Maine Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond

1. Apply for Your Bond Online

You can easily apply for the auto dealer bond needed to finalize your license application. Spend a few minutes completing the online application to get started.

When Joe contacted us, he needed an auto dealer bond to get a license for his new business. With our fast and streamlined process, he submitted the application and got an instant quote from us. He quickly made the premium payment online, and we emailed the bond to him right away. 

2. Review Your Quote

Your surety bond application will be processed immediately after you submit it online. Our customers receive instant quotes in most cases. For a more complicated scenario, we will deliver a quote within 48 hours.

3. Pay the Premium Online

After reviewing your auto dealer bond quote, the last step is to make the premium payment. We accept payments through our online portal for your convenience. As soon as the payment is made, we will finalize the bond and email it to you. Bonds can also be mailed upon request. 

Through our simplified process, we make it easy to set up your auto dealer bond. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us or call us at (877) 514-5146.

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles is the authority for auto dealer licensing. A dealer license is required for anyone who buys vehicles to resell them, who sells more than five vehicles within 12 months or who advertises or displays three or more vehicles for sale within a 30-day period. 

The motor vehicle licensing rules and requirements are detailed in Title 29-A, section 901 of the state’s laws. The bond obligee is the Maine Secretary of State and surety bond amount depends on the dealer’s previous year’s sales: 

If the motor vehicle dealer bond is continuous, it is active until it has been canceled. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles must be notified in writing at least 30 days prior to the cancellation date. 

Regardless of whether the bond runs continuously or runs concurrently with the license’s period, the premium must be paid annually. Our helpful bond experts will reach out to you with payment instructions when the next premium is due.

To file a claim against your auto dealer business, a claimant must directly contact the surety company. The surety company will complete a thorough investigation to assess the claim’s validity. If the claim is not substantiated, it is denied. 

If the claim is determined to be valid, the claimant will receive appropriate compensation up to the limit of the bond’s penal sum. The dealer must then reimburse the surety company for the full amount of the claim.

Our surety bond experts can help you learn how to get a Maine auto dealer license. You can also reach the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles for assistance. To obtain a license, you must provide: 

• Application form
• Surety bond form
• Notarized Questionnaire form
• Zoning form
• Legal entity documents, if applicable
• Lease agreement, if applicable
• Plot Plan
• Sales tax number with sales tax certificate
• Federal ID number or Social Security number
• State Police Bureau of Identification background check
• R-1348 insurance filing
• Dealer training completion affidavit
• $150 initial application fee
• $150 annual license fee
• Dealer plate fees of $20 to $50 per plate

For more information, contact:

Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles
29 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0028
Phone: (207) 624-9000