New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
$10,000 Bond – $100 Flat, Expires March 31
General Information
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond — also called the NJ dealer bond, the New Jersey auto dealer bond, the NJ car dealer bond, the NJ used car dealer bond, the NJMVC dealer bond or the MVD bond New Jersey — is a $10,000 surety bond required by State of New Jersey — Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) for applying for or renewing a New Jersey motor vehicle dealer license with the MVC. It guarantees the dealer will comply with the conditions of any contract made in connection with the sale or exchange of any motor vehicle and will not violate the laws governing the licensed business — with consumers, financing agencies, or the State able to claim up to $10,000. The price is a flat $100 through Up to 1 year — every bond statewide expires March 31; flat $100 whenever you buy, with no application and no credit check, and your bond is prepared and emailed directly to you, typically by the end of the next business day, ready for signature.
| Bond | Bond Amount | Premium | Term | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond (all dealer types) | $10,000 | $100 | Up to 1 year — every bond statewide expires March 31; flat $100 whenever you buy | Buy Now |
Purchase Now
Who Needs This Bond?
Every licensed New Jersey motor vehicle dealer — new car dealers, used car dealers, leasing companies, and public consignment auction dealers — files the same $10,000 bond with the MVC license application. Unlike some states, New Jersey has no sales-volume tiers: one amount covers everyone. The license packet also requires liability insurance ($100,000/$250,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage), a $100 license fee, a $257.50 registration fee, and an established place of business. The bond is written in the exact business name and address on the license.
Who May Not Need This Bond
Not everyone has to post this bond — you may not need it at all. In plain terms:
There's no volume threshold and no license-class tiering — the $10,000 New Jersey motor vehicle dealer bond covers new, used, leasing, and public consignment auction dealers alike, so there's no wrong-amount risk. Dealers expanding to additional locations may need a separate bond per location since the bond is written to the business name and address — confirm with the MVC if you're opening a second lot. Licensing in New York or Florida too? Those states' dealer bonds have different amounts and rules — see our pages for each.
A Fixed Expiration Date — Up to 1 year — every bond statewide expires March 31; flat $100 whenever you buy
This bond does not run one year from your purchase date. Every bond expires on the same fixed date — Up to 1 year — every bond statewide expires March 31; flat $100 whenever you buy — regardless of when during the cycle you buy. The price is the same flat $100 whether you buy at the start of the cycle or partway through — there is no proration and no partial-term discount. When the expiration date arrives, you simply renew for the next full cycle.
Why New Jersey Requires This Bond
New Jersey licenses every motor vehicle dealer through the Motor Vehicle Commission, and N.J.S.A. 39:10-19 makes a $10,000 surety bond — the New Jersey auto dealer bond, as most dealers call it — part of the price of admission. The New Jersey motor vehicle dealer bond runs to the MVC and guarantees that the dealer will honor the contracts it makes in connection with the sale or exchange of vehicles and comply with the laws governing the business — titling, registration, honest representation of what's being sold. It's written in the dealership's exact business name and address, and its expiration must line up with the licensing year that ends every March 31.
The bond protects the people a dealer deals with, not the dealer. A consumer sold a misrepresented vehicle, a financing agency left holding a fraudulent transaction, or the State itself can file a claim, and the surety pays valid claims up to the $10,000 amount — with the dealer required to reimburse every dollar. The MVC backs the requirement with its licensing power: let the bond lapse and the Chief Administrator can suspend or revoke the dealer license. For a New Jersey dealer, the $100 bond is the cheapest item on the licensing checklist and the one the MVC checks first.
The $10,000 bond amount is the coverage guaranteed to State of New Jersey — Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) — it is not a cost to you. What you pay is the premium, the flat $100.
How to Get Your New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
- Confirm your bond details. You need the $10,000 bond with a up to 1 year — every bond statewide expires march 31; flat $100 whenever you buy term — no choices to agonize over.
- Complete the form below. We need the name exactly as it should appear on the bond and your business address. No application and no credit check.
- Choose your delivery. Standard email delivery by the end of the next business day is included at no extra cost; faster options are available.
- Sign and file. Your bond arrives ready for signature — sign it and file it with State of New Jersey — Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC).
Bond Details at a Glance
- Bond Name: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
- Also Known As: NJ dealer bond, New Jersey auto dealer bond, NJ car dealer bond, NJ used car dealer bond, NJMVC dealer bond, MVD bond New Jersey
- Bond Amount: $10,000
- Premium: $100 flat, all-in (The $100 is flat regardless of purchase date — every New Jersey dealer bond expires March 31, so a bond bought in April and one bought in March both run to the same date at the same price.)
- Term: Up to 1 year — every bond statewide expires March 31; flat $100 whenever you buy (fixed expiration date — no proration)
- Obligee: State of New Jersey — Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC), NJMVC Business Licensing Services Bureau, Dealer Unit, P.O. Box 170, Trenton, NJ 08666-0170 (one source says Box 171 — confirm from the MVC dealer packet); bond must be in the exact business name and address
- Governing Law: N.J.S.A. 39:10-19 (dealer licensing and bond); N.J.A.C. 13:21-15.1 (MVC dealer rules) — citations consistent across sources; confirm against a state page before citing precisely
- Exemptions: Available — see "Who May Not Need This Bond" above
- Underwriting: None — no credit check or application
- Delivery: Emailed directly to you, ready for signature
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the New Jersey motor vehicle dealer bond cost?
The New Jersey motor vehicle dealer bond is $100 for the $10,000 bond — a flat price with no application and no credit check, emailed instantly after purchase. It's $100 whether you buy at the start of the license year or the week before March 31.
When does the bond expire?
March 31 — every dealer license and bond in New Jersey runs on the same annual cycle and expires March 31 regardless of purchase date. The MVC requires your bond's expiration to coincide with the licensing year.
Who requires this bond?
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, under N.J.S.A. 39:10-19. The bond is filed with the MVC's Business Licensing Services Bureau, Dealer Unit, in Trenton as part of your dealer license application.
Which dealers need it?
All of them — new car dealers, used car dealers, leasing companies, and public consignment auction dealers all file the same $10,000 auto dealer bond. Unlike some states, New Jersey has no sales-volume tiers; one amount covers everyone.
Do I need a credit check?
No. The bond is issued at a flat $100 with no application, no credit check, and no underwriting — pay by card and it's emailed to you instantly.
What effective date should I choose?
New dealers: today, so your application can proceed. Renewing dealers: set the bond effective March 31 of the current year so it lines up exactly with the new license term.
What does the bond guarantee?
That the dealer will honor contracts made in vehicle sales and exchanges and comply with New Jersey's dealer laws. Consumers, financing agencies, or the State can claim against the bond up to $10,000, and the dealer reimburses the surety.
What else does the MVC require for the license?
Liability insurance ($100,000/$250,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage), the $100 license fee, the $257.50 registration fee, and an established place of business. The bond is one piece of the packet — and letting it lapse can cost you the license.
What does the $100 price include?
The $100 is the total, all-in price: The $100 is flat regardless of purchase date — every New Jersey dealer bond expires March 31, so a bond bought in April and one bought in March both run to the same date at the same price.. There are no other charges at checkout, and the price you see is the price you pay.
Do I qualify for an exemption from this bond?
Possibly — not everyone has to post it. There's no volume threshold and no license-class tiering — the $10,000 New Jersey motor vehicle dealer bond covers new, used, leasing, and public consignment auction dealers alike, so there's no wrong-amount risk. Dealers expanding to additional locations may need a separate bond per location since the bond is written to the business name and address — confirm with the MVC if you're opening a second lot. Licensing in New York or Florida too? Those states' dealer bonds have different amounts and rules — see our pages for each. If you qualify, you don't need to buy the bond at all; check with State of New Jersey — Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) before purchasing.