Skip Navigation

Nevada Motor Vehicle Dealer & Related License Bonds


What is a Nevada Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond?

Businesses involved in the vehicle industry in the state of Nevada must obtain a surety bond as part of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles licensing requirements. Dealers, brokers, rebuilders, lessors, distributors, manufacturers, body shops, wreckers and transporters operating in the state all need to be bonded. The surety bond amount will vary based on the type of business activity as outlined below.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE - $50,000

CAR DEALER OR BROKER - $100,000

GARAGE - $5,000

BODY SHOP - $10,000

WRECKER AND SALVAGE POOL - $50,000

VEHICLE TRANSPORTER - $100,000

DEALER, DISTRIBUTOR, LESSOR, MANUFACTURER AND REBUILDER - $10,000 for utility or boat trailers with an unladen weight of 3,500 or less, $50,000 for motorcycles, horse trailers without living quarters or utility trailers with an unladen weight of 3,501 or more and $100,000 for all other vehicle types.

Get Your Nevada Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond

Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond - Used Cars

$100,000 Bond

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - Garage
Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - Broker

$100,000 Bond

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - Off-Highway Vehicle Dealer

$50,000 Bond

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - Body Shop
Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - Wrecker and Salvage Pool

$50,000 Bond

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - Vehicle Transporter

$100,000 Bond

Motor Vehicle Registration Program Bond (Dealer/Emission Station)

$10,000 Bond

1-Year Bond

Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser Bond

$2,500 Bond

1-Year Bond

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - for motorcycles, horse trailers w/o living qrtrs or utility trailers > 3,500 weight

$50,000 Bond

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - for utility or boat trailers with an unladen weight of 3,500 or less

$10,000 Bond

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond - Other Vehicle Types

$100,000 Bond

Can't find what you're looking for? Let us help!

Get Started » or, if you'd prefer, call us at 1-800-608-9950
(No obligation, takes 2 minutes)

Why is a Nevada Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond Required?

The surety bond protects any individual who is injured by the actions of the bonded principal, its employees or its agents. Specifically, any act of fraud or fraudulent representation, or violation of Chapter 482 or Chapter 490 of the Nevada Revised Statutes or the Nevada Administrative Code committed by the principal and resulting in damages to a third party may constitute a valid claim against the bond. Total liability to the surety company and the principal is limited to the aggregate amount of the bond. The surety bond is continuous in nature unless canceled by the surety company by providing 30 days advance written notice to the State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

Motor Vehicle Dealer Bonds And Getting Your Nevada Business License/Registration

DEALER, DISTRIBUTOR, LESSOR, MANUFACTURER AND REBUILDER INFORMATION LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

  • Complete Application for Business License (OBL237)
  • Provide Personal History Questionnaire (OBL242) for each principal of the business listed on the license application
  • Furnish one set of fingerprints for each principal of the business listed on the application. Fingerprinting must be issued by an authorized NV DMV representative or a law enforcement agency. 
  • Complete DPS Fingerprint Background Waiver (OBL256) by each principal submitting a set of fingerprints.
  • Post a surety bond (OBL210) or a deposit in lieu of bond for the required amount: $10,000 for utility or boat trailers with an unladen weight of 3,500 or less; $50,000 for motorcycles, horse trailers without living quarters or utility trailers with an unladen weight of 3,501 or more; and $100,000 for all other vehicle types.
  • Provide certificate of insurance showing automobile liability coverage. More information in OBL273
  • Furnish  a copy of applicable City or County business license
  • File Fictitious Firm Name if applicable.
  • Provide a Copy of Certificate of Incorporation and Corporate filing, with names of the officers, filed with the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office, if applicable.
  • Provide Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of the business
  • An established place of business within the state, with a permanent enclosed building large enough to accommodate an office and sufficient space to display one or more vehicles. The established place of business must also have boundaries, which are clearly marked.
  • A permanently affixed display sign with the name of the business in lettering eight inches high, formed by lines that are at
    least one inch wide. The display sign must be clearly legible from the center of the nearest street or roadway.
  • Two color photographs of business location that clearly show the exterior of the business to include the display sign.
  • A site inspection conducted by the Department.
  • Other documentation may be required by the Licensing Department

Off-Highway Vehicle Dealer and Salesman Licensing Packet (OBL 329)

Information Sheet - Dealer, Distributor, Lessor, Manufacturer, and Rebuilder (OBL 243)

Information Sheet - Broker (OBL 267)

Information Sheet - Class A Body Shop (OBL 247)

Information Sheet - Wrecker and Salvage Pool (OBL 244)

Information Sheet - Vehicle Transporter (OBL 245)

Additional Nevada Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond Resources & Links

Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles – Occupational & Business Licensing

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond (OBL 262) Wrecker, Salvage Pool

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond (OBL 269) Body Shop, Garage

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond (OBL 332) Transporter

Vehicle Industry Business License Bond (OBL 210) Broker, Dealer/Rebuilder/Lessor, Distributor, Manufacturer, Off-Highway Vehicle

The state of Nevada utilizes the following definitions for those in the vehicle industry. All businesses meeting these definitions are subject to state licensing requirements as mandated by state law.

“Dealer” and “vehicle dealer” defined.

1. “Dealer” or “vehicle dealer” means any person who:

(a) For compensation, money or other thing of value sells, exchanges, buys, offers or displays for sale, negotiates or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in a vehicle subject to registration under this chapter or induces or attempts to induce any person to buy or exchange an interest in a vehicle;
(b) Represents himself as having the ability to sell, exchange, buy or negotiate the sale or exchange of an interest in a vehicle subject to registration under this chapter or in any other state or territory of the United States;
(c) Receives or expects to receive a commission, money, brokerage fee, profit or any other thing of value from the seller or purchaser of a vehicle; or
(d) Is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling vehicles or buying or taking in trade vehicles for the purpose of resale, selling or offering for sale or consignment to be sold or otherwise dealing in vehicles, whether or not he owns the vehicles. NRS 482.020

“Distributor” defined. “Distributor” means a person, other than a manufacturer, who is engaged in the business of selling new motor vehicles to dealers. NRS 482.028

“Lease,” “long-term lessee,” “long-term lessor,” “short-term lessee” and “short-term lessor” defined. For the purposes of regulation under this chapter and of imposing tort liability under NRS 41.440, and for no other purpose:

1. “Long-term lessor” means a person who has leased a vehicle to another person for a fixed period of more than 31 days.
2. “Short-term lessor” means a person who has leased a vehicle to another person for a period of 31 days or less, or by
the day, or by the trip. NRS 482.053

“Manufacturer” defined. “Manufacturer” means every person engaged in the business of manufacturing motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers. NRS 482.060

“Rebuilder” defined.

1. “Rebuilder” means a person engaged in the business of reconstructing motor vehicles by the alteration, addition or substitution of substantial or essential parts or assembling of replica or specially constructed vehicles from unassembled parts.
2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any licensed new or used vehicle dealer to secure a license as a
rebuilder in conjunction with rebuilding in his own facilities. NRS 482.097