The Used Car Lot Surety Bond is the bond form published by the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) for anyone who wants to run a used car lot in the District of Columbia. It is one of the documents that goes with a DC business license for a used car lot, because DC law requires a bond for the license year. On FillingPDF you can fill out the Used Car Lot Surety Bond online and download or print the completed PDF; the original fillable PDF is published by DLCP, and the bond must still be executed and filed as DC law requires.
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What is Used Car Lot Surety Bond – Washington, DC?
The Used Car Lot Surety Bond is the form by which a used car lot business (the Principal) and a bonding company (the Surety) bind themselves to the District of Columbia and to any aggrieved person for violations of used car lot law.
The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) publishes it. The form recites that DC Code Section 40-1103 and the implementing regulations, 16 DCMR Section 300, et seq., require the execution and filing of a bond for the license year. That license year ends not more than two years from the effective date of the bond.
The obligation runs to the District of Columbia and to any person aggrieved by the Principal's violation of a law or regulation in force in the District that relates to the used car lot business. It is void if the Principal observes and complies with all laws and regulations of the District relating to the used car lot business, and with the rules, regulations and orders of DLCP. Otherwise it stays in force for the benefit of anyone aggrieved. The surety's aggregate liability for all claims and claimants may not exceed the sum printed on the form, or what remains of it after any earlier recovery.
The form is a bond, not a license application: it carries a bond number, the Principal's name as it appears on the license application, the Surety's name and address, signatures, witnesses and seals.
Who needs to file Used Car Lot Surety Bond – Washington, DC?
The main group is the Principal: a sole proprietor (with trade name) or a corporation or LLC that desires to engage in the business of a used car lot in the District of Columbia. The form asks for the name exactly as it appears on the license application, the names of the owners, partners or officers (for a corporation or LLC), and the location of the business.
The Surety is the second party. It must be a corporation authorized to do business in the District of Columbia, and it signs through an attorney-in-fact.
Individuals who sign for the Principal are the President, owner or partner, and, as the Principal Signature, one of those officers. A corporation also has the Secretary attest. Two witnesses must be present when the bond is signed.
The form sets out no exclusions and no rule on who else may sign for the Principal. For questions about whether your business needs a used car lot license, DLCP's helpline is 202.671.4500.
When to file Used Car Lot Surety Bond – Washington, DC
The triggering event is the licensing of a used car lot: DC Code Section 40-1103 and 16 DCMR Section 300, et seq., as cited on the form, require the execution and filing of a bond for the license year. The bond must be signed and sealed on a date you enter and carry an effective date, and the license year it covers ends not more than two years from that effective date.
The form prints no separate due date. Because it names the license year, plan to have the bond executed before or together with the license it supports. DLCP can confirm timing at its helpline, 202.671.4500.
Documents you need
- Authority of the executing officers or of the attorney-in-fact for the surety, attached to the bond; the form states this authority must be attached.
How to fill out Used Car Lot Surety Bond – Washington, DC
Enter the bond number
Write the bond number in the field at the top of the form, labeled BOND NUMBER.
Name the Principal
After "we", enter the sole proprietor and trade name, or the corporation or LLC, exactly as they appear on the license application. Under Officer(s) Name(s), list the owners, partners or, for a corporation or LLC, the officers.
Give the business location
In the "doing business at" field, enter the location of the business.
Identify the Surety
After "as Principal, and", enter the name and address of the bonding company, which must be a corporation authorized to do business in the District of Columbia.
Enter the signing and effective dates
Fill in the day, month and year the bond is signed and sealed, then the effective date of the bond. The license year covered ends not more than two years from that effective date.
Add the two witnesses
Have the witnesses sign at (1) Witness Signature and (2) Witness Signature; the bond is signed in the presence of two witnesses.
Sign for the Principal
The President, owner or partner signs at Signature of President/Owner/Partner, and one of those officers signs at Principal Signature, with the corporate seal.
Complete the attestation and attorney-in-fact
The Secretary signs at Attest by Secretary. The attorney-in-fact signs at Attorney-in-Fact and adds a seal; any correction must be sealed and initialed by the attorney-in-fact.
Review, attach authority and download
Check every field, attach the authority of the executing officers or attorney-in-fact, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF.
How to submit Used Car Lot Surety Bond – Washington, DC
The Used Car Lot Surety Bond form names no mailing address, portal or appointment process, so the filing channel is not printed on the document. It states only that DC Code Section 40-1103 and 16 DCMR Section 300, et seq., require the bond to be executed and filed for the license year.
- Before filing: the bond must be fully executed. That means the Principal's and Surety's details, the signed-and-sealed and effective dates, two witness signatures, the Principal's signatures, the Secretary's attestation and the attorney-in-fact's signature and seal.
- Attachment: the authority of the executing officers or attorney-in-fact for the surety must be attached to the bond.
- Where to ask: the issuing agency is the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection; the form lists its Helpline 202.671.4500 and the website dlcp.dc.gov. Confirm the current filing method there.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels DLCP gives.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the authority of the executing officers or the attorney-in-fact for the surety; the form says it must be attached to the bond.
- Making erasures, corrections or alterations that are not sealed and initialed by the attorney-in-fact, which the form requires.
- Signing with fewer than two witnesses; the form says it is signed in the presence of two witnesses.
- Entering a business name that differs from the one on the license application; the form asks for the name as it appears there.
- Naming a Surety that is not a corporation authorized to do business in the District of Columbia.
- Skipping the effective date, or choosing one that makes the license year run more than two years from it.
- Omitting the Secretary's attestation, the corporate seal or the attorney-in-fact's seal where the form provides for them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Used Car Lot Surety Bond?
It is a DLCP bond form on which a used car lot business (Principal) and a bonding company (Surety) bind themselves to the District of Columbia and to any person aggrieved by the Principal's violation of DC law or regulation relating to the used car lot business.
Do I need a surety bond for a DC used car lot license?
The form says DC Code Section 40-1103 and 16 DCMR Section 300, et seq., require the execution and filing of a bond for the license year for a used car lot business. DLCP's helpline, 202.671.4500, can confirm what applies to you.
How long does a used car lot bond last?
The bond covers the license year, which ends not more than two years from the effective date entered on the bond. The form has a field for that effective date, separate from the date the bond is signed and sealed.
Who has to sign the Used Car Lot Surety Bond?
Two witnesses, the President, owner or partner, one of those officers as Principal Signature, the Secretary (attest) and the Surety's attorney-in-fact. The form provides seals for the corporate Principal and the attorney-in-fact.
What must be attached to the bond?
The authority of the executing officers or of the attorney-in-fact for the surety must be attached to the bond. The form also requires erasures, corrections and alterations to be sealed and initialed by the attorney-in-fact.
Where do I file the Used Car Lot Surety Bond?
The form prints no address or portal. It is issued by the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, whose Helpline is 202.671.4500 and website is dlcp.dc.gov; ask there how the bond must be filed with your license.
Can I fill out the Used Car Lot Surety Bond online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service: it does not file the bond or issue it, so the completed bond goes through DLCP's channels.
Who can make a claim on the bond?
The bond runs in favor of the District of Columbia and any person aggrieved by the Principal's violation of a DC law or regulation relating to the used car lot business. The surety's total liability cannot exceed the sum printed on the form.
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