Indiana Surety BondsFind Your Bond by the Agency That Requires It
A surety bond in Indiana is a three-party guarantee that you will follow the law tied to a specific license or court order — and in Indiana the bond you need is defined by which agency regulates you. The two most-requested are both $25,000: the motor vehicle dealer bond (IC 9-32-11-2) and the notary public bond, both filed with the Secretary of State. Add BMV bonded titles, Professional Licensing Agency trade bonds, county court probate bonds, and federal freight bonds, and you have a landscape spread across four or five different obligees. What ties them together: every surety carrier must be authorized by the Indiana Department of Insurance. Most license bonds cost just 1-3% of the bond amount for well-qualified applicants, and approvals are usually same-day.
Get Your Indiana Bond
Dealer, notary, bonded title, contractor, court, and freight bonds
Official Indiana Requirements
"An application for a license... must be accompanied by evidence of a bond in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)."Indiana Secretary of State, Auto Dealer Services Division • IC 9-32-11-2
Which Indiana Agency Regulates Your Bond?
Most bond questions in Indiana are really agency questions. Unlike states with a single licensing board, Indiana spreads bond authority across the Secretary of State, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Professional Licensing Agency, and local governments. Start with the obligee — the entity that requires your bond — and the amount, form, and filing method follow from there. If you are new to how any of this works, start with our what is a surety bond primer.
Secretary of State
SOS — dealer & notary- Auto dealer bond — $25,000 (IC 9-32-11-2)
- Notary public bond — $25,000 via INBIZ
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
BMV — bonded titles- Bonded (surety) title — amount based on vehicle value
- Used when you cannot produce a properly assigned title
Professional Licensing Agency
PLA & Plumbing Commission- Licensed plumbing contractor bonds
- State-level trade licensing (no statewide GC license)
County Courts
Probate & fiduciary- Probate / estate bonds — court-set penal sum
- Guardian and other fiduciary bonds
Cities & Counties
Local construction obligees- Contractor registration bonds — amount varies by city
- Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, and more
Federal (FMCSA)
Interstate transportation- Freight broker BMC-84 — $75,000 (49 U.S.C. § 13906)
- Federal, not Indiana-specific — tied to your MC number
Indiana Bonds by Obligee Agency
The agency that requires your bond determines the amount, form, and filing method
| Bond | Amount | Filed With | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Dealer | $25,000 | Secretary of State (Auto Dealer Services) | IC 9-32-11-2 |
| Notary Public | $25,000 minimum | Secretary of State (INBIZ) | Indiana notary law (2018) |
| Bonded (Surety) Title | Based on vehicle value | Bureau of Motor Vehicles | Title 9 (Motor Vehicles) |
| Plumbing Contractor | Set by PLA | Professional Licensing Agency | Indiana Plumbing Commission |
| Municipal Contractor | Varies by city | City / county building dept. | Local ordinance |
| Probate / Fiduciary | Court-set | County probate court | Estate / guardianship order |
| Freight Broker (federal) | $75,000 | FMCSA | 49 U.S.C. § 13906 |
Surety carriers must be authorized by the Indiana Department of Insurance. Amounts verified against Indiana Secretary of State and Indiana Code sources; local and court amounts vary and should be confirmed with the obligee.
Source: Indiana Secretary of State Auto Dealer Services; Indiana Code Title 9; FMCSA
The $25,000 Twins: Same Number, Different Bonds
Indiana’s two most-requested license bonds are both set at $25,000 and both filed with the Secretary of State — which is exactly why people confuse them. They are separate bonds with separate forms, separate obligee protections, and separate triggers. Buying one does nothing for the other.
Auto Dealer Bond
Every licensed motor vehicle dealer — new, used, and wholesale — must file this bond with the Auto Dealer Services Division. As of late 2024, bond and insurance updates are handled through the online Dealer Portal rather than by mail. Priced at 1-3% of the $25,000 for strong-credit applicants.
Indiana auto dealer bond detailNotary Public Bond
Indiana’s 2018 notary overhaul raised the minimum bond to $25,000 and moved applications online through INBIZ. The bond must stay effective for the full commission term, and the surety must be registered with the Indiana Department of Insurance. It is a flat, low fee — no financial documentation required.
Indiana notary bond detailDo not treat these as one bond. They protect different obligees and are filed on different forms. A dealership owner who is also a notary needs both. Request a combined Indiana quote and we will write each on the correct form.
Indiana Bond Types We Write
Each links to a dedicated Indiana page with the current amount, form, and filing steps.
Auto Dealer Bond
Required for every licensed motor vehicle dealer under IC 9-32-11-2, filed with the Auto Dealer Services Division.
Indiana detailsNotary Bond
Minimum bond for every Indiana notary under the 2018 notary law, filed through the INBIZ portal. No credit check.
Indiana detailsVehicle Title Bond
Surety (bonded) title path when you cannot produce a properly assigned title. Amount scales to the vehicle’s value.
Indiana detailsFreight Broker Bond
The federal BMC-84 bond under 49 U.S.C. § 13906 — tied to your MC number, not the state.
Indiana detailsContractor Bond
No statewide GC license — bonds are set by the city or county, plus PLA plumbing contractor bonds.
Indiana detailsProbate Bond
Fiduciary bond for personal representatives and guardians — the penal sum is set by the supervising court.
Indiana detailsHow Contractor Bonding Actually Works in Indiana
This trips up out-of-state contractors constantly: Indiana has no statewide general contractor license, so there is no single “Indiana contractor bond.” Two separate systems apply, and which one you use depends on your trade and where you work. For a broader view of how states handle this, see our contractor license bond requirements guide.
Local / Municipal Bonds
State Trade Licensing (PLA)
What an Indiana Bond Actually Costs
You pay a premium — a small percentage of the bond’s face amount — not the full penal sum. For most Indiana license bonds, well-qualified applicants pay 1-3% per year. On the $25,000 auto dealer bond, that is roughly $250 to $750 annually. Notary bonds are a flat, low fee for the entire commission term with no credit check.
- Credit-driven bonds (auto dealer, larger license bonds): rate rises as credit falls — often 4-10% for credit-challenged applicants.
- No-credit bonds (notary): flat fee, no financial review.
- Court & probate bonds: quoted case-by-case since the court sets the penal sum; weaker credit may require collateral.
Indiana $25,000 License Bond — Est. Annual Premium
Based on a $25,000 bond amount
- Excellent (720+)Rate: 1%$250
- Good (680-719)Rate: 1.5-2%$375-$500
- Fair (640-679)Rate: 3%$750
- Below 640Rate: 5-10%$1,250-$2,500
Illustrative premiums on a $25,000 bond (auto dealer / most license bonds). Actual rate depends on carrier, credit, and claims history. Notary bonds are a flat fee with no credit check.
Indiana BMV Bonded (Surety) Titles
When you can’t produce a clean title, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a surety bond to protect prior owners and lienholders.
Lost or missing title on a private-party purchase, abandoned vehicles, or gaps in the ownership chain the BMV can’t otherwise resolve.
Based on the vehicle’s value — the BMV determines the required penal sum. It is not a flat figure, so document your vehicle’s value before applying.
The bond generally stays in force for a set period before the title is considered clear and free of the bonded restriction.
Know which Indiana bond you need?
Tell us the obligee — Secretary of State, BMV, a court, or your city — and we'll match Indiana-authorized capacity fast.
Indiana Surety Bond Questions
The $25K twins, which agency to file with, contractor bonding, bonded titles, and cost
Why are the Indiana auto dealer bond and notary bond both $25,000?
Which Indiana agency do I file my bond with?
Does Indiana require a statewide general contractor license or bond?
How much does an Indiana surety bond cost?
What is an Indiana bonded title and when do I need one?
Does the surety company have to be licensed in Indiana?
What bond does an Indiana freight broker need?
Can I get an Indiana surety bond with bad credit?
Official Indiana Resources
Primary .gov sources for Indiana bond requirements and filings
$25,000 motor vehicle dealer bond under IC 9-32-11-2; online Dealer Portal filing (effective Oct. 2024)
$25,000 minimum notary bond, online commission application, and the Indiana Notary Public Guide
Bonded (surety) title process for vehicles without a properly assigned title
Professional Licensing Agency and Indiana Plumbing Commission requirements for licensed plumbing contractors
Regulates surety carriers and producers — your bond’s surety must be authorized here
Federal listing of certified sureties for federal bonds such as the freight broker BMC-84
Methodology: Fixed-dollar amounts on this page (the $25,000 auto dealer bond, the $25,000 notary minimum, and the $75,000 federal freight broker bond) were verified against the Indiana Secretary of State, INBIZ, Indiana Code, and FMCSA. Amounts shown as “court-set,” “based on vehicle value,” “set by PLA,” or “varies by city” are correctly variable under the governing authority and should be confirmed with the specific obligee. See our editorial standards.
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and verified before publication. BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-certified, A-minimum rated surety carriers serving all 50 states.
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Other Indiana Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in Indiana
Get Your Indiana Surety Bond
Dealer, notary, bonded title, contractor, court, and freight bonds — placed with carriers authorized by the Indiana Department of Insurance, most approved the same day.