Florida CDL Third Party Administrator Bond Overview
- Purpose: To hold CDL testing providers accountable for upholding state and federal regulations
- Who Needs It: All third party administrators of commercial driver’s license tests in Florida
- Regulating Body: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
- Bond Amount: $100,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000
- Minimum Price: 1% of the bond amount; credit-based
What Is a Florida CDL Third Party Administrator Bond?
A Florida CDL third party administrator bond helps ensure that administrators meet legal and professional requirements.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) requires this bond before an applicant can get a license to administer commercial driver license tests.
Who Needs a CDL Third Party Administrator Bond?
All CDL driver’s license administrators contracted with the FLHSMV need a surety bond. The bond coverage depends on the volume of road tests you administer each year.
| Road Tests Administered Annually | Bond Amount |
|---|---|
| 1–300 | $100,000 |
| 301–600 | $500,000 |
| 601+ | $1,000,000 |
Do Third Party Testers Need a Bond?
Third party testers do not need a bond.
- A third party administrator is a company contracted by the FLHSMV.
- A third party tester is an individual worker certified by the FLHSMV to administer the CDL skills test on behalf of the administrator.
Government entities acting as administrators also do not need a surety bond — they are exempt.
How Much Do CDL Third Party Administrator Bonds Cost?
Florida CDL administrator bond premiums start at 1% of the coverage amount. That means the $100,000 bond starts at $1,000. Rates may vary from 1% to 10% based on a soft credit preview. Apply for your personalized quote now.
SuretyBonds.com offers the lowest available rates from our nationwide provider network with no added fees.
How Does a CDL Administrator Bond Work?
A Florida CDL administrator bond creates a contract between three parties.
| Bond Party | Description |
|---|---|
| 1) Principal | The bonded CDL third-party administrator |
| 2) Obligee | The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles |
| 3) Surety | The issuing surety provider |
The bond contract holds you, the principal, financially responsible for upholding 49 CFR 383.75. If the business is found to be fraudulent, the bond can be used to cover the cost of re-testing drivers.
How Do I Get My Administrator Bond?
It only takes a couple of minutes to apply for your Florida CDL administrator bond. Follow these steps:
- Apply for a free quote.
- Provide any documents and signatures as needed.
- Complete the bond purchase and select a shipping option.
We’ll mail you the original bond form. Be sure to file this with the FLHSMV.
How Fast Can I Get My Bond?
You’ll get your quote within one business day or less. After buying the bond, you can select three-day, two-day or overnight shipping for the official documents.
How Do I Renew My Bond?
Florida CDL administrator bonds expire after one year. You can renew your bond annually by paying the renewal premium when prompted.
We’ll send a continuation certificate for you to file with the FLHSMV. This proves your original bond is still active and valid.
Can I Make Changes to My Bond?
If you need to update any information on your bond form, call 1 (800) 308-4358 or email [email protected]. One of our surety representatives will be happy to help you.
How to Become a CDL Third-Party Administrator in Florida
Follow these steps to apply to become a contracted CDL third-party administrator with the FLHSMV:
- Establish a permanent business location.
- Get Commercial Automobile Liability, Commercial General Liability and Workers’ Compensation insurance policies.
- Buy a minimum $100,000 surety bond.
- Hire at least one third party tester to conduct driving tests.
- Make sure testing and record-keeping meets legal requirements.
There is no application fee or official state business license.
