Kentucky Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
Overview
Kentucky is one of the few states with no single fixed dealer bond amount written into its licensing checklist. The Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission — the licensing body under KRS Chapter 190 — may require a dealer license applicant to either furnish a surety bond or show assets or other reliable financial arrangements in any amount up to $100,000, with auction dealers subject to potentially more. The exact figure is set by the Commission for your application, so the bond you file is written to the amount the Commission prescribes rather than a one-size-fits-all statutory number.
Who Needs This Bond?
Applicants for a Kentucky motor vehicle dealer license whom the Motor Vehicle Commission directs to furnish a bond file this instrument — new and used dealers licensed under KRS Chapter 190. The Commission's published dealer requirements make the financial showing discretionary in form: a surety bond is one accepted way to satisfy it, alongside demonstrating assets or other reliable financial arrangements. Auction dealers face their own Commission-set amount, which can exceed the standard ceiling.
What is this Bond For?
The bond gives the Commission and the public financial assurance behind a licensed dealer's obligations under Kentucky's dealer laws. If a dealer's unlawful conduct in a vehicle transaction causes a monetary loss, the bond — in whatever amount the Commission required — provides a source of recovery. As always with surety bonds, the dealer remains responsible for reimbursing the surety for any valid claim paid.
When is it Required?
The requirement attaches during your license application: the Commission reviews your application and prescribes the financial showing, and if that showing is a bond, the executed bond must be on file before licensure is complete. Keep the bond in force for as long as the Commission requires it as a condition of your license, and confirm the amount with the Commission before ordering so the bond is written to the correct figure.
Where Does it Apply?
This is a statewide Kentucky requirement administered by the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission, which licenses dealers across the Commonwealth under KRS Chapter 190. It applies regardless of the county where your dealership operates, because the requirement comes from the Commission's statutory licensing authority rather than any local rule.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' on this page and the secure surety portal opens in a new tab. Complete the short application — with the bond amount the Commission prescribed for your license — review your documents, and pay securely in one session. Your executed Kentucky dealer bond is ready to file with the Commission as soon as you finish.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency, a licensed surety agency, and every requirement on this page is cited to the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission's official requirements and the Kentucky Revised Statutes in the Official Sources section below — verify the rules yourself before you buy. The online flow gets your executed bond to you in time for your Commission filing.
Official Sources
The requirements described on this page are verified against the official sources below.
- Commission may require a bond or a showing of assets/other reliable financial arrangements in any amount up to $100,000; auction dealer amounts set by the Commission and potentially higher: Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission — Dealer Requirements (verified July 16, 2026)
- Statutory licensing framework for motor vehicle dealers, including Commission authority over applicant financial requirements (KRS Chapter 190): Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 190 (verified July 16, 2026)