Not in Florida? Motor vehicle dealer bonds in other states

Florida motor vehicle dealer bonds.
$275 flat.

Also known as the Florida auto dealer bond or car dealer bond.

Florida requires every licensed motor vehicle dealer to file a $25,000 bond with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Ours is $275 flat — the price you see is the checkout price, identical for every dealer. A quick soft credit check may apply; the bond is issued when you pay.

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Required for your FL dealer license — new applicants and renewals through the FLHSMV

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Fixed amount, fixed price — $25,000 bond, $275, no quote theater

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A soft credit check may apply — never a hard inquiry, no impact on your score, and the price never moves

A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantissued the moment you payTo Apr 30fixed expiry date

Trusted by industry leaders

How it works

Three steps to licensed.

Your dealer license is waiting on this bond. Here's the entire process — no broker phone tag:

TODAY · ONLINE

Apply once, online

Business details, owner information, effective date. That is the application — the only extra step is a one-time consent to a soft credit pull.

RIGHT AWAY

Approved

Most are approved as soon as you apply. If a credit check runs, it is a soft pull that never affects your score. If it needs a second look, one to two business days at most.

WHEN YOU PAY

E-sign & file with the FLHSMV

Pay online and receive the executed bond ready to file with your dealer license application. Florida wants the wet-ink original signed by the principal before filing — we mail it to you.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bond actually guarantees

Florida licenses motor vehicle dealers through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), and conditions the license on a $25,000 surety bond under Fla. Stat. 320.27. The bond is a consumer-and-public-protection guarantee: it stands behind clear title on the vehicles you sell and your compliance with Florida's motor vehicle sales laws.

It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier standing behind you, and the State of Florida together with harmed buyers (the protected parties). If a dealer fails to deliver clear title, misapplies a customer's money, or otherwise violates dealer law, the harmed party can recover against the bond.

It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. Dealers who deliver clean title and keep good records treat the bond as a license formality, not a risk. The same $25,000 amount applies to new and used dealers alike.

Fla. Stat. 320.27 (FLHSMV)Florida Statutes 320.27 conditions a motor vehicle dealer license on a good and sufficient surety bond (or irrevocable letter of credit) in the sum of $25,000, filed with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for applicant-dealers of new or used motor vehicles. The bond renews on a statutory date; confirm your effective date on the application.

You need this bond if you're

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Applying for a FL dealer license — new, used, or wholesale

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Renewing your dealer license and your current bond is expiring or non-renewing

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Adding a location or license type the FLHSMV ties to a bond filing

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Moving to Florida from another state and getting licensed here

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual underwriting fields, including a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. Submit once and your bond is issued when you pay.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

Do I pay the $25,000?No. You pay $275 — the flat, one-time premium set by our carrier's rate book for this bond. The $25,000 is the surety's maximum liability to the state and harmed buyers; it's not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.

Who requires this bond?The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) requires it as a condition of a motor vehicle dealer license, under Fla. Stat. 320.27. No active bond, no license.

What does the bond guarantee?That you deliver clear title on the vehicles you sell, handle customer funds properly, and follow Florida dealer law. If you fail to and someone is harmed, they can claim against the bond — and if the surety pays, you repay the surety.

Is there a credit check?A quick soft credit check may apply — never a hard inquiry, no impact on your score. It's the only extra step beyond the application, and it informs approval, not price. The price stays $275 either way: credit can affect whether we approve the bond, never what it costs.

When does it renew?This bond is subject to statutory renewal dates — for renewals the FLHSMV wants an April 30 effective date. You'll get renewal notices 60 and 30 days before expiration, with autopay available, and the bond must stay active for your dealer license to stay valid.

Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.

How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.

Same family

Other Florida motor vehicle dealer bonds.

Not sure this is the one your license calls for? These are the other motor vehicle dealer bonds we write in Florida. Each has its own statute and bond amount.

Related bonds

Other Florida bonds.

The FLHSMV is waiting on one document.

$275 flat, short application, bond issued when you pay. Free until issued.

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Your price$275

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