State by State Surety Bond Requirements
All 50 states requirement motor vehicle dealers to post a motor vehicle dealer bond. While some states only require the bond for the first 3 years of operation, most require a motor vehicle dealer to be continuously bonded. Below is a state by state motor vehicle dealer bonding guide.
Alabama Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Alabama (Alabama Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division) requires used car dealers to file a $10,000 surety bond and new car dealers to file a $25,000 surety bond.
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Alaska Motor Vehicle Dealer Buyer’s Agent Surety Bond
The State of Alaska (Alaska Commissioner of Administration) requires dealers that only sell motorcycles to file a $25,000 surety bond, while all other vehicle dealers must file a $50,000 surety bond.
Arizona Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond
The State of Arizona (Arizona Department of Transportation) requires a minimum bond amount of $100,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Arkansas Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Arkansas (Arkansas Department of State Police) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
California Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond
The State of California (California Department of Motor Vehicles) requires motorcycle dealers, motorcycle lessor-retailers, ATV dealers, and wholesale-only dealers that sell less than 25 vehicles per year to file a $10,000 surety. All other commercial vehicle dealers must file a $50,000 bond.
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Colorado Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Colorado (Colorado Motor Vehicle Dealer Board) requires a minimum bond amount of $50,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Connecticut Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond
The State of Connecticut (Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles) requires motor vehicle repairers to file a $5,000 bond, motor vehicle leasing/renting companies to file a $10,000 bond, and auto dealers to file a $50,000 bond.
Delaware Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Delaware (Delaware Division of Revenue) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Florida Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond
The State of Florida (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
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Georgia Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Georgia (State Board of Registration-Used Motor Vehicle Dealers Division) requires a minimum bond amount of $35,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Hawaii Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Hawaii (Motor Vehicle Industry Board Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs PVL Licensing Branch) requires motorcycle/scooter dealers to file a bond amount of $10,000, new motor vehicle dealers to file a bond amount of $50,000-$200,000, and used motor vehicle dealers to file a bond amount of $25,000-$100,000.
Idaho Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Idaho (Idaho Transportation Department) requires dealers that sell motorcycles, ATVs, or snowmobiles to file a $10,000 bond, while wholesale dealers must post a $40,000 bond. Sellers of all other types of vehicles require a $20,000 bond.
Illinois Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Illinois (Illinois Secretary of State) requires a dealer that sells more than five vehicles during one calendar year to file a bond with a minimum amount of $20,000.
Indiana Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Indiana (Indiana Secretary of State) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
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Iowa Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Iowa requires (Iowa Department of Transportation) requires a minimum bond amount of $75,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Kansas Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Kansas (Kansas Department of Revenue) requires a minimum bond amount of $30,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Kentucky Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Kentucky (Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission) requires a minimum bond amount of $15,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Louisiana Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Louisiana (Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission) requires a minimum bond amount of $15,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
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Maine Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Maine (Maine Department of Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles) requires a bond amount of $5,000-$25,000, depending on the number of vehicles sold annually.
Maryland Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Maryland (Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration) requires a bond amount of $15,000-$300,000, depending on the number of vehicles sold annually and whether the cars are new or used.
Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Michigan Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Michigan (Michigan Secretary of State) requires a minimum bond amount of $10,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Minnesota Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Minnesota (Minnesota Department of Public Safety) requires dealers of boats, small horse trailers, mopeds, snow-mobile dealers, or any trailer carrying less than 15,000 pounds to file a $5,000 bond. All other vehicle dealers must file a $50,000 bond.
Mississippi Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Mississippi (State of Mississippi Motor Vehicle Commission) requires wholesale and used motor vehicle dealers to file a $25,000 bond. If the dealer conducts business at more than one location throughout Mississippi, a ‘blanket’ bond of $100,000 must be filed. The blanket bond covers multiple business locations instead of having to bond each location individually.
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Missouri Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Missouri (Missouri Department of Revenue) requires a minimum bond amount of $50,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Montana Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Montana (Montana Attorney General) requires dealers of boats, snowmobiles, non-street legal motorcycles or quadricycles to file a $5,000 bond. Dealers of street-legal motorcycles or quadricycles must file a $15,000 bond. All other new or used dealers must file a $50,000 bond.
Nebraska Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Nebraska (Nebraska Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board) requires a minimum bond amount of $50,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Nevada Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Nevada (Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles) requires dealers of utility trailers or boat trailers weighing 3,500 pounds or less to file a $10,000 bond. Dealers of motorcycles, horse trailers, or utility trailers weighing 3,501 pounds or more must file a bond of $50,000. All other new and used car dealers must file a $50,000 bond.
Click Here to Apply for your Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of New Hampshire (New Hampshire Department of Safety Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of New Jersey (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission) requires a minimum bond amount of $10,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
New Mexico Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of New Mexico (New Mexico Vehicle Division) requires motorcycle dealers to file a $12,500 bond, and new and used car dealers to file a $50,000 bond.
New York Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of New York (New York Commissioner of Motor Vehicles) requires new car dealers to file a $50,000 bond. Used car dealers that sell fewer than 200 vehicles annually must file a $10,000 bond, and used car dealers who sell 200 or more vehicles annually must file a $25,000 bond.
North Carolina Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of North Carolina (North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $50,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Click Here to Apply for your Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
North Dakota Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of North Dakota (North Dakota Department of Transportation) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
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Ohio Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Ohio (Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $20,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Oklahoma (Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle and Parts Commission for Used Cars or Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission for New Cars) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Oregon Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond
The State of Oregon (Oregon Department of Transportation) requires a minimum bond amount of $2,000 for motorcycle, moped, and all-terrain vehicle dealers, and a bond amount of $40,000 for all other motor and recreational vehicle dealers.
CHANGE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2018
The governor signed SB 974 into law, with an effective date of January 1, 2018. The bill amends ORS 822.020 and 822.030. Here are the highlights:
- Raises the bond amount from $40,000 to $50,000 (applies to new dealer certificates issued on or after January 1, 2018);
- Decreases the amount a non-retail claimant can recover to $10,000;
- For dealers dealing exclusively in motorcycles, mopeds, Class I all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles, the bond is increased to $10,000 but only retail customers can bring a claim against the bond.
Click Here to Apply for your Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond
The State of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) requires a minimum bond amount of $20,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Rhode Island (Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles-Dealers’ License and Regulations Office) requires a minimum bond amount of $50,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
South Carolina Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of South Carolina (South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles) requires all new or used dealers to file a $30,000 bond and wholesale auctioneers, travel trailers and motorcycle dealers to file a $15,000 bond.
South Dakota Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of South Dakota (South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation’s Division of Motor Vehicles) requires motorcycle and snowmobile dealers to file a $5,000 bond, trailer and emergency vehicle (over 3,001 lbs) dealers to file a $10,000 bond, boat dealers to file a $20,000 bond, new and used vehicle dealers to file a $25,000 bond, and car action agencies to file a $50,000 bond.
Tennessee Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond
The State of Tennessee (Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission) requires a minimum bond amount of $20,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Texas Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Texas (Texas Department of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $20,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Click Here to Apply for your Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
Utah Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Utah (Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division) requires small trailer dealers and new or used car dealers to file a $75,000 bond, and motorcycle and small trailer dealers to post a $10,000 surety bond.
Vermont Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Vermont (Vermont Commissioner of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $20,000 and a maximum amount of $35,000, depending on how many vehicles are sold annually.
Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Virginia (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $50,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Washington Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Washington (Washington State Department of Licensing) requires vehicle wreckers to file a $1,000 bond, dealers who sell 15 vessels per year valued greater than $2,000 to file a $5,000 bond, tow truck operator dealers to file a $5,000 bond, dealers of manufactured travel trailers to file a $20,000 bond, and dealers of manufactured mobile homes to file a $40,000 bond.
West Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of West Virginia (West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles) requires a minimum bond amount of $25,000 for all motor vehicle dealers.
Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Department of Transportation) requires motor vehicle dealers to file a surety bond. The minimum bond amount varies.
Wyoming Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The State of Wyoming (Motor Vehicle Services Division of the Wyoming Department of Transportation) requires motor vehicle dealers to file a $25,000 bond.
Apply for Your Bond
Surety1 provides all bonds for business, licensing, construction, permit, and court purposes. To get started, apply online for the bond that you need.
1. Complete an online application.
2. One of our surety experts will call and email you with the firm quote and an agreement to sign.
3. Provide payment and your signed agreement, then you will receive your bond!
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