Why Surety Bonds are Required in New York?

Surety bonds are agreements that guarantee compliance with certain state laws or simply the honest and faithful conducting of business. New York state requires applicants for most business licenses to obtain a bond before they can get licensed. Similarly, contractors that want to perform work on projects in the state over a certain dollar amount may also need to get bonded first.

See our ‘What is a surety bond’ guide for more information! It is very useful for first-time applicants who want to know more about how bonds work, and why they are required.

Types of surety bonds in New York

There are three main types of surety bonds that are required in the state:

  • If you plan to start a business or get licensed in New York, you will most likely need to get a license or permit surety bond before you can offer services to customers. License bonds protect the interests of New York state, and a business’s customers. They offer compensation in cases of fraud, misconduct, and other cases of non-compliance with regulations.

  • If you are a licensed and bonded New York contractor and you want to bid for a construction project or you are about to begin work on a job, you will be required to obtain a type of contract bond, also known as construction bond. It guarantees you will perform your job in accordance with the contract, as well as in accordance with New York state regulations.

  • Individuals are required to obtain a court bond by a New York court when, for example, appealing a court case or being appointed as someone’s fiduciary. In these and other similar instances, individuals must obtain either a supersedeas or a fiduciary bond, that they will need to present to the court.

New York Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond

New York auto dealers need to post a $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000 surety bond depending on the type and number of cars they sell.

Freight Broker Bond

A $75,000 freight broker surety bond is required of freight brokers and freight forwarders by the FMCSA.

Private Investigator Bond

The private investigator surety bond is required of individuals who wish to become private investigators or open a detective agency.

New York Nail Salon Wage Bond

Nail salon owners in the state of New York are required to purchase a wage and welfare bond to protect their employees.

New York Health Club Bond

To open a health club or spa in the state of New York, you will require a health club bond.

New York Home Improvement Contractor Bond

Applicants for a home improvement contractor license must post a $20,000 contractor license bond.

If you know what kind of bond you are looking for, look it up in the table below and click on the application link to request a free quote!

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
Market Agencies/Dealers Bond Dept of Agriculture and markets Farm Products Dealer Bond Apply Now
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond County of Putnam County of Putnam Electrical Contractor License Bon Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond City of Niagara Falls Performance Bond Apply Now
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond City of New York More Than ONe Location-Building Operations Permits Apply Now
Excess Weight, Other Highway & Street Permit Bond City of New York/Commissioner of Transportation Two to Fifty Locations Liability Permit Bond Apply Now
Excess Weight, Other Highway & Street Permit Bond Department of Transportation, State of New York Oversize and or Overweight Equipment Hauling Permi Apply Now
Collection Agency Bond Office of Licenses Collection Agency Bond(City of Buffalo, NY) Apply Now
Collection Agency Bond NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Collection Agency Bond (New York City) Apply Now
Professional Fund Raisers Bond New York State Department of Law Annual Bond (for Professional Fund Raisers) Apply Now
Insurance Adjusters Bond NY Insurance Department - Licensing Bureau Adjusters Apply Now
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond Superintendent of Banks Originating Entity Apply Now
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond Superintendent of Banks Registered Mortgage Brokers Apply Now
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond Superintendent of Banks FHA Mortgage Loan Correspondent Apply Now
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond New York Banking Department Mortgage Loan Originator (Individual) Apply Now
Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond NY Superintendent of Banks Licensed Mortgage Banker Bond Apply Now
Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York REGISTERED MORTGAGE LOAN SERVICERS Apply Now
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles Motor Vehicle Dealer Apply Now
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond Department of State Automobile Brokers Bond Apply Now
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond Obligee info for this request was wrong Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond Apply Now
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (Used Only, No New) Bond Department of Motor Vehicles Motor Vehicle Dealer Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond New York State Department of State Executive Law Article 21-B Apply Now
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond Town of Hempstead Second Hand Vehicle Sales Apply Now
Sport Permits Bond State Athletic Commission Sport Permits Bond Apply Now
Sport Permits Bond State Athletic Commission Boxing, Sparring, and Wrestling Match Permit Bond Apply Now
Health Spas/Health Clubs Bond Division of Licensing Services Health Club Apply Now
Detectives Bond Secretary of State Private Investigator Bond Apply Now
Detectives Bond Secretary of State Watch, Guard or Patrol Aency Bond Apply Now
Employment Agencies Bond The People of the State of New York Employment Agency Bond Apply Now
Nursing Homes Bond NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH State of New York Nursing Homes Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Consumer Affairs Immigration Assistance Service Providers Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond NY Dept of Transportation Oversize Hauling Permit Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Consumer Affairs Process Server Individual Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Secretary of State Ticker Reseller Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond City of New York Taxi & Limousine Commission For Hire Vehicle Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Office of the Medicaid Inspector General Ambulette Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Consumer Affairs Second Hand Dealer Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond City of Rochelle, NY (City of New Rochelle) Door to Door Vendor Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Town of Clarkstown Solicitor Bond (Clarkstown, NY) Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Secretary of State Appearance Enhancement Business Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Consumer Affairs Process Serving Agency Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Department of Consumer Affairs General Contractor Bond Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Westchester County Taxi & Limo Commission Base Station Bond (Westchester County Taxi & Limo Apply Now
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond Westchester County Taxi Base Station Bond (County of West Chester) Apply Now
Alcohol (Manufacturers, Warehouses, Wholesalers) Bond State Liquor Authority New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Apply Now
Alcohol (Retailers) Bond Alcohol (Retailers) Bond Apply Now
Fuel Tax (All Others, Sellers & Users) Bond NY State Dept of Taxation and Finance Bond of Distributor of Automotive Fuel Apply Now
Other Public Warehouses (All) Bond City Of New York, Department Of Consumer Affairs Storage Warehouse Bond (New York City) Apply Now
Games of Chance Bond NYS Department of State Games of Chance Bond Apply Now
Turnpike/Bridge Toll Bond New York State Thruway Authority Thruway Authority Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORP dba NATIONAL GRID Utility Deposit Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Long Island Power Authority Long Island Lighting Company Utility Deposit Bond Apply Now
Utility Deposit Bond Public Service Enterprise Group Long Island (PSEGL (PSEGLI) Utility Payment Bond Apply Now
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond Steamfitters Local 638 Steamfitters' Industry Funds Construction Trades Apply Now
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond IBEW Local Union 363 Welfare, Pension, Annuity Payment Bond Apply Now
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond NY LOCAL 1 IUEC IUEC Wage and Fringe Benefit Payment Bond Apply Now
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond TRUSTEE OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL NO. 9 OF NEW YORK Local Union #9 Wage & Welfare Bond Apply Now
Fringe Benefits Only Bond Trustees of the District Council No. 9 of New York International Union of Painters Apply Now
Fringe Benefits Only Bond Sheet Metal Intl #28 Fringe Benefits Only Bond Apply Now
Fringe Benefits Only Bond Sheet Metal Workers International/Local Union #28 Sheet Metal Workers International/Local Union #28 Apply Now
Fringe Benefits Only Bond The Steamfitters' Industry Fund Steamfitters' Industry Funds Construction Trades B Apply Now
Fringe Benefits Only Bond Plumbers Local No. 200 Fringe Benefits Bond (Local #200) Apply Now
Money Transmitter Bond Department of Financial Services Money Transmitter Bond Apply Now
Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond Department of State, Division of Licensing Telemarketing Bond Apply Now

For additional questions you may have about surety bonds in New York, just call us at 866.450.3412.

What’s the Cost of Getting Bonded in New York?

To get your bond, you must pay a surety bond premium, which is a fraction of the full bond amount. It is also known as the bond’s penal sum or the maximum amount of compensation that the surety may extend to an obligee.

When sureties assess your application, they primarily look at your personal credit score, which is an indicator of how safe or risky bond applicant you are. Other factors that surety bond companies also consider are personal and business financial statements, assets profile, experience and work record.

You can find out more about the cost of your bond by visiting our surety bond cost page.

Can I get bonded if I have a low credit score?

Yes. If you're credit score is bad you can still get bonded, even though such bonds are issued at higher rates. Applicants with low credit score are usually offered a rate between 5%-15% of the bond amount. Leanr more about how you can get bonded with our bad credit program.

Try our surety bond cost calculator below to get an estimate of the cost of your bond.

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How to Apply for a Surety Bond in New York?

To apply for a license or contract bond, you need to complete our simple 2-min online bond application form. We’ll contact you with a free quote on your bond shortly, along with more information about completing the 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

Call our surety bond experts at 866.450.3412 to get more information about your bond application, or about the bonding process!


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.