Who requires it
Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
License & permit · District of Columbia
District of Columbia Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
Every person licensed as a motor vehicle dealer in the District of Columbia must keep a surety bond of at least twenty-five thousand dollars. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) receives the official Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond for the two-year license period.
Common bond amount
$25,000
Statutory minimum under § 50-603(b)(2); DLCP form uses $25,000 for the two-year term.
How you file
File the DLCP Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond form, or post a cash bond
Renewal
Maintain for the two-year license period; replace before cancellation
Who requires it
Applicants and licensees for a DLCP vehicular services motor vehicle dealer license under D.C. Code § 50-603. DLCP also lists a separate used-car-lot credential at the same $25,000 amount. Confirm which license class applies before ordering.
How much is required
Section 50-603(b)(2) sets a statutory floor of twenty-five thousand dollars for motor vehicle dealers. The DLCP dealer bond form and Surety Bond Details page use that $25,000 amount for the license term ending not more than two years from the bond’s effective date. Applicants may post a cash bond with DLCP instead of a surety bond.
How to get and file it
Have an authorized surety complete the DLCP Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond for $25,000 in the exact business name and location on the license application, then file the original with DLCP or post the cash alternative the Department accepts. Keep the bond in force for the full two-year license period. Replace it before cancellation so the dealer license does not lapse for lack of security. Update the bond when the licensed business name or address changes.
Cost note
Twenty-five thousand dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $25,000 surety bond (or DLCP cash alternative)
- Authority
- D.C. Code § 50-603; 16 DCMR § 300 et seq.
- Term
- Covers the license year ending not more than two years from the effective date
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Is a used car lot the same as a motor vehicle dealer bond?
DLCP publishes a Used Car Lot Bond at the same $25,000 amount on a separate license class. Use the bond form and application path that match the credential you are seeking.
Who can sue on the bond?
Section 50-603 lets a person harmed by the dealer’s licensed activity recover from the bond company, alone or together with the dealer, up to the remaining bond amount.
Related District of Columbia bond guides
Home Improvement Contractor Bond
$25,000
Home improvement contractors licensed by the District of Columbia must file a twenty-five-thousand-dollar surety bond—or an accepted cash or securities substitute—with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The bond covers the two-year Contractor and Construction Services license period.
Industrial Trades Contractor Bond
$1,000–$5,000
District electrical, plumbing/gasfitting, and refrigeration/air-conditioning contractors licensed through the Board of Industrial Trades must post surety bonds for the company and—except for elevator work—a designated master. Amounts and expiration dates follow the Board’s published trade schedule.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a District of Columbia application
District of Columbia will be preselected. Choose your bond type in the application—we confirm the correct product against your agency form before anything is issued.
Last verified 2026-08-11. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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