Arkansas does not require a licensed auctioneer to carry a surety bond. Under the rules of the Arkansas Auctioneers Licensing Board, each auctioneer instead pays a $100 fee into the state Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund at initial licensure and at each annual renewal, and that fund, not a bond, protects the public. The Recovery Fund is established under Arkansas Code Title 17, Chapter 17, Subchapter 4 (beginning at § 17-17-401). If you searched for an “Arkansas auctioneer bond,” the honest answer is that the state replaced the bond requirement with this fund.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who requires it | No bond is required. The Arkansas Auctioneers Licensing Board (Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing) regulates auctioneer licensing. |
| Governing law | Arkansas Code Title 17, Chapter 17 (Auctioneers); Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund at § 17-17-401 et seq.; Board Rules, Section 8 (Recovery Fund) |
| Official form | None. There is no state auctioneer bond form. Licensing uses the Board’s license application, not a bond. |
| Bond amount | $0. No surety bond is required. [VERIFY against Board FAQ / Ark. Code 17-17-401 et seq.: confirm no bond option remains on file for any applicant class] |
| In place of a bond | $100 Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund fee at initial licensure and at each annual renewal, paid until the fund reaches $180,000 (Board Rules 8.1) |
| Coverage term | License expires June 30 each year and is renewed annually; the Recovery Fund fee is paid each year on that cycle |
| Obligee | Not applicable. There is no bond and no obligee. Claims are made to the Board against the Recovery Fund. |
Is there a required bond amount for Arkansas auctioneers?
No. There is no required Arkansas auctioneer surety bond, so there is no bond amount to post. What the state does require is a $100 payment into the Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund.
| Requirement | Amount | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Auctioneer surety bond | $0 (not required) | Never; Arkansas does not require one |
| Recovery Fund fee | $100 | At initial licensure and at each annual renewal, until the fund reaches $180,000 |
| License fee | $100 | At initial licensure and at each annual renewal |
| Examination fee | $100 | At initial application |
Under Board Rule 8.1, if the Recovery Fund balance falls to $100,000 or below, each licensee pays a proportionate amount set by the Board until the fund is restored to $180,000. [VERIFY against Arkansas Auctioneers Licensing Board Rules, Section 8.1: confirm the $180,000 target and $100,000 floor figures are current.]
What protects the public instead of a bond?
Because there is no bond, the Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund is what stands behind a licensed Arkansas auctioneer. If an auctioneer is ordered by the Board to pay a specified amount to an aggrieved person and fails to do so within 30 days (and the order is not under appeal), the aggrieved party may request payment of actual, compensatory damages from the fund. The Board cannot award punitive damages or interest from the fund (Board Rules 8.2 through 8.4).
This is the practical difference for a buyer to understand:
- A surety bond is a three-party guarantee that the surety pays first and the principal repays.
- The Recovery Fund is a pooled state fund financed by all licensees’ $100 fees, drawn on only after the Board orders payment and the auctioneer does not comply.
Either way, an auctioneer who causes a valid, ordered loss remains responsible for it.
How much does an Arkansas auctioneer bond cost?
There is no Arkansas auctioneer bond to price, so there is no bond premium for this license. The state cost is the $100 Recovery Fund fee, paid to the Board (not to a surety), plus the standard license and examination fees.
If your work requires a different surety bond (see the next section) and you want All n One to write it, pricing works the way it does for any surety bond: you pay a premium that is a percentage of the bond’s face amount, set mainly by your credit.
[CLIENT FLAG: There is no premium to quote for a required Arkansas auctioneer bond because the state does not require one. Confirm how you want this page to convert. Options: (a) keep it as an educational page that routes auctioneers to other bonds they may actually need, or (b) if you sell a voluntary or contractual auctioneer bond product, provide that product’s premium ranges and we will add them here.]
“Arkansas auctioneer bond” vs. what auctioneers may actually need
People search for an “auctioneer bond” for several different reasons. Here is how Arkansas fits:
- State license bond: Not required in Arkansas. The Recovery Fund replaced it.
- The old $2,000 bond: Older references and some out-of-state guides still mention a $2,000 auctioneer bond. That reflected an earlier version of the law; the current Board rules use the Recovery Fund, not a bond. [VERIFY against Ark. Code 17-17-401 et seq. and Board FAQ: confirm the historical $2,000 bond has been fully superseded and no bond is currently required.]
- Nonresident auctioneers: A nonresident applicant does not post a bond either. Under Board Rule 9.8, a nonresident must file an irrevocable consent that lawsuits may be brought against them in an Arkansas court, on top of the standard requirements.
- Auction house license: Arkansas licenses auction houses separately from individual auctioneers, and neither license requires a surety bond. An auction house license does not authorize the named individual to “call” an auction.
- Other states or contracts: If you also auction in another state, or a specific contract, court, or venue requires a bond, that is a separate bond we can write. Tell us the exact requirement.
How do I get licensed as an auctioneer in Arkansas?
There is no bond to buy or file. The steps to become a licensed Arkansas auctioneer are:
- Confirm you meet the Board’s qualifications and complete the required application through the Arkansas Auctioneers Licensing Board.
- Pass the auctioneer examination (examination fee $100).
- Submit the license application with the $100 license fee, the $100 Recovery Fund fee, the required background-check payments, a passport-type photo, and any additional forms the Board requests.
- If you are a nonresident, also file the irrevocable consent to be sued in Arkansas courts (Board Rule 9.8).
- Renew each year by June 30 with the $100 license renewal fee, the $100 Recovery Fund fee (until the fund reaches $180,000), and proof of 6 hours of continuing education. A 30-day grace period runs to July 31.
If your auction work in another state or under a specific contract does require a surety bond, apply through All n One and we will quote and issue that bond.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a surety bond to be an auctioneer in Arkansas?
No. The Arkansas Auctioneers Licensing Board’s own FAQ states that a bond is not required. Auctioneers instead pay into the Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund.
How much is the Arkansas auctioneer bond?
There is no auctioneer bond in Arkansas, so there is no bond amount. The related state cost is a $100 Recovery Fund fee at initial licensure and at each annual renewal.
I saw a $2,000 auctioneer bond mentioned. Is that real?
That figure comes from an older version of Arkansas law and from out-of-state or third-party guides. Under the current Board rules, Arkansas uses the Recovery Fund instead of a bond. [VERIFY against Ark. Code 17-17-401 et seq. and Board FAQ: confirm no current bond requirement.]
What is the Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund?
It is a state fund, established under Arkansas Code § 17-17-401, that all licensed auctioneers pay into. It can reimburse an aggrieved person for actual damages the Board orders an auctioneer to pay when the auctioneer fails to pay within 30 days.
Do nonresident auctioneers have to post a bond in Arkansas?
No. A nonresident applicant files an irrevocable consent to be sued in an Arkansas court (Board Rule 9.8) rather than posting a bond.
How long does my Arkansas auctioneer license last?
Licenses expire June 30 each year and are renewed annually. Renewal requires the license fee, the Recovery Fund fee (until the fund is fully funded), and 6 hours of continuing education, with a grace period to July 31.
Does an auction house need a surety bond in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas licenses auction houses separately, and that license does not require a surety bond either.
When would an auctioneer actually need a surety bond?
If you auction in another state that requires one, or a specific contract, court, or venue requires a bond, that is a separate bond. All n One can quote and write it once you know the exact requirement.
