Illinois Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond

Motor vehicle dealers are required to post a Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond as part of the process to license the dealership. The amount of the bond depends on what type of vehicles are to be sold, the amount of vehicles you plan to sell, and other factors. Read our Car Dealer License Guide to learn more about how to get your dealership licensed and bonded.

Surety Bond

• Required by: Illinois Secretary of State
• Minimum Bond Amount: $20,000
• Maximum Bond Amount: Varies
• Valid: 1 year – Expires December 31st of each year – Renewable

The price for the bond, also known as the bond premium, is only a small fraction of the bond amount.

A dealer that sells more than 5 vehicles during one calendar year must be bonded.

This bond ensures the principal will abide by all Illinois state laws and regulations along with all laws outlined in the Illinois Vehicle Code.

The applicant should verify the bond amount with the obligee before applying for the bond to ensure the bond amount is correct.

Licensing

Surety1 is not directly involved with the licensing process, but we’ve compiled this information which may helpful for you.

State licensing fees and requirements:

• Surety bond
• Make and model of all vehicles sold
• License application
• Supporting documents for application
• Manufacturer/Distributor names
• Statement of registration approval from Department of Revenue
• $1,000 annual certificate of authority fee
• $50 certificate of authority fee for used cars
• $100 certificate of authority fee for new cars
• Proof of insurance

All licensing fees are required by the obligee, not the surety company.

For more licensing information, visit Illinois’ official page.