Ohio Auto Dealer Bond Calculator

An insurance-backed instrument you purchase annually from a surety carrier. Posted with the Attorney General. Pays consumers if you violate title-disclosure law.

A financial-statement threshold (assets minus liabilities) verified by the Registrar. No premium, no carrier — you either qualify or you don't.

Why does this calculator show $75,000 when everyone calls it the "$25,000 Ohio dealer bond"?

Ohio Revised Code §4505.181 sets a statutory floor of "not less than twenty-five thousand dollars" for the used motor vehicle dealer surety bond — that's where the $25,000 figure everyone repeats comes from, and it is still the literal text of the statute. But the Registrar exercises separate rulemaking authority through Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-3-11, and effective April 1, 2026 that rule set the operative, currently-enforced bond amount at $75,000. Both numbers are technically accurate — $25,000 is the legal minimum written in the statute; $75,000 is what the BMV and Attorney General actually require today.

Is my dealership still eligible for the $25,000 legacy bond amount?

Dealers who already held a valid $25,000 TDRF bond before April 1, 2026 have generally been allowed to renew at that legacy amount for one additional cycle before the $75,000 requirement applies at their next license renewal. This transition detail comes from surety industry guidance interpreting the rule change, not from a published BMV transition schedule, so confirm your specific renewal date with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section (TDRF Unit) or your bond agent before assuming you're still grandfathered. New applications filed on or after April 1, 2026 must post the full $75,000 bond — there is no legacy option for new licenses.

What is the $75,000 net worth requirement, and is it the same as the bond?

No — they're two separate requirements that happen to share the same dollar figure right now, which is exactly why so much confusion exists online. Ohio Admin. Code 4501:1-3-11 requires every motor vehicle dealer to maintain a net worth (assets minus liabilities) of at least $75,000, verifiable on request by the Registrar. That's a financial-statement test, unrelated to insurance or bonding. The $75,000 surety bond is a separate instrument posted with the Attorney General that pays out to consumers if you violate title-disclosure rules under R.C. §4505.181. You need both — meeting the net worth test does not satisfy the bond requirement, and vice versa.

Which Ohio dealers are exempt from this specific bond?

Under Ohio Admin. Code 4501:1-3-11, a used motor vehicle dealer applicant is exempt from posting this bond if the dealer — or any sole proprietor, corporate officer, business-trust trustee, partner, or LLC member listed on the application — currently holds, or held within the one year immediately before applying, a new motor vehicle dealer, adaptive mobility dealer, or leasing dealer license that was not suspended, revoked, or found in violation of R.C. §4505.181. In practice this exempts franchise new-car dealers who also run a used-car operation under common ownership, but not standalone independent used-car lots.

How much does the Ohio $75,000 dealer bond cost with bad credit?

On the current $75,000 penal sum, applicants with poor credit (roughly 580–619 FICO) typically see quotes in the $3,300–$5,300/year range, and very poor credit (below 580) can run $5,200–$9,500/year depending on the underwriting carrier. That is a meaningful jump from the $25,000 legacy figure, where the same credit tiers ran $1,100–$3,000/year — a direct consequence of the bond amount tripling. Move the credit slider above to see your specific band, and note that dealership financials and time in business also factor into the final quote.

Do I file the bond with the BMV or the Ohio Attorney General?

The Attorney General — specifically the Consumer Protection Section, TDRF Unit, 30 E. Broad Street, 14th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215. This surprises a lot of first-time applicants because the dealer license application itself goes to the BMV Dealer Licensing Section, but the original bond document must be posted separately with the Attorney General's office in favor of the state, per R.C. §4505.181. You (or your surety) keep proof of filing to include in your BMV license packet — the BMV does not hold the bond itself.