about taking it out on the road. Which means I'll need to get it tagged. Since all I have is a bill sale, how can I flip that into a nice shiny legal Texas DPS Registration. Has anyone else gone through this?

[conradk]

If you think that the original owner is no longer around, then it is just a matter of filling out the paper work and snail mailing the previous owners address (certified). When it comes back as undeliverable, or nobody shows up to claim, then you go down to the courthouse and get your title. If you think there is some risk there, then you can also get a bonded title through your insurance carrier, but that's a pain if you plan on selling it anytime soon.

I bought a '65 Mustang in '82 (which my mom now owns) and only last year got the title for it... The previous owner was long gone - and so was his house, which is now part of a subdivision.