The federal requirement
Property brokers regulated under 49 USC §13906 and 49 CFR §387.307 must maintain $75,000 in financial responsibility. Two options: a BMC-84 surety bond (annual premium based on personal credit and brokerage volume) or a BMC-85 trust fund (the full $75,000 in cash held by an approved financial institution). The dollar floor is unchanged for 2026.
A BMC-84 bond is the path most new brokers take because it doesn't require pulling $75,000 in cash out of working capital. The annual premium ranges roughly 2–7% of the bond face amount based on the broker's personal credit, business credit, and freight volume.
Surety pricing pressure
Industry-wide surety premiums rose roughly 6–10% across surety lines in late 2025. BMC-84 followed the same trend. Brokers with strong credit (700+ FICO, three years of operating history, no bond claims) typically pay $1,800–$3,500 in 2026; weaker credit profiles pay $4,000–$7,000.
Brokers with active claims history may not be able to obtain a BMC-84 at all, in which case the BMC-85 trust fund is the only option. The trust must be held in a federally-insured bank or credit union and verified to FMCSA L&I via Form BMC-85.
What didn't change
MC broker authority application fee at FMCSA is $300, unchanged. BOC-3 process-agent designation is required, same as for motor carriers. UCR is not required for property brokers (UCR applies only to motor carriers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies under 49 CFR Part 367).
The broker authority approval timeline is unchanged: FMCSA lists 20-25 business days of processing for new applicants, conditional on no public objections during the 10-day protest period and BOC-3 + BMC-84/85 on file within 20 days of the FMCSA Register notice.