Card agents are Pennsylvania notaries authorized under contract with PennDOT to issue temporary registration cards when transferring existing registrations from one vehicle to another. Card agents cannot issue registration plates. Permanent registration cards and plates are issued by PennDOT. Card agent bonds are issued to each applicant after an order form and payment for the bond premium is received by our agency.

If you are a motor vehicle dealer who also wishes to issue registration plates, in addition, to your dealer license, the licensee must also be under contract as a full agent with PennDOT, which requires a $30,000 bond. Please refer to more information under full agent. If you are applying for both designations, our primary surety company will permit one $30,000 bond to cover both your dealer and full agent designations. Please note, not all bonding companies will permit multiple license types to be covered under one bond.

If your motor vehicle sales business will be applying for a messenger license in addition to your dealer license, please view the messenger bond section of our website. Our primary surety company will allow one bond to also cover your dealer and/or full agent designations. Please note, not all bonding companies will permit multiple license types to be covered under one bond.

Will your full agent business also be selling motor vehicles as a licensed dealer?

Through our primary surety company, a $30,000 full agent bond can also cover a motor vehicle dealer designation if the applicant will also be applying for a dealer license. Please note, not all bonding companies will permit multiple license types to be covered under one bond.

If your full agent business will be applying for a messenger license in addition to your full agent contract, please view the messenger bond section of our website for more information. Our primary surety will allow one bond to also cover your dealer and/or full agent designations. Please note, not all bonding companies will permit multiple license types to be covered under one bond.

Each branch location operating as a messenger service must file an additional $50,000 bond with PennDOT. This can be accomplished in several ways, depending on the bonding company and your preference. For example, if you have three separate business locations, you may file three separate $50,000 messenger bonds with PennDOT; or, you may file one $150,000 messenger bond with PennDOT that lists each of the locations.

A messenger is an individual or business entity authorized by PennDOT to deliver and obtain driver licensing and vehicle registration documents to and from PennDOT, for a service fee, for consumers in the Commonwealth. A messenger may work exclusively for an agent service and may or may not provide counter service to the general public. A messenger with at least one year of service and no sanctions is eligible to apply to become an Online Messenger. Online Messengers provide enhanced over-the-counter services to the public, including driver’s license and photo ID card renewals, duplicate titles, and driver and vehicle records.

The Decentralized Services Program allows messengers who are also approved as issuing agents to 1) issue a registration plate to a vehicle already titled in Pennsylvania, but not registered; 2) reissue a registration plate to a vehicle already titled and registered in Pennsylvania. Participation in the Decentralized Services Program is optional for messenger services that are also registered as issuing agents.

Approval of a $50,000 messenger bond requires a completed application, favorable credit score, and credit history for each owner of the business. Business financials and personal financial statements for each business owner may also be required for consideration of each bond.