Surety bonds

Surety bonds for freight brokers, auto dealers and contractors

A broker MC does not go active without a $75,000 bond or trust fund. A dealer license or a public contract often needs a bond too. We help you get the right one: many bonds can be applied for online with the surety company, and where underwriting is needed, a licensed producer handles the application. Service in Russian and English.

Request a bond Call (315) 871-0833

Who it is for

  • New freight brokers
  • Brokers switching bond providers
  • New and used car dealers
  • Home improvement contractors
  • Movers and other licensed businesses
  • Contractors bidding on public projects
  • Businesses a state or city asked for a bond

What you get

  • A BMC-84 freight broker bond for the full $75,000 FMCSA requires, filed with FMCSA by the surety company
  • An auto dealer bond in the amount your state sets for the dealer license
  • License and permit bonds for contractors, movers and other businesses licensed by a state or city
  • Bid, performance and payment bonds for contractors, after underwriting
  • A producer licensed in 22 states who explains the terms before you sign, in Russian and English

Request a bond

Tell us the bond type and your state. A licensed producer will contact you.

By sending, you agree that we may contact you about this request by phone, text or email.

Which bond you need

A bond always protects the other side: for a broker, the carriers and shippers; for a dealer, the state and the buyers; for a contractor, the project owner. The amount is set by the law or the contract, not by us.

Freight broker bond BMC-84, $75,000

FMCSA does not register a broker until a $75,000 bond or trust fund is in effect. The bond can be applied for online with the surety company, and the surety files Form BMC-84 with FMCSA electronically. The alternative is a $75,000 trust fund on Form BMC-85, where you put up the full amount yourself.

  • Amount set by 49 CFR 387.307: $75,000
  • The surety files BMC-84 with FMCSA, you do not mail anything
  • For a new broker MC or for switching from another provider
  • The authority stays active only while the bond is in effect
Request a bond

Auto dealer bond

Many states do not issue a dealer license without a bond. The amount depends on the state, and sometimes on the dealer type and sales volume: $10,000 in New Jersey, from $20,000 to $100,000 in New York.

  • For new and used car dealers, retail and wholesale
  • Made out to your exact business name and address, as the state requires
  • Bond term follows the license term where the state asks for it
  • New Jersey also asks dealers for a liability insurance certificate: mention it in the same request
Request a bond

License and permit bonds

A state, county or city may ask for a bond before it issues a license or a permit: to contractors, home improvement businesses, movers and many other trades. The bond guarantees that you follow the rules of the license and protects the public from fraud and violations.

  • Contractor and home improvement license bonds
  • Florida: a household moving broker needs a $50,000 performance bond or a certificate of deposit (Fla. Stat. 507.04)
  • The amount and the bond form come from the agency that requires it
Request a bond

Contract bonds: bid, performance, payment

For public projects and many private ones. These bonds are issued only after underwriting, so we start with a request and build the package with you.

  • Bid bond: the winning bidder signs the contract and provides the required bonds
  • Performance bond: the work gets done as the contract says
  • Payment bond: subcontractors and suppliers get paid
  • Federal construction contracts over $150,000 require performance and payment bonds (FAR 28.102-1)
  • The surety reviews your credit, financial capacity and track record
Request a bond

How it works

  1. 1

    Tell us which bond

    The bond type, your state, who requires the bond and the amount, if you already know it.

  2. 2

    Apply online or with us

    A broker bond, a dealer bond and many license bonds can be applied for online with the surety company. Contract bonds go through underwriting with a licensed producer.

  3. 3

    The bond is issued and filed

    The surety issues the bond and files a BMC-84 with FMCSA itself. A state bond you usually hand in to the agency, unless it takes the bond directly from the surety.

Bond rules in numbers

Freight broker bond amount$75,000 (49 CFR 387.307)
Who files BMC-84 with FMCSAThe surety company, electronically
Broker authority without a bondNot possible: FMCSA registers a broker only while a bond or trust fund is in effect
Alternative to the bondA $75,000 trust fund, Form BMC-85
Cancelling a broker bondOnly with 30 days' written notice to FMCSA (Form BMC-36)
Auto dealer bond, New Jersey$10,000
Auto dealer bond, New York$20,000 used or wholesale dealer with 50 or fewer sales in the prior year; $100,000 above 50; $50,000 new car dealer

Sources: 49 CFR 387.307, FMCSA, New Jersey MVC, New York DMV form VS-142. For other states and other bonds, the amount is set by the agency or the contract that requires the bond.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a freight broker bond?

The bond amount is $75,000 under 49 CFR 387.307: that is the coverage, not what you pay. The premium is set by the surety company after it reviews your application.

Is a broker bond the same as insurance for the broker?

No. The BMC-84 pays motor carriers and shippers if the broker fails to carry out its contracts; it does not protect the broker. If the surety pays a claim, it usually has the right to recover that money from you under the indemnity agreement you sign for the bond.

Can my broker MC become active without a bond?

No. FMCSA does not register a broker until a $75,000 bond or trust fund is in effect, and the registration stays in effect only as long as the bond or trust does.

What is the difference between BMC-84 and BMC-85?

BMC-84 is a surety bond: you pay a premium and the surety stands behind the $75,000. BMC-85 is a trust fund: you keep the full $75,000 with a financial institution in cash, irrevocable letters of credit or Treasury bonds.

What happens if someone files a claim against my broker bond?

Before paying a claim, the surety gives the broker 7 business days to respond. If a payment drops the bond below $75,000, the surety must notify FMCSA, and FMCSA suspends the authority unless within 7 business days of its notice you restore the bond to $75,000 or pay the pending claims without using the bond.

Can I move my broker bond to another company?

Yes. The new surety files a new BMC-84 electronically, and once FMCSA accepts it, it replaces the old filing. The old surety still answers for contracts you made before the replacement date.

How much is an auto dealer bond?

The amount depends on the state: $10,000 in New Jersey; in New York $20,000 for a used or wholesale dealer with 50 or fewer sales in the prior year, $100,000 above 50, and $50,000 for a new car dealer. New York exempts dealers that sell only trailers, motorcycles or vehicles over 10,000 pounds. What you pay for the bond is set by the surety after it reviews your application.

Do I need a contract bond for my project?

If the contract or the bid documents ask for it. Federal construction contracts over $150,000 require performance and payment bonds (FAR 28.102-1), and many state, city and private projects have their own rules.

Need a bond for a license or a contract?

Leave a request or call us. Service in Russian and English.

Request a bond Call (315) 871-0833

Surety bonds are issued by surety (insurance) companies; terms, approval and price follow the company's own rules, and you pay the premium to the company. Bonds are placed by licensed property and casualty producer Dmitry Borovoy (NPN 22313558). About the license