How long does BMC-84 approval take?
For credit-qualified applicants (typically 650+ FICO), most bonds are approved the same business day. FMCSA filing usually shows in the L&I system within 1–3 business days after binding.
BMC-84 Bond
BMC-84 freight broker bond — $75,000 FMCSA surety
Same-day approval for credit-qualified applicants. The bond your FMCSA broker authority depends on.
Every property broker and freight forwarder operating under FMCSA authority must maintain a $75,000 surety bond on file — the BMC-84. Without an active BMC-84 (or a BMC-85 trust fund alternative), the FMCSA will not issue your broker authority, and an existing authority will be revoked within 30 days of a bond lapse. Riskara writes BMC-84 bonds for new and existing brokers — same-day approval for applicants with standard credit, and substandard programs (or BMC-85) for everyone else.
What the bond actually does
The BMC-84 guarantees that you'll pay carriers (and shippers, in some cases) what you owe them for transportation services. If you don't pay, a carrier can file a claim against the bond and the surety pays out up to the $75,000 limit, then bills you to recover it.
Premium — what you actually pay
You don't pay the $75,000 — you pay an annual premium for the surety's guarantee. Premium ranges from about $1,000/year (excellent credit, established broker) to $5,000–$8,000/year (lower credit, new venture). Our AI runs every BMC-84 market we have access to and surfaces your lowest legitimate rate.
BMC-85 alternative
If your credit is low enough that no surety will write BMC-84, you can post a $75,000 cash trust fund (BMC-85) with a financial institution. We coordinate the trust fund setup; the FMCSA accepts both. BMC-85 ties up your cash but eliminates the credit underwriting.
Filing with the FMCSA
Once approved, the surety electronically files the BMC-84 with the FMCSA. Your authority becomes active (or remains active) once the FMCSA confirms the filing — usually 1–3 business days. We track the filing through to FMCSA confirmation.
If your bond lapses
The FMCSA notifies the broker and posts a notice on the public Licensing & Insurance system. You have 30 days from notice to reinstate before authority is revoked. If revoked, you have to reapply from scratch — including a new application fee and waiting period. Don't let it lapse.
What's included
- •$75,000 FMCSA-compliant BMC-84 surety
- •Electronic FMCSA filing
- •Same-day approval for 650+ credit
- •Substandard programs for lower credit
- •BMC-85 trust fund alternative
- •Annual renewal tracking
- •Multi-state freight broker support
- •Carrier-claim defense coordination
BMC-84 FAQs
What if my credit is below 650?
We have substandard BMC-84 markets that will write down to about 575, at higher premium. Below that, BMC-85 trust fund is usually the path — you post $75,000 cash with an FMCSA-approved depository.
How is BMC-84 different from BMC-85?
BMC-84 is a surety bond (you pay an annual premium for the guarantee). BMC-85 is a cash trust fund (you deposit the full $75,000). FMCSA accepts both. BMC-84 preserves your working capital; BMC-85 avoids credit underwriting.
Can a single broker bond cover multiple FMCSA authorities?
No. Each FMCSA broker or forwarder authority requires its own $75,000 bond. We can write multiple bonds for affiliated entities on the same application package.
Does the bond need to be renewed?
Yes — annually. We track your renewal 60 days out and re-underwrite if your financials warrant a better rate.
Get a BMC-84 quote today
Most credit-qualified brokers get approved the same day. Tell us your authority status and credit range to start.
Start My BMC-84 Quote