Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond Ohio — $50,000 Surety Bond Guide

What is the Ohio motor vehicle dealer bond?

Ohio Revised Code § 4517.13 requires every licensed used motor vehicle dealer, new motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, and motor vehicle auction owner in Ohio to maintain a $50,000 surety bond. The bond protects consumers (and the state) from financial loss caused by the dealer's failure to comply with Ohio's motor vehicle dealer laws — title fraud, undisclosed liens, odometer fraud, deposits not returned, etc.

The bond is filed with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Dealer Licensing Section, and is required before your dealer license is issued or renewed.

Who needs the Ohio dealer bond?

Required for:

• Used motor vehicle dealers (most common) • New motor vehicle dealers (franchised) • Motor vehicle leasing dealers • Wholesale motor vehicle dealers • Motor vehicle auction owners • Motorcycle dealers (separately bonded — see ORC § 4517.16)

If you sell more than 5 vehicles per calendar year for profit, Ohio considers you a dealer and you need both the license and the $50,000 bond.

What does the Ohio dealer bond cost?

Premium is calculated almost entirely from the personal credit of the dealer's owners. Typical Ohio annual rates:

• 700+ FICO: $250 – $500/year (0.5% – 1% of $50K) • 650 – 699 FICO: $500 – $1,000/year (1% – 2%) • 600 – 649 FICO: $1,000 – $2,500/year (2% – 5%) • Below 600: $2,500 – $5,000/year, may require partial collateral

The lowest rates come from CNA Surety, Old Republic, and Liberty Mutual Surety. We shop all three to land you the cheapest no-collateral option.

How to file the bond with Ohio BMV

1. We bind the bond same-day or next-day. 2. We mail you the original signed and sealed bond document, plus a power of attorney from the surety company. 3. You include the original bond with your Ohio BMV dealer license application (form BMV 4322 for used dealers) or renewal package. 4. Mail the package to: Ohio BMV, Dealer Licensing Section, 1970 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43223.

Processing at BMV typically takes 2–4 weeks. If you're racing a deadline, tell us — we can FedEx the bond document the same day it's signed.

Renewals & cancellations

Ohio dealer bonds renew annually with your license. If you switch surety companies mid-term, the new bond's effective date must match the cancellation date of the old bond to avoid a license lapse. If you let the bond cancel without replacement, BMV automatically suspends your license within 30 days. Re-instatement requires a new bond AND a hearing.

Get an Ohio dealer bond from Noah Insurance Agency

We write $50,000 Ohio motor vehicle dealer bonds same-day through CNA Surety and partner sureties. Located in Columbus at 6161 Busch Blvd #119 — we know the BMV Dealer Licensing Section personally and we file fast. Call 814-718-0060 or get a quote at noahia.com.