Who requires it
Missouri Department of Revenue — Dealer Licensing Section
License & permit · Missouri
Missouri Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
Missouri new and used motor vehicle dealers, powersport dealers, wholesale motor vehicle dealers, trailer dealers, and boat dealers must file a fifty-thousand-dollar surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit with the Department of Revenue on a department-approved form. The bond or letter of credit runs to the state for people harmed by the dealer and must stay in force for the license year.
Common bond amount
$50,000
Fixed § 301.560 amount for listed dealer classes; surety or irrevocable letter of credit. Related DOR programs may use $100,000 amounts.
How you file
DOR-approved surety bond (Exhibit A) or irrevocable letter of credit (Exhibit B)
Renewal
Keep through December 31 or non-expiring; replace before expiration/cancellation
Who requires it
Applicants and licensees under § 301.560 for the dealer classes listed above. The Department of Revenue dealer manual states that the $50,000 surety or letter of credit does not apply to auctions or manufacturers. Emergency-vehicle-only dealers remain subject to dealer licensing rules even when some place-of-business inspection rules are relaxed.
How much is required
Section 301.560(1)(3) establishes a fixed fifty-thousand-dollar amount for the covered dealer classes, satisfied by a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit from a state or federal financial institution. Separate DOR programs use other amounts—for example, special-event motor vehicle auctions and lease/rental fleet licenses at $100,000—and are not this $50,000 dealer bond.
How to get and file it
Have an authorized surety complete the Department of Revenue’s Exhibit A dealer bond (or arrange an Exhibit B irrevocable letter of credit) in the exact legal and DBA names on Form 4682 / the online dealer application. Submit the original with the rest of the dealer package and keep the instrument effective through December 31 of the licensure year or as a non-expiring bond. If the bond or letter of credit expires or is cancelled, file a replacement with the department on or before that date. Failure to keep coverage for the entire licensure period is a ground for license action under the dealer manual. Update the bond when the licensed business name changes.
Cost note
Fifty 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
- $50,000 surety or irrevocable letter of credit
- Form
- Department-approved Exhibit A bond or Exhibit B ILC
- Name match
- Must match the name on the dealer license application
- Excluded classes
- Auctions and manufacturers are outside this $50,000 dealer filing
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a letter of credit instead of a surety bond?
Yes. Section 301.560 allows either a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a state or federal financial institution, on a form the department approves.
Do wholesale auctions need this $50,000 bond?
The dealer operating manual states the surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit requirement does not apply to auctions or manufacturers. Confirm your license class with Dealer Licensing if you hold multiple credentials.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Missouri application
Missouri 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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