Auto dealer bond in Georgia: amount and cost
Georgia used motor vehicle dealers file a $35,000 bond for each licensed location; the bond runs to September 30 of even-numbered years.
Auto dealer bond premium in Georgia
$263 to $525
estimated, per year, for a $35,000 bond
| Bond the state requires | $35,000 |
| Which amount | O.C.G.A. § 43-47-8(h); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 681-3-.01 |
| Rate for credit 700 or higher | 0.75 % to 1.5 % a year |
| Term | 1 year, renewed yearly |
Estimate from published rate grids, not a quote. O.C.G.A. § 43-47-8(h); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 681-3-.01. Amount read on the official page, October 22, 2026.
Compiled by Radif Partners · Method and sources · rule read October 22, 2026
Georgia licenses used motor vehicle dealers through the Secretary of State's professional licensing boards, and each dealer must file a $35,000 surety bond, under O.C.G.A. 43-47-8 and the board's rules. The bond is per location: a dealer with a second lot files a second $35,000 bond. Georgia licenses and bonds run on a two-year cycle that ends on September 30 of even-numbered years, so a dealer licensed in an odd year buys a bond for less than two years at first. Used motor vehicle parts dealers file a smaller $10,000 bond. The premium depends on the owner's credit: on published dealer grids, about $263 to $525 a year with a score of 700 or more, $875 to $1,750 between 600 and 649, and $2,625 to $3,500 under 550. A two-year term paid at once costs about 1.5 times one year. Rule read on October 22, 2026.
One bond per location
The Secretary of State's guide for used motor vehicle dealers lists the $35,000 surety bond among the license requirements. The board's rules apply it to each licensed location, not to the company as a whole. A dealer that adds a lot adds a bond, written for that address, and the bond must match the location named on the license.
The bond protects buyers and the state when a dealer fails to deliver titles, pay off liens on trade-ins or follow the dealer laws. Claims go to the surety, which pays valid ones up to $35,000 per bond and then recovers from the dealer.
The even-year calendar
Georgia dealer licenses expire on September 30 of even-numbered years, and the bonds follow the same calendar. A dealer licensed in the spring of an odd year holds a license for about a year and a half before the first renewal, and many sureties price the first bond to that date. At each renewal, the dealer files a continuation or a new bond for the next two years. Paying for the full cycle at once, at about 1.5 times a yearly premium, gives $394 to $788 with good credit.
Georgia next to other states
Auto dealer bond premium in Florida
$625 to $1,250
| Bond the state requires | $25,000 |
| Which amount | Fla. Stat. § 320.27(10) |
| Rate for credit 600 to 649 | 2.5 % to 5 % a year |
| Term | 1 year, renewed yearly |
Parts dealers and other licenses
Used motor vehicle parts dealers, a separate license, file a $10,000 bond. New car dealers holding a manufacturer franchise follow other rules. Dealers who also sell in neighboring states need each state's bond: Florida asks $25,000 and North Carolina $50,000. The dealer bond overview lists every state read.
Before buying, check that the bond names the business exactly as on the license application, including any trade name, and that it lists the right location. Georgia's board returns applications whose bond and license details disagree, and the delay can push a planned opening date back by several weeks.
The Georgia rule as read
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bond amount | $35,000 |
| Term | 2 years |
| Rule | O.C.G.A. § 43-47-8(h); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 681-3-.01 |
| Line read | “$35,000 Surety Bond” |
| Page | sos.ga.gov |
| Read on | October 22, 2026 |