Texas Automobile Dealer Motor Vehicle Registration Bond
If your county tax assessor-collector is authorizing your dealership as a dealer deputy, you’ll need a surety bond before you can process title and registration transactions. Lavon Insurance helps Texas dealers get the registration bond their county requires.
- Payable to your county tax assessor-collector
- Dealer deputy bond: $100,000 to $5,000,000, set by the county
- Guarantees proper accounting and remittance of fees you collect
- One bond per county, even with multiple locations
- Separate from the $50,000 GDN dealer bond
What Is an Automobile Dealer Motor Vehicle Registration Bond?
Texas county tax assessor-collectors can authorize licensed dealers to act as dealer deputies and handle title and registration work that would otherwise go through the county tax office. Under 43 Texas Administrative Code §217.166, a dealer deputy must post a surety bond payable to the county tax assessor-collector, conditioned on properly accounting for and remitting the fees it collects.
Licensed Dealer
A dealer deputy must hold a valid Texas GDN and can only act for the vehicle types its GDN covers.
Title & Registration Work
Dealer deputies process qualifying title and registration transactions under authority delegated by the county.
County Authorization
Deputy status comes from the county tax assessor-collector, not automatically from your GDN.
Texas dealers use TxDMV’s webDEALER system to process title and registration transactions electronically. Having a webDEALER account alone doesn’t make you a dealer deputy. This bond applies when your county has actually deputized your dealership.
How Much Dealer Registration Bond Do I Need?
The county tax assessor-collector sets your bond amount within the ranges in 43 Texas Administrative Code §217.167.
| Deputy Type | Bond Range | Set By |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer deputy | $100,000 to $5,000,000 | County tax assessor-collector |
| Full service deputy | $100,000 to $5,000,000 | County tax assessor-collector |
| Limited service deputy | $2,500 to $1,000,000 | County tax assessor-collector |
If your county gave you a bond form, bond amount, dealer-deputy agreement or written instructions, have them ready. The surety needs them to issue the correct amount and wording.
Dealer Registration Bond vs. $50,000 GDN Dealer Bond
| Feature | Dealer Registration Bond | Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | County dealer-deputy title and registration work | Texas GDN dealer license |
| Payable to | County tax assessor-collector | State of Texas, filed with TxDMV |
| Amount | Set by the county ($100,000 to $5,000,000 for dealer deputies) | $50,000 |
| Who needs it | Dealers deputized by their county | Most GDN license holders |
Need the GDN license bond instead? Learn about the $50,000 Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond.
How to Get a Dealer Motor Vehicle Registration Bond
Confirm County Requirements
Confirm your county requires a bond for your dealer-deputy authorization.
Get the Bond Amount
Get the required amount and any county bond form or instructions.
Apply Online
Complete the surety bond application with your dealership and county information.
Submit the Bond
Deliver the issued bond to the county tax assessor-collector as instructed.
Information You’ll Need
Larger bond amounts may require additional underwriting, including financial information about the dealership and its owners.
Not sure which dealer bond your county or TxDMV is asking for? Call (972) 853-8884 before you buy.
- Legal dealership name and DBA, if any
- Dealership physical address
- Texas GDN information
- County requiring the bond and tax assessor-collector’s name
- Required bond amount
- Requested bond effective date
- County bond form or dealer-deputy agreement, if provided
- Ownership information requested by the surety
Dealer Motor Vehicle Registration Bond FAQs
What is an Automobile Dealer Motor Vehicle Registration Bond?
It’s a surety bond required of Texas dealers authorized by a county tax assessor-collector to act as dealer deputies. It’s payable to the county and guarantees the dealer properly accounts for and remits the fees it collects.
How much is the dealer registration bond?
The county tax assessor-collector sets the amount. Under 43 Texas Administrative Code §217.167, dealer deputy bonds range from $100,000 to $5,000,000, and limited service deputy bonds from $2,500 to $1,000,000.
Is this the same as the $50,000 Texas Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond?
No. The $50,000 dealer bond is for your GDN license with TxDMV. The dealer registration bond is a separate county bond for dealer-deputy title and registration work.
Does every Texas automobile dealer need this bond?
No. You don’t need it just because you hold a GDN or use webDEALER. It applies when your county has deputized your dealership.
Does using webDEALER mean I need the bond?
No. Dealers use webDEALER to process title and registration transactions electronically, but webDEALER access alone doesn’t make you a dealer deputy.
Do I need a separate bond for each dealership location?
No. A deputy needs only one bond per county, regardless of how many locations it serves in that county.
Who requires the dealer registration bond?
Your county tax assessor-collector administers the dealer-deputy relationship, and the bond is payable to the tax assessor-collector.
Can I apply for the bond online?
Yes. Confirm the required bond amount and get any county form or instructions first, then use the online application on this page.
Other Texas Motor Vehicle Bonds
Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
The $50,000 bond for Texas GDN dealer licenses.
Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond →Texas Title Bonds
Bonded titles for vehicles without proper ownership documents.
Texas Title Bonds →All Motor Vehicle Bonds
Compare title, dealer and registration bonds.
Motor Vehicle Bonds →Start Your Texas Dealer Registration Bond Application
If your county has asked for a Motor Vehicle Registration Bond for your dealer-deputy authorization, we can help you get it issued.
Bond amounts, eligibility, premium and underwriting requirements vary by county, applicant and surety. Confirm the required bond amount and form with your county tax assessor-collector before purchasing.