Michigan conditions a driver education provider certificate on a surety bond filed with the Secretary of State under MCL 256.629. This $90,000 filing combines the $40,000 teen/adult bond (1,000+ students) with the $50,000 commercial truck bond — ours is $2,700 flat, 3% of the bond amount, with one soft credit pull.
















Your provider certificate is waiting on this bond. Here's the entire process — no broker phone tag:
Business details, owner information, effective date. That is the application — the only extra step is a one-time consent to a soft credit pull.
Most of these clear quickly; if underwriting needs anything, you hear from an underwriter within 48 hours. The credit check is a soft pull that never affects your score.
Pay online and receive the executed bond, ready to file with your driver education provider certificate application or renewal. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the state insists.
$90,000 bond × 3% = $2,700, one-time per term. Fixed amount, fixed price, multi-year if you want it.
Michigan licenses driver education providers under the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act (Act 384 of 2006), codified at MCL 256.629. Section 9 conditions a provider certificate on a surety bond filed with and approved by the Secretary of State. The bond is a student-and-public-protection guarantee: it stands behind fraud, cheating, or misrepresentation in how the provider runs its business.
The statute sets the amount by category — $20,000 for a teen/adult provider with 999 or fewer students a year, $40,000 at 1,000 or more, and $50,000 for a commercial vehicle (truck) provider. A provider certified for all three at the high-volume tier files a combined $90,000. If your category mix differs, send us your certificate types and we'll confirm the right amount.
It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the State of Michigan (the obligee), with students, financing agencies, and governmental agencies as the protected parties. The bond pays a valid claim after a court judgment, up to the bond amount — and if the surety pays, you repay the surety.
These are the actual underwriting fields, including a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. Submit once and your bond is typically issued within 1–2 business days.
Start the application →If yours isn't here, the bond team can usually answer within the hour.
$2,700 flat, five-minute application, e-signed bond in 1–2 business days. Free until issued.