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:
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To obtain a business license or permit, you may be required to post a license and permit bond also known as commercial bond.
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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.
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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.
Most Popular Bonds in California
California Auto Dealer Bond
Freight Broker Bond
Contractor License Bond
California Immigration Consultant Bond
Payment and Performance Bond
California Used Car Dealer Bond
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.
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.
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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.
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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
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
- Contractors State License Board - State of California
- California Secretary of State