When Do You Need a Surety Bond in California?

Surety bonds guarantee that businesses and individuals will comply with the laws and regulations in California. The bond serves as a protection mechanism for the state and the general public. Our What is a surety bond guide is a great resource if you want to know more about the bonding process.

There are three main types of surety bonds in the state of California you can get:

  • To obtain a business license or permit, you may be required to post a license and permit bond also known as commercial bond.

  • For a public or private construction project you will have to post a construction bond to guarantee the bid, performance and payment of the project.

  • You may have to post a California court bond if a court appoints you as a fiduciary or guardian to someone. You may need this bond and if you want to appeal a court decision to a higher instance.

The fidelity bond is another type of surety bond that is usually obtained by businesses. It serves to protect company owners from employee dishonesty, fraud, and embezzlement, and to provide an additional layer of security for businesses and their clients.

California Auto Dealer Bond

Auto dealers in California are required to post a $50,000 surety bond in order to obtain an auto dealer license.

Freight Broker Bond

Freight brokers and freight forwarders are required by the FMCSA to provide a $75,000 freight broker surety bond.

Contractor License Bond

California requires all contractors who perform work valued higher than $500 to obtain a license and a surety bond.

California Immigration Consultant Bond

Immigration consultants should obtain a $100,000 surety bond to get licensed in the state of California.

Payment and Performance Bond

Performance and payment bonds are typically required together to guarantee the completion of a specific contract.

California Used Car Dealer Bond

The DMV requires a $50,000 used car dealer bond from applicants planning to start a business in the used car dealer market.

You can use the table below to find the bond that you need. If you need help, give us a call at 866.450.3412 to speak with our surety bonds experts.

Find the Bond You Need

The table below contains a list of only the most popular surety bonds. If you can't find yours, fill out our online application and select "Not in the list".

Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84) FMCSA N/A Apply Now
Agricultural (Non-Livestock) Bond Department of Food & Agriculture SURETY BOND / PRODUCE DEALERS ACT Apply Now
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond Sonoma Count PRMD Public Works Bond (Sonoma County Department) Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond City of Los Angeles - Environmental Affairs Dept Waste Collector's Performance Bond Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond Contractors State License Board Contractor's Bond Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond CSLB Bond of Qualifying Individual Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond Structual Pest Control Board Company Registration Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond City of Los Angeles Sewer/Storm Drain Connectin Bond Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond Dept of Industrial Relations Farm Labor Contractor Bond Apply Now
Check Sellers Bond CA Commissioner of Business Oversight Check Sellers Bond Apply Now
Debt Consolidators Bond Attorney General's Office Credit Services Organization Apply Now
Professional Fund Raisers Bond Attorney General - Registry of Charitable Trusts Commercial Fundraiser for Charitable Purposes Bond Apply Now
Insurance Adjusters Bond State of California Bond of Public Insurance Adjuster Apply Now
Insurance Adjusters Bond Producer Licensing Bureau Insurance Adjuster Bond Apply Now
Insurance Agents/Brokers Bond Producer Licensing Bureau Bond for Insurance Broker Apply Now
Insurance Surplus Lines Brokers Bond State of California - Dept of Ins Bond of Surplus Line Broker Apply Now
Insurance Surplus Lines Brokers Bond Producer Licensing Bureau Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker Apply Now
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond Commissioner of Corporations, Dept of Corporations Mortgage Broker Apply Now
Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond Commissioner of Corporations, Dept of Corporations Finance Lender Apply Now
Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond Commissioner of Corporations, Dept of Corporations Residential Mortgage Lender and-or Servicer Bond Apply Now
Small Loan Companies Bond Department Of Corporations Deferred Deposit Transaction Law Licensee Apply Now
Title Insurance Agents & Escrow Officers Bond California Department of Corporations Escrow Licensee Apply Now
Defective Title Bond State of California Dept of Motor Vehicles Motor Vehicles Ownership Bond Apply Now
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles - Occupational Licens Retail Dealer Apply Now
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles - Occupational Licens Wholesale Dealer Apply Now
Self-Insurers & Financial Responsibility Bond CA DMV Financial Responsibility Bond Apply Now
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (Used Only, No New) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles - Occupational Licens Retail Dealer Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond Registration Operations Division Business Partner Automation Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond California Registration Operations Division REGISTRATION SERVICE SURETY BOND Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond State of California DMV Vehicle Verifier Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond State of California DMV Commercial Requester Account Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond California Department of Boating and Waterways Yacht and Ship Broker Bond Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond Department Of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Div. IRP Bonded Web User Bond Apply Now
Sport Permits Bond State Athletic Commission Professional Club and Promoter's Bond Apply Now
Auctioneers (Other than Livestock) Bond California Secretary of Sate Auctioneer/Auction Company Apply Now
Employment Agencies Bond California Secretary of State Employment Counseling Service Apply Now
Employment Agencies Bond CA Secretary of the State Employment Agencies Apply Now
Nursing Homes Bond CA Health & Human Services Health and Human Services Agency Apply Now
Nursing Homes Bond CA Dept of Public Health Health Facility Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond State Board of Pharmacy Wholesaler or Nonresident Wholesaler Surety Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Structural Pest Control Board Company Registration Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond California State Board of Pharmacy Pharmacy Wholesaler or Non-Resident Wholesaler Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond California Secretary of State Legal Document Assistant Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Industrial Relations Talent Agency Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond City of National City (National City, CA) Pawn Broker Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond California Secretary of State Immigration Consultants Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond CA Dept of Industrial Relations Fee-Related Talent Service Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond USPS Contract Postal Unit Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Industrial Relations Car Wash Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Justice- Second Hand Dealer Pawn Bro Pawnbrokers Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Dept of Social Services-Adoptions Support Unit Adoption Facilitator Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond California Integrated Waste Management Board Waste Tire Hauler Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond State of California DMV Mobile Car Wash Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Secretary of State Foreclosure Consultant Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF Pawnbroker Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond State of California, Public Utilities Commission Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Cemetery and Funeral Bureau Cemetary Broker Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Justice Pawnbroker Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond County Santiation Districts of Los Angeles Waste Hauler Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Corporations Franchise Registration Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Tax Education Council Tax Preparer Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond City of Newport Beach, CA Pawnbroker Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Producer Licensing Bureau Cargo Shipper's Agent Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond State of California, Department of Pesticide Regula Pest Control Business Licensees Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond City of Los Angeles - Office of Finance Parking Occupancy Tax Collection Bond Apply Now
Schools (All) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles Driving School Owner or ATV Safety Training Org Pr Apply Now
Schools (All) Bond Traffic Violator School Monitoring Division - LA Home Study Traffic School Apply Now
Schools (All) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles Traffic Violator School (TVS) Owner Apply Now
Schools (All) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles TRAFFIC VIOLATOR SCHOOL (TVS) OWNER BOND Apply Now
Travel Agencies Bond Dept. of Justice, Seller of Travel Program Seller of Travel Surety Bond Apply Now
Travel Agencies Bond Secretary Of State Seller of Travel Discount Programs Bond Apply Now
Cigar/Cigarette & Tobacco Tax Bond State of California Dept of Equalization Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Bond Apply Now
Cigar/Cigarette & Tobacco Tax Bond CA Office of the Attorney General Tobacco Manufacturer and Importer Bond Apply Now
Fuel Tax (All Others, Sellers & Users) Bond California Board of Equalization Diesel Fuel Supplier Bond Apply Now
Miscellaneous Taxes Bond City and County of San Francisco Parking Tax Collection Apply Now
Sales, Use & Consumer Tax Bond State Board of Equalization Bond of Seller Apply Now
Sales, Use & Consumer Tax Bond State Board Of Equalization User of Fuel Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond PG&E SURETY BOND / BILL GUARANTY Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Public Utilities Commission Public Utilities Commission Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Southern California Edison Company Edison Company Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Southern California Gas Company Southern California Gas Company Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC SDGE Utility Deposit Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Sacramento Municipal Utility District Sacramento Municipal Utility District Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Modesto Irrigation District Modesto Irrigation District Utility Deposit Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Southern California Edison Company SCEC Utility Deposit Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Southwest Gas Corporation Southwest Gas Corporation Utility Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Department of Water and Power City of Los Angeles Utility Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond California Public Utilities Commission Electric Service Provider Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Public Utilities Commission of California Telephone Corporation Bond (CPUC) Apply Now
Financial Guarantee (All Other) Bond Allied Waste Transfer Services of California, LLC Disposal Payment Bond Apply Now
Auctioneer's (Net Proceeds Meet Amount) Bond California Secretary of State Auctioneer/Auction Company Bond Apply Now
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond CA District Council Of Iron Workers District Council of Iron Workers Apply Now
Money Transmitter Bond PNB Remittance Center, Inc. Money Order, Money Gram, Buypay Bond Apply Now
Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond Attorney General's Office Telephonic Seller Bond Apply Now
Non-Construction Performance Bond CA Public Utilites Commission CPUC Performance Bond Apply Now

How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost?

To get bonded, you need to pay a bond premium, which is a percentage of the total bond amount you need. The typical cost of the bond is 1-3% for standard markets and 3-10% for higher risk applicants. If you want to learn more about how the premium is determined and what it means for you, read more on the surety bond cost page.

Get an initial cost estimate by using the calculator below. You can also request a free and exact quote by completing our bond application form.

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Can I Get Bonded With Bad Credit?

Yes, you can still obtain a surety bond, but if your personal credit score is low, or there are other factors making you a high-risk applicant, you will get a slightly higher premium. Usually the rates are between 5%-15% of the total bond amount.

By improving your credit score over time, you can lower your premium. Learn more about the Bad Credit Surety Bonds program by Bryant Surety.

How to Apply for a Surety Bond in California?

To apply for a license or construction bond, simply complete our 2-min online bond application form to get started with your bonding process. You will then receive a free quote on your bond, along with more details on completing the application process.

Start your surety bond application today! Why us?
  • Quick turnaround - just 1-2 business days
  • Tailor-made advice on building a strong application
  • Exclusive bad credit programs

  • To apply for a fidelity bond select one of the application forms here, based on the specific bond you need and send it to us.

  • If you need to obtain a court bond, visit our court bond application page to start your application process.

In case you have any questions, or would like to speak to our surety bond specialists, call us at 866.450.3412.

Surety Bond Requirements by City

Additional Resources


About us:
Bryant Surety Bonds, Inc. is a surety bond agency based in Pennsylvania. Licensed in all 50 states and with access to over 20 T-listed, A-Rated bonding companies, we have the contacts, expertise, and top service to provide you with a hassle-free experience, all while offering competitive rates for your surety bond.