NC motor vehicle dealer bonds.
$500 flat.

North Carolina requires every licensed motor vehicle dealer to file a $50,000 bond with the DMV. Ours is $500 flat — set by our carrier for this bond, identical for every dealer. A quick soft credit check may apply, e-signed in 1–2 business days.

Required for your NC dealer license — new applicants and renewals through the DMV License and Theft Bureau
Fixed amount, fixed price — $50,000 bond, $500, no quote theater
Soft credit pull only — never affects your score, and the price stays $500 either way
A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantissued the moment you pay1–3 yrterms available
Trusted by industry leaders
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
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.

WITHIN 48 HOURS

Reviewed & approved

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.

1–2 BUSINESS DAYS

E-sign & file with the DMV

Pay online and receive the executed bond, ready to file with your dealer license application. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the state insists.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bond actually guarantees

North Carolina licenses motor vehicle dealers through the DMV's License and Theft Bureau, and conditions the license on a $50,000 surety bond. The bond is a consumer-and-public-protection guarantee: it stands behind clear title on the vehicles you sell and your compliance with North Carolina's motor vehicle dealer laws.

It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier standing behind you, and the State of North Carolina 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. An additional $25,000 bond is generally required for each supplemental place of business — send us the locations and we will confirm the total.

G.S. 20-288 (Chapter 20, Article 12)North Carolina motor vehicle dealers are licensed by the DMV under Chapter 20, Article 12, with the bond requirement at G.S. 20-288. The bond is $50,000 for the principal place of business, with an additional $25,000 generally required for each supplemental location. Confirm your total bond requirement with the DMV License and Theft Bureau or send us your locations and we'll confirm.

You need this bond if you're

Applying for a NC dealer license — new, used, wholesale, or motorcycle
Renewing your dealer license and your current bond is expiring or non-renewing
Adding a supplemental location that the DMV ties to an additional bond filing
Moving to North Carolina 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 typically issued within 1–2 business days.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

Do I pay the $50,000?No. You pay $500 flat. The $50,000 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 North Carolina DMV's License and Theft Bureau requires it as a condition of a motor vehicle dealer license, under G.S. 20-288. 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 North Carolina 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 premium stays $500 either way: credit can affect whether we approve the bond, never what it costs.
What about additional locations?North Carolina generally requires an additional $25,000 bond for each supplemental place of business beyond the $50,000 principal bond. Send us your locations and we will confirm the total.
Related bonds

Other North Carolina bonds.

The DMV is waiting on one document.

$500 flat, short application, e-signed bond in 1–2 business days. Free until issued.

Your price$500
Apply now →