Effective Today: Ohio Auto Dealer Bond Triples to $75,000
As of April 1, 2026, all Ohio motor vehicle dealers must carry a $75,000 surety bond -- up from $25,000. This applies to new, used, and wholesale dealers under OAC 4501:1-3-11. Dealers with existing $25,000 bonds must upgrade immediately. Get your $75K dealer bond now.
Ohio Auto Dealer Bond Tripled
Bond Requirement Increase
Previous Requirement
$25,000
New Requirement
$75,000
Ohio Surety Bonds— A State That Does Things Differently
Ohio breaks the mold on surety bonds. There is no statewide contractor license. No standard notary bond. No bonded titles. Instead, Ohio pushes contractor bonding to its municipalities, skips the notary bond most states require, and uses court-ordered titles where other states use surety bonds. What Ohio does require -- auto dealer bonds, public works bonds, and a deep roster of professional license bonds -- it takes seriously. The $75,000 dealer bond that took effect today is proof.
Get Your Ohio Bond
Dealer bonds, contractor bonds, court bonds, and more
- Who requires it: OAC 4501:1-3-11 for dealers. ORC 153.54 for public works. ORC 4707 for auctioneers. ORC 1322.07 for mortgage brokers.
- Amount: Dealer: $75,000. Cleveland and Columbus general contractors: $25,000 each. Auctioneer: $25,000 individual or $50,000 firm. Public works performance and payment bonds: each 100% of the contract price.
- Typical cost (estimate): about 1-2% of the bond amount per year with excellent credit (700+) on the $75,000 dealer bond. The surety sets the final price.
- Timing: We submit complete applications to the carrier promptly; most quotes within one business day.
Official Ohio Requirements
"Each applicant for a motor vehicle dealer license shall file with the registrar a surety bond in the amount of seventy-five thousand dollars."Ohio Attorney General's Office / OAC 4501:1-3-11 • OAC 4501:1-3-11
What Ohio Does Not Require
Before you waste time searching for a bond Ohio does not require, here are the three biggest differences from other states
No Statewide Contractor Bond
Ohio has no statewide contractor licensing board. Contractor bonds are set by individual municipalities. Many smaller cities require no bond at all. If you are working in an unincorporated area, there may be no bonding requirement.
See municipal requirementsNo Standard Notary Bond
Most states require every notary to carry a surety bond. Ohio does not. The only notary bond Ohio requires is a $25,000 bond (plus $25,000 E&O insurance) for notaries performing electronic estate planning notarizations under ORC 147.
E-estate planning detailsNo Bonded Titles
In most states, you can obtain a vehicle title through a surety bond if the original is lost. Ohio does not allow bonded titles. Instead, you must petition the Common Pleas Court in your county for a court-ordered title, which the BMV then processes.
File through your county Common Pleas CourtOhio Auto Dealer Bond: $25K to $75K
The single biggest change in Ohio surety bonds this year is the tripling of the motor vehicle dealer bond from $25,000 to $75,000, effective today under OAC 4501:1-3-11. Every Ohio dealer -- new vehicle, used vehicle, and wholesale -- must now carry the higher bond amount.
Existing dealers: If you currently hold a $25,000 bond, you must upgrade to $75,000 immediately. The Ohio Attorney General's office enforces compliance. Operating with the old bond amount puts your dealer license at risk.
What the $75,000 Bond Covers
- Failure to deliver vehicle titles within the statutory timeframe
- Odometer fraud and title washing violations
- Misrepresentation of vehicle condition or history
- Consumer losses from dealer fraud or insolvency
- Violations of Ohio motor vehicle dealer laws under ORC Chapter 4517
Estimated Dealer Bond Premiums
Annual cost for the new $75,000 bond
Municipal Contractor Bond Requirements
Since Ohio has no state-level contractor bond, each city sets its own rules. Here are the requirements for Ohio's largest cities. If your city is not listed, contact us and we will confirm the local requirement.
| City | General Contractor Bond | Notes | Filed With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $25,000 | Separate bonds for electrical, plumbing, HVAC | Dept. of Building & Housing |
| Columbus | $25,000 | Required for all licensed trades | Dept. of Building & Zoning |
| Cincinnati | $10,000 | Lower bond but stricter insurance requirements | Dept. of Buildings & Inspections |
| Toledo | Varies by trade | Trade-specific licensing system | Div. of Building Inspection |
| Akron | Varies by trade | Bond or letter of credit accepted | Building Dept. |
| Dayton | Varies by trade | Primarily mechanical/electrical trades | Building Services |
Every Ohio Bond Type We Place
Verified amounts and statutes as of April 2026
Ohio Public Works Bond Requirements (ORC 153.54)
While Ohio has no statewide contractor license bond, it does require full bonding on public works projects. Under ORC 153.54, any contractor awarded a public works contract must furnish both a performance bond and a payment bond, each equal to 100% of the contract price. This applies to state, county, municipal, and school district projects. Learn more in our surety bond basics guide, view all bond types on our surety bonds hub, or estimate your cost with the auto dealer bond calculator.
Performance Bond
- 100% of contract value
- Guarantees project completion to specifications
- Protects the public entity awarding the contract
Payment Bond
- 100% of contract value
- Guarantees payment to subcontractors and suppliers
- Required on all public works regardless of municipality
How to Get Your Ohio Surety Bond
Tell Us What You Need
Specify your bond type and where in Ohio you operate. We verify the exact requirements with the relevant city or state agency.
We Shop Carriers
We submit your application to multiple Treasury-listed sureties licensed in Ohio and return your quotes, most within one business day.
Review & Sign
Review your bond, sign electronically, and pay your premium. No hidden fees.
Bond Delivered
Receive your bond formatted for the correct Ohio agency -- BMV, city building department, probate court, or DFI.
Serving All 88 Ohio Counties
We track municipal bond rules across every Ohio city
Ohio Surety Bond Questions
Updated for the April 2026 dealer bond increase
Why did Ohio triple the auto dealer bond to $75,000?
Does Ohio require a statewide contractor license bond?
Does Ohio require a standard notary bond?
Can I get a bonded title in Ohio?
What are the Ohio public works bond requirements?
How much does an Ohio auctioneer bond cost?
What bonds does the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions require?
Can I get an Ohio surety bond with bad credit?
How do I get an Ohio surety bond?
What happens after I apply?
Surety Bonds in Neighboring States
Official Ohio Resources
Government sources for Ohio bond requirements
Auto dealer bond enforcement and consumer protection bond requirements
Mortgage broker, money transmitter, and financial services bond requirements
E-estate planning notary bond and commission requirements
Oil and gas well surety bond amounts under ORC 1509.071
Federal listing of Treasury-listed surety companies authorized to write bonds for U.S. government contracts
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov). BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-listed surety carriers.
Estimate Your Ohio Surety Bond Premium
Free calculator — ballpark cost in under 60 seconds, no email required.
Other Ohio Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in Ohio
Notary public bond
Contractor licensing
DMV dealer licensing
NMLS mortgage licensing
Construction & service contracts
Executors, administrators & guardians
FMCSA broker authority
Nearby States
Surety bonds in neighboring states
Indiana requirements, statute, and bond amount
Kentucky requirements, statute, and bond amount
Michigan requirements, statute, and bond amount
Pennsylvania requirements, statute, and bond amount
West Virginia requirements, statute, and bond amount
More Ohio bond requirements
Get Your Ohio Surety Bond Today
New $75K dealer bonds, municipal contractor bonds, public works bonds, and every Ohio license bond
Bond requirements in Ohio by type
Surety bonds in other states
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- Legal document preparer bond
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