Bond Costs

Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84) Cost

The FMCSA requires a $75,000 BMC-84 bond to get and keep freight broker authority, but that is not what you pay. Here is what the bond actually costs, what drives the premium, and how the BMC-84 compares to a BMC-85 trust.

Freight broker bond cost by the numbers

$75,000: Federal BMC-84 freight broker bond required for FMCSA operating authority; FMCSA
$8.6B: U.S. surety direct written premium; SFAA, 2022

Premium, not the full $75,000

The FMCSA requires a $75,000 BMC-84 bond before it will issue your MC operating authority, but you do not post $75,000. You pay an annual premium, a percentage of the bond amount. Premiums typically run 1% to 10% of the $75,000, set mostly by your personal credit, with finances and experience factoring in. Strong-credit brokers land near the low end; newer or credit-challenged brokers pay more.

What drives your rate

Credit. The biggest lever. It largely decides where in the 1% to 10% range you land.
Experience and finances. An established brokerage with clean financials is an easier file than a brand-new authority.
The market. Sureties price freight bonds differently, so shopping the file matters, especially on tougher credit.

BMC-84 vs. BMC-85

The FMCSA lets you meet the $75,000 requirement two ways. A BMC-84 is a surety bond: you pay a small premium and keep your capital free to run the business. A BMC-85 is a trust fund that locks up the full $75,000 in cash or assets. Most brokers choose the BMC-84 so their money stays working, the same capital logic behind a bond versus a letter of credit.

Newer or credit-challenged?

A thin file or rough credit means a higher rate, not an automatic decline. We shop the markets that write these brokers. See the full freight broker bond page and how we place bad-credit surety bonds, then start a quote for your exact rate.

Questions

FAQs

Reviewed by Michael Melshenker, CEO. Updated June 2026.

How much does a freight broker bond cost?

You pay an annual premium, not the full $75,000. Premiums typically run 1% to 10% of the bond amount, set mostly by credit. Brokers with strong credit generally land at the low end; newer or credit-challenged brokers pay more. We shop markets for your best rate.

Do I pay the full $75,000?

No. The $75,000 is the FMCSA's required coverage, not your cost. You pay a percentage of it as an annual premium based on your credit, finances, and experience.

What is the difference between a BMC-84 and a BMC-85?

Both satisfy the FMCSA's $75,000 requirement. A BMC-84 is a surety bond: you pay a small premium and keep your capital. A BMC-85 is a trust that ties up the full $75,000 in cash or assets. Most brokers choose the BMC-84 to keep their money working.

Can I get a BMC-84 with bad credit?

Often, yes. Credit affects the rate, not your eligibility outright. We work the markets that write credit-challenged and newer brokers rather than declining at the door. Underwriting still applies.