Kentucky · Surety Bond Resource Center

Kentucky surety bonds

Kentucky’s published statewide license bonds in this hub sit with the Motor Vehicle Commission, the Department of Financial Institutions, the Attorney General for debt adjusters, the Secretary of State for notaries, and the Department of Insurance for public adjusters. Dealer bonding under KRS 190.030(9) and 605 KAR 1:030 is conditional: applicants need at least $50,000 in unencumbered cash or inventory, and those between $50,000 and $100,000 typically post a commercial bond for the difference up to $100,000—auction dealers may face higher commission-set amounts. Mortgage loan companies post at least $250,000 and brokers at least $50,000 under KRS 286.8-060; individual mortgage loan originators use $15,000 or $20,000 by loan volume under 808 KAR 12:021. Money transmitters start at $500,000 under KRS 286.11-013, with commissioner authority up to $5,000,000. Debt adjusters register with the Attorney General and maintain a $25,000 surety or letter of credit, increased by $50,000 when adjusting residential-mortgage-secured consumer debt. Notaries file a $1,000 four-year assurance under KRS 423.390. Public adjusters maintain $50,000 of surety or letter-of-credit responsibility under KRS 304.9-430. Kentucky does not impose a statewide general-contractor or roofing license surety; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC state credentials emphasize insurance rather than a DHBC surety. Collection agencies lack a statewide license bond. Private roofing-association certification bonds and septic specialty bonds are not published here as commercial-core statewide license instruments.

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Kentucky at a glance

Motor vehicle dealer (conditional): Up to $100,000
Mortgage loan company: $250,000+
Mortgage loan broker: $50,000+
Money transmitter: $500,000–$5,000,000
Debt adjuster: $25,000 (+$50,000)
Notary public: $1,000
Public adjuster: $50,000

How it works in this state

How Kentucky bonding is organized

How Kentucky organizes these bonds

Dealer financial responsibility runs through the Motor Vehicle Commission on a conditional track: many applicants satisfy the rule with unencumbered cash or inventory, while others post a commercial bond sized to the shortfall below $100,000. Mortgage and money-transmission licenses file electronic sureties with the Department of Financial Institutions on NMLS. Debt-adjuster registration is an Attorney General consumer-protection filing with a fixed surety or letter of credit. Notary commissions come from the Secretary of State, but the $1,000 assurance is filed with the county clerk after the commission issues. Public adjusters answer to the Department of Insurance with a $50,000 surety or letter of credit.

What this hub does not treat as statewide license bonds

Kentucky has no statewide general-contractor license bond. Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction electrical, plumbing, and HVAC credentials emphasize general liability and workers’ compensation compliance rather than a statewide trade surety. There is no statewide roofing contractor license bond—private trade-association certification bonds are not state license instruments. Collection agencies are not under a statewide license-and-bond regime comparable to other states’ collector boards. Septic and other environmental specialty bonds are outside this commercial-core set. Local city or county contractor and right-of-way bonds, project bid/performance/payment bonds, and court bonds remain local or project-specific.

Kentucky bond directory

Find your bond requirement

These guides cover license and permit bonds with verified educational content. Your agency notice or application checklist is always the final authority.

BondAgencyCommon amountHow you file

Who sets the requirement?

Kentucky licensing agencies

Each agency below sets its own bond requirement. Open the related guide for amounts and filing steps.

Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission

Licenses motor vehicle dealers and may require a commercial bond under KRS 190.030(9) and 605 KAR 1:030.

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Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions — Mortgage

Licenses mortgage loan companies, brokers, and originators through NMLS and receives KRS 286.8-060 sureties.

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Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions — Money transmission

Licenses money transmitters under KRS Chapter 286.11 and receives § 286.11-013 sureties.

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Kentucky Attorney General — Debt adjusters

Registers debt adjusters under KRS Chapter 380 and receives $25,000 sureties or approved letters of credit.

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Kentucky Secretary of State — Notary Public

Commissions notaries; $1,000 assurance is filed with the county clerk under KRS 423.390.

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Kentucky Department of Insurance — Public adjusters

Licenses public adjusters and requires $50,000 surety or letter of credit under KRS 304.9-430.

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Before you apply

Confirm these details from the agency notice

Bring these five items when you request a bond. For the full checklist, see how to read a bond requirement.

1
Confirm whether MVC will require a dealer bond
Not every Kentucky dealer posts a surety. Calculate unencumbered cash and inventory under 605 KAR 1:030 and wait for Commission notice before ordering an amount the Commission has not requested.
2
Match the correct DFI mortgage form
Companies use Form ML-1 at $250,000 or more. Brokers use Form ML-2 at $50,000 or more. Individual originators use ML-3 or ML-4 at $15,000 or $20,000 by annual volume.
3
Do not treat KRCA roofing certification as a state license bond
Kentucky has no statewide roofing contractor license bond. Private association bonds and local city/county contractor bonds are separate from the statewide instruments in this hub.

Learn more about surety bonds

Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.

Frequently asked questions

Does every Kentucky auto dealer need a surety bond?

No. KRS 190.030(9) lets the Motor Vehicle Commission require a bond when it doubts financial responsibility or compliance. 605 KAR 1:030 also ties many new, used, motorcycle, mobility, and leasing applicants to a $50,000–$100,000 asset path, with a bond often equal to the shortfall below $100,000. The Commission notifies applicants when a bond is required.

Is there a statewide Kentucky roofing contractor bond?

No. Kentucky does not issue a statewide roofing contractor license bond. Private trade-association certification programs may ask for a bond, and cities or counties may impose local contractor bonds, but those are not statewide Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction or Motor Vehicle Commission license instruments published here.

Do Kentucky collection agencies need a state surety bond?

Kentucky does not operate a statewide collection-agency license-and-bond program comparable to many other states. Debt adjusters are a different credential under KRS Chapter 380 and do require a $25,000 surety or letter of credit with the Attorney General.

Can new public adjusters still get licensed in Kentucky?

KRS 304.9-430 imposes a two-year period beginning April 13, 2026, during which the department generally will not accept or issue new public adjuster licenses, with limited exceptions for certain temporary or apprentice holders. Existing licenses may renew. Financial responsibility remains a $50,000 surety or letter of credit for licensed public adjusters.

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Last verified 2026-08-11. Official sources are retained with this guide and checked before publication.

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