Montana requires a $50,000 bond from anyone licensed as a motor vehicle dealer, broker, wholesaler, or auto auction. Ours is $1,500 flat — 3% of the bond amount, identical for every dealer. One soft credit pull, e-signed in 1–2 business days.
















Your dealer license is waiting on this bond. Here is 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 dealer license application. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the state insists.
$50,000 bond × 3% = $1,500, one-time per term. Fixed amount, fixed price, multi-year if you want it. The dealer bond renews annually with your license.
Montana licenses motor vehicle dealers through the Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division, and conditions the license on a $50,000 surety bond under MCA 61-4-101. The bond is a consumer-and-public-protection guarantee: it stands behind your compliance with Montana motor vehicle sales law, including clear title and honest handling of customers’ money.
It is a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety, and the State of Montana together with harmed buyers (the protected parties). If a dealer fails to deliver clear title, misapplies a buyer’s funds, or otherwise violates dealer law, the harmed party can recover against the bond.
The same statute sets reduced amounts for narrower license types — $15,000 for motorcycle/quadricycle dealers and $5,000 for motorboat, watercraft, snowmobile, and off-highway-vehicle dealers. The full $50,000 applies to general dealers, brokers, wholesalers, and auto auctions. If the surety pays a claim, 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.
$1,500 flat, five-minute application, e-signed bond in 1–2 business days. Free until issued.