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Last updated: General Washington DC freight broker bond information — confirm current requirements with the licensing authority.
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Washington DC Freight Broker Bond$75,000 BMC-84 — No DC Bond on Top of It

Every DC-based freight broker needs a $75,000 surety bond filed on FMCSA Form BMC-84, required under 49 U.S.C. § 13906(b) and 49 CFR § 387.307. DC's Department of For-Hire Vehicles licenses taxis and TNCs, not property brokers, so there's no second District filing to track. What makes DC worth its own page is what sits on top of that one bond: brokers here are closer to GSA and DoD freight tenders than anywhere else in the country, most of them route freight across DC, Maryland, and Virginia on nearly every load, and the BMC-84 itself is only step one of the federal-contracting picture. See our broker authority guide for the full FMCSA process.

$75,000
Federal BMC-84
49 CFR § 387.307
None
DC State Bond
DFHV bonds passenger carriers only
Non-Participating
UCR Status
DC must pick an alternate base state
SAM.gov
Federal Freight Access
Separate from the BMC-84 entirely
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BMC-84 quote — 2-minute form, quote within one business day

Quick answer
A BMC-84 freight broker bond is the $75,000 federal surety bond FMCSA requires before it will grant or keep a property broker's operating authority, whether your brokerage is based in Washington, D.C. or arranges loads through it. The District of Columbia does not add a separate freight broker bond. You pay a yearly premium that is a small percentage of $75,000 (an estimate; the carrier sets the final price), not the full amount.
  • Who requires it: FMCSA, for every property broker and freight forwarder in interstate commerce (49 U.S.C. 13906; 49 CFR 387.307).
  • Amount: $75,000, set by federal law. A BMC-85 trust fund of $75,000 is the alternative.
  • Typical cost (estimate): about 1%–4% of $75,000 per year with good credit, roughly $750–$3,000. The carrier sets the final price.
  • Timing: We submit complete applications to the carrier promptly; most quotes within one business day.
Get a Washington, D.C. BMC-84 quote

Official Federal (FMCSA) Requirements

"A broker shall provide a surety bond, trust fund agreement, or other financial security in the amount of $75,000 in a form, manner, and amount as the Secretary may prescribe."
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — 49 CFR § 387.307, implementing 49 U.S.C. § 13906(b) • 49 CFR § 387.307
The Three Requirements Nobody Separates

Your BMC-84 Doesn't Get You GSA or DoD Freight — SAM.gov Does

Being headquartered blocks from GSA and the Pentagon doesn't change what your BMC-84 does — it's still the same $75,000 broker bond required of every property broker in every jurisdiction. What's different for a DC-area broker is the volume of freight moving under federal tenders, and the fact that reaching it requires a completely separate credential your BMC-84 has nothing to do with: SAM.gov entity registration. Any business bidding on or invoicing a GSA Transportation and Logistics Category contract — including the Schedule 48 Transportation, Delivery and Relocation Solutions IDIQ — has to carry an active SAM.gov registration first. It's free, it renews annually, and it issues the Unique Entity ID (UEI) that federal contracting officers check before they'll do business with you. A broker can hold a perfectly valid BMC-84 and still be unable to touch a GSA or DoD tender without it.

Three Separate Federal-Freight Requirements — Not One Stacked Bond

Which one applies depends on whether you broker or haul, and whether the freight is federal at all

RequirementWho Needs ItAmountAuthority
BMC-84 Broker BondAny property broker, federal or commercial freight, everywhere in the U.S.$75,000 flat49 CFR § 387.307
SDDC Performance BondCarriers hauling DoD freight directly under their own operating authority$25,000–$100,000 by operating scopeDoD Surface Deployment & Distribution Command
SAM.gov RegistrationAny entity bidding on or invoicing a federal contract, broker or carrierNo bond — free registrationFAR-mandated entity registration

A DC-area broker arranging (not hauling) federal freight needs only the first and third rows. Carriers hauling DoD freight under their own authority need the SDDC bond instead of — not in addition to — a broker's BMC-84.

If your business physically operates trucks under DoD contracts rather than brokering the freight, the bond that applies to you is the SDDC performance bond, not the BMC-84 — see our DoD freight contract bond guide for the full $25,000–$100,000 carrier breakdown.

Ready to get bonded and start booking federal, DC-metro, or commercial interstate freight? We file your BMC-84 directly with the FMCSA.

Get DC QuoteBMC-84 Complete Guide

Why a 68-Square-Mile District Needs a Three-Jurisdiction Filing Answer

The District of Columbia is small enough that a broker's office, the carriers on their bench, and the shippers they serve are routinely spread across DC, Maryland, and Virginia at the same time. That geography doesn't change the BMC-84 — it's federal and it doesn't stack by jurisdiction — but it does change one filing step almost no directory explains correctly: Unified Carrier Registration (UCR).

DC Doesn't Participate in UCR

DC is one of the non-participating jurisdictions under the UCR Plan established by 49 U.S.C. § 14504a. A DC-principal broker can't register DC as a base state — the UCR Plan's assigned alternate-state list for DC filers includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Virginia Is the Practical Pick

Maryland isn't on that list — Maryland is also a non-participating jurisdiction. Of the options that are, Virginia is the one already inside most DC brokers' operating footprint, which is why it's the common choice rather than a New England state with no other connection to the business. Confirm your exact assignment at ucr.gov before filing — alternate-state lists are set by the UCR Plan and can change.

None of this touches the BMC-84 itself, which is filed with the FMCSA regardless of state or base-state selection. It only affects the annual UCR fee filing — Bracket 1 brokers (0–2 power units) pay $46 for 2026, routed through whichever participating state they select. See our Virginia freight broker bond page and Maryland freight broker bond page for the neighboring-jurisdiction filing detail.

What DFHV Actually Bonds

The DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles licenses and regulates taxicabs, limousines, sedans, and digital-dispatch (TNC) carriers under D.C. Official Code § 50-301.07. Property/freight brokers are entirely outside that jurisdiction. If you also arrange passenger transportation on the side, confirm which DFHV license category applies to that business separately from your BMC-84.

One Bond, No District Filing to Track

Whether your freight starts and ends inside the District or crosses into Maryland or Virginia, the $75,000 BMC-84 is your only bond premium. The routine add-ons are the annual UCR fee (routed through an alternate base state) and, only if you're chasing federal freight tenders, a free SAM.gov registration — neither is affected by credit score.

Federal Address, Same Underwriting: DC BMC-84 Pricing

The $75,000 BMC-84 is priced as a percentage of face value — you never pay $75,000, only the annual premium. Pricing is driven by credit, not geography or which federal agencies you sell to; see our freight broker bond cost by state guide and surety bond cost overview for broader context.

Federal Contracting Doesn't Change the Premium

Whether you run GSA/DoD tenders, DC-metro regional freight, or general commercial brokerage, your BMC-84 premium is priced on personal credit — not on which shippers you serve. SAM.gov registration and any federal past-performance requirements are handled entirely outside the bond itself.

Six Steps From OP-1 to SAFER ACTIVE — Plus the SAM.gov Track

For interstate authority, the entire process runs through the FMCSA. See our full guide to getting freight broker authority for more detail on each step.

DC-Specific Steps

  1. 1

    Register for UCR via an Alternate Base State

    DC doesn’t participate — Virginia is the common pick; $46/year Bracket 1

  2. 2

    Register at SAM.gov (Federal Freight Only)

    Free, ~2–4 weeks to activate — required before any GSA/DoD tender, separate from the BMC-84

SAM.gov registration can run in parallel with your FMCSA filings rather than after them.

Washington DC Freight Broker Bond — Frequently Asked Questions

Questions specific to DC-based brokers, GSA/DoD federal tenders, and DC/MD/VA filing logistics

Does the District of Columbia require its own freight broker bond on top of the federal BMC-84?

No. The $75,000 BMC-84 filed with the FMCSA under 49 U.S.C. § 13906(b) and 49 CFR § 387.307 is the only surety bond a DC-based property broker needs. The District's Department of For-Hire Vehicles regulates taxicabs, limousines, sedans, and digital-dispatch (TNC) carriers under D.C. Official Code § 50-301.07 — that jurisdiction covers passenger-for-hire transportation, not property or freight brokering. DC DMV handles vehicle titling, registration, and commercial driver licensing, not broker bonding. If your business only arranges freight, the federal BMC-84 is the entire bonding requirement — there's no DC agency that layers a second bond on top of it.

Does the $75,000 BMC-84 get me access to GSA or DoD freight contracts?

No — and this is the mistake that costs new DC-area brokers the most time. The BMC-84 is a prerequisite for FMCSA broker operating authority; it has nothing to do with whether the federal government will do business with you. To bid on or invoice a GSA Transportation and Logistics Category contract (including the Schedule 48 Transportation, Delivery and Relocation Solutions IDIQ) or move freight for the Department of Defense, your business first needs an active registration in SAM.gov (System for Award Management) — free to register, renews annually, and issues the Unique Entity ID (UEI) that replaced the old DUNS number. SAM.gov registration and your BMC-84 are two completely separate requirements that both have to be true at the same time; neither substitutes for the other.

What's the difference between my broker's BMC-84 and the SDDC performance bond carriers need for DoD freight?

They cover two different roles in the same shipment. Your BMC-84 is a broker bond — it protects carriers and shippers if you, as the intermediary arranging the load, fail to pay or fail to perform. It's fixed at $75,000 regardless of freight volume. A trucking company that physically hauls freight under a Department of Defense contract instead needs an SDDC (Surface Deployment and Distribution Command) performance bond, sized $25,000–$100,000 based on how many states the carrier operates in — see our full breakdown on the DoD freight contract bond page. If your business only brokers (arranges) DoD or GSA freight without operating trucks under its own authority, the BMC-84 is the only bond that applies to you; the SDDC bond is a carrier requirement, not a broker one.

Is DC part of the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) program, and how do DC brokers register?

The District of Columbia does not administer UCR directly — it's one of the non-participating jurisdictions under the UCR Plan established by 49 U.S.C. § 14504a, alongside states like Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida. That doesn't exempt DC-based brokers from registering; it means they can't pick DC as their base state and instead select a participating jurisdiction from the UCR Plan's assigned list, which for DC-principal businesses includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, or West Virginia. Virginia is the practical pick for most DC brokers — it's a full UCR participant, it's already in the operating footprint for anyone running DC/MD/VA freight, and Maryland isn't on the list because Maryland is also non-participating. Brokers with 0–2 power units fall into UCR Bracket 1, which is $46 for 2026. Confirm your specific base-state assignment directly through ucr.gov before filing, since alternate-state lists are set by the UCR Plan and can be updated.

DC does not participate in UCR — what does a DC-based broker file, and what about federal freight tenders?

Select a participating alternate base state for UCR; Virginia is the common choice for DC-based brokers, and Bracket 1 runs $46 for 2026. If you intend to pursue GSA or DoD freight tenders, register separately at SAM.gov — no fee, and roughly 2–4 weeks for a new registration to activate. SAM.gov registration can run in parallel with your FMCSA filings rather than after them. The federal sequence itself is identical in every state and is walked through step by step in our guide to getting freight broker authority.

Who needs a Washington, D.C. freight broker bond?

Property brokers and freight forwarders based in Washington, D.C. that arrange interstate freight. It is required by FMCSA, under 49 U.S.C. 13906 and 49 CFR 387.307. The bond amount is $75,000, set by federal law (BMC-84 surety bond; a BMC-85 trust fund is the alternative).

How do I get a Washington, D.C. freight broker bond?

Request a quote with the form on this page. A licensed agent submits your application to a Treasury-listed surety carrier; once the carrier issues your bond, file it as the requiring agency directs.

What happens after I apply?

We submit complete applications to the carrier promptly; most quotes come back within one business day. The carrier decides approval and the final premium, and you pay only when your bond is issued.

FMCSA Broker Registration

Official FMCSA portal for broker authority applications, BMC-84 filing status, and SAFER system lookups.

SAM.gov Entity Registration

Free federal entity registration required before bidding on or invoicing any GSA or DoD freight contract — separate from your BMC-84.

Treasury-Listed Carriers
FMCSA Sets Processing Time
Direct FMCSA Filing
All Credit Reviewed

Freight Broker Bond Resources

Freight Broker Bond Hub

Complete BMC-84 guide — requirements, costs, claims, 2026 changes

DoD Freight Contract Bond

SDDC carrier performance bonds ($25K–$100K) for hauling DoD freight

BMC-84 Deep Dive

FMCSA filing mechanics, bond vs trust fund, personal guarantees

Cost by State Guide

How pricing varies by credit tier, not by state

BMC-84 vs BMC-85

When the trust fund makes sense — and when it never does

Virginia Freight Broker Bond

Hampton Roads drayage, I-81 & NoVa data-center freight

Maryland Freight Broker Bond

Port of Baltimore drayage & post-Key-Bridge I-95 routing

How to Get Broker Authority

Step-by-step FMCSA authority process from MC# to ACTIVE status

BMC-84 Bond Cost Calculator

Estimate your annual premium by credit score tier

Eric Drummond, Licensed Surety Producer
Reviewed by
Eric Drummond, Licensed Surety Producer
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All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov). BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-listed surety carriers.

Federal, Regional, or Commercial Freight — One Bond

Get Your Washington DC Freight Broker Bond

BMC-84 quotes within one business day. No separate DC bond, ever — DFHV bonds passenger carriers, not property brokers. Premiums commonly run about 1%–4% of $75,000 with good credit (the carrier sets the price), all credit levels reviewed.

Get Your DC Bond NowBack to Freight Broker Bonds
Treasury-Listed Carriers
FMCSA Sets Processing Time
Est. 1%–4% of $75K (good credit)

Freight Broker Bonds by State

State-specific guidance for filing your $75,000 BMC-84 and securing FMCSA property broker authority.

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Pennsylvania BMC-84 Broker Bond

Freight broker filing in the Northeast

Arizona Broker Bond

Property broker bonding in the Southwest

Georgia BMC-84 Broker Bond

Atlanta and Savannah-corridor filing

Montana BMC-84 Broker Bond

Cost and requirements for Montana brokers

Wyoming BMC-84 Broker Bond

BMC-84 filing for Wyoming-registered brokers

Freight Broker Bond Resources

Freight Broker Bond GuideNational $75,000 BMC-84 overviewFreight Broker Bond CostAnnual premiums by credit tierHow to Get Broker AuthorityStep-by-step FMCSA registrationBMC-84 vs BMC-85Surety bond vs. trust fund comparedBroker Bond for Auto TransportRequirements for vehicle-shipping brokersFreight Forwarder BMC-84 BondFiling guidance for forwardersExcess Bond for Freight BrokersCoverage above the $75,000 BMC-84

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