HIGHROAD / SHIPPING KNOWLEDGE
What Does an Auto Transport Broker Bond Cover?
An auto transport broker bond or trust fund provides financial security for certain failures by a broker to carry out transportation arrangements. It is not a vehicle insurance policy and does not promise a payment to every dissatisfied customer. A claim needs a valid basis under the applicable bond or trust arrangement.
What do BMC-84 and BMC-85 mean?
49 CFR 387.307 requires a property broker to maintain $75,000 in financial security. BMC-84 refers to a surety bond; BMC-85 refers to a trust fund agreement. The regulation describes protection for shippers or motor carriers when the broker fails to carry out contracts or arrangements for transportation by authorized carriers.
That amount is not a separate coverage allowance for each customer's vehicle. Do not compare it with your car's value as though it were a comprehensive motor policy or a guaranteed individual refund.
Which problem are you trying to resolve?
Identify the issue before choosing a claim route:
- Physical vehicle damage: Investigate carrier liability and applicable cargo or personal insurance.
- Broker's failure to fulfill an arrangement: Ask the relevant surety or trustee whether the facts support a claim.
- A disputed cancellation fee: Review the agreement and evidence; disagreement alone does not establish bond liability.
- Suspected impersonation: Verify that the money actually went to the registered business. A stolen company identity complicates the situation.
Our broker, carrier, and referral guide helps identify which party performed each role.
How to prepare an inquiry to a surety or trustee
Locate the current official filing, identify the provider, and independently confirm its claims contact. Prepare the booking agreement, invoices, proof of payment, shipment identifiers, correspondence, and a dated explanation of the failure you allege.
Explain the amount requested and how you calculated it. Ask for the submission requirements, relevant dates, and written acknowledgment. Keep the original evidence and delivery confirmation. Sending a complaint to an agency is not the same as submitting a claim to the bond provider.
Why timing matters
The current rule contains procedures for financial failure or insolvency, including a claim window following FMCSA's public notification. Do not assume an ordinary booking dispute starts that particular clock. Ask the provider which procedure applies and promptly obtain qualified advice if deadlines or entitlement are disputed.
Planning example: a customer paid a broker, but transportation was never supplied. The customer should document the agreement and failed performance before asking the provider about a claim. The existence of a bond alone does not decide the outcome.
Questions customers ask
Does a bond replace cargo insurance?
No. They address different risks and obligations.
Can I assume the full $75,000 is available to me?
No. Coverage, competing claims, and the instrument's terms matter.
Does a bond mean the government recommends the broker?
No. Financial-security requirements are not government endorsements.
Get help with the right next step
Contact the carrier or insurer handling your shipment or claim. Keep the shipment reference and evidence available. For reporting routes, read how to file a car shipping complaint. A general quote inquiry is not a formal damage claim or legal filing.
Related guides
Browse all car shipping guides.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked October 10, 2026. General information, not individualized legal or insurance advice. Confirm current requirements for your shipment. Reference links do not imply agency or carrier endorsement of Highroad.