Pennsylvania Surety Bonds Overview
Pennsylvania business license applicants as well as contractors are frequently required to post a surety bond. This bond guarantees their compliance with state laws, and the specific requirements of their particular profession.
What does the bond do?
The bond agreement guarantees that the bonded party will comply with state laws and regulations. It also serves as financial security and protection for the state and the public. If a bonded business violates the bond conditions and causes losses or damages to one or more individuals, a claim may be filed against the bond to receive compensation.
For a fuller explanation of how bonds work, see our detailed 'What is a surety bond' guide!
To go straight to your surety bond application form, find the bond you need in the table below and follow the application link.
If you’re new to surety bonds, the sections below offer extensive information on the types of bonds you can obtain in the state, how much getting bonded costs and how to get your bond.
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 |
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | City of Pittsburgh | Telecommunications Installing and Operating Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | Township of Nottingham | Road Weight Permit Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | Township of Burlington | Road Weight Permit Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | Peters Township | Peters Township, PA Road Weight Permit Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | Union Township | Union Township, PA Road Weight Permit Bond | Apply Now |
Excess Weight, Other Highway & Street Permit Bond | PENNDOT - Bureau of Maintenance & Operations | Surety Bond (Street Permit) | Apply Now |
Excess Weight, Other Highway & Street Permit Bond | Pine Township | Pine Township Excess Weight Permit Bond | Apply Now |
Excess Weight, Other Highway & Street Permit Bond | City Of Pittsburgh | City of Pittsburgh, PA Excess Weight Bond | Apply Now |
Excess Weight, Other Highway & Street Permit Bond | PENNDOT - Bureau of Maintenance & Operations | Weight Restricted Highways Program Performance Bon | Apply Now |
Investment Advisor (Blue Sky) Bond | PA Securities Commission | Uniform Surety Bond | Apply Now |
Collection Agency Bond | department of state | Credit Services Organization Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Fund Raisers Bond | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dept of State | BCO-160 | Apply Now |
Insurance Adjusters Bond | Pennsylvania Insurance Department | Public Adjuster | Apply Now |
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Bureau of Licensing, Compliance & Consumer Service | 1st Mtg. Loan Correspondant | Apply Now |
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Bureau of Licensing, Compliance & Consumer Service | Mortgage Broker (3 page) | Apply Now |
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Bureau of Licensing, Compliance & Consumer Service | Mortgage Broker (8 page) | Apply Now |
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Bureau of Licensing, Compliance & Consumer Service | Mortgage Originator (Individual) | Apply Now |
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Department of Banking | Sponsor of Mortgage Originators Bond | Apply Now |
Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond | Dept of Banking | Mortgage Lender | Apply Now |
Title Insurance Agents & Escrow Officers Bond | Pennsylvania Department of Insurance | Title Insurance Agent | Apply Now |
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond | Dept of Transportation | New, New & Used, Auto, & Mobile Home Dealers | Apply Now |
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | SURETY BOND (Hauling) | Apply Now |
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Pennsylvania Department of Banking | Sales Finance Company Bond | Apply Now |
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Manager of the Vehicle Inspection Division | Official Inspection Station Certificate of Appoint | Apply Now |
Oil, Gas, Water or Mineral Wells or Leases Bond | PA DEP | Oil and Gas Wells Bond | Apply Now |
Sport Permits Bond | Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission | BOND FORM FOR PROFESSIONAL BOXING PROMOTER | Apply Now |
Sport Permits Bond | PA State Athletic Commission | Professional Wrestling Promoter | Apply Now |
Sport Permits Bond | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Athletic Comm | Athlete Agent Bond | Apply Now |
Sport Permits Bond | Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission | Professional Mixed Martial Arts Promoter Bond | Apply Now |
Health Spas/Health Clubs Bond | Bureau of Consumer Protection | Health Club | Apply Now |
Auctioneers (Other than Livestock) Bond | State Board of Auctioneer Examiners | Auctioneer Bond | Apply Now |
Detectives Bond | Bucks County Clerks of Courts | Bucks County Detectives License Bond | Apply Now |
Detectives Bond | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas | Private Detective Bond | Apply Now |
Employment Agencies Bond | PA Dept. of Labor and Industry | Employment Agencies | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | PA Dept of Licensing | Public Utility License | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | PA Public Utility Commission | Public Utility License | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | PA. Dept of Banking | Bond to Secure a License as a Collector-Repossesso | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | PA Fish & Boat Commission | Temporary Boat Registration Agent | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | PA State Athletic Commission | Athlete Agent | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission | Fishing License Agent Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Township of Bensalem | Event Permit Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Department of Licenses and Inspection | News Stand Permit License | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Social Security Administration | Social Security Administration Representative Paye | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - DCNR | Dismantling of Deer Fences Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pennsylvania - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - | Timber Stumpage Sale Contract Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Commonwealth of PA - DCNR | Vegetation Removal Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses | Sidewalk Cafe Bond (City of Philadelphia) | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission | Motor Carrier Broker License Bond (PUC No. A-00123 | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Bensalem Township | Outdoor Concert Event Permit | Apply Now |
Schools (All) Bond | Commonwealth of PA - Dept of Education | PRIVATE LICENSED SCHOOL SURETY | Apply Now |
Schools (All) Bond | Pennsylvania State Board of Barber Examiners Barbe | Barber Examiners Barber School | Apply Now |
Schools (All) Bond | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dept of Education | Private Academic Schools | Apply Now |
Schools (All) Bond | Commonwealth of PA - Dept of State | Real Estate Education Provider Bond | Apply Now |
Alcohol (Manufacturers, Warehouses, Wholesalers) Bond | Dept of Revenue, Bureau of Business Trust Fund Tax | Malt and Brewed Beverage Bond | Apply Now |
Fuel Tax (All Others, Sellers & Users) Bond | PA Dept of Revenue | Liquid Fuels and Fuels Tax | Apply Now |
Utility Deposit Bond | PECO Energy | Utility Deposit Bond (PECO Energy) | Apply Now |
Indemnity (Miscellaneous - Not Listed) Bond | City of Johnstown | Public Official License | Apply Now |
Indemnity (Miscellaneous - Not Listed) Bond | Game Commission | Removal of Deer Deterrent Bond | Apply Now |
Indemnity (Miscellaneous - Not Listed) Bond | Game Commission | Herbicide Application Bond | Apply Now |
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond | Local 420 Steamfitters | Local 420 Steamfitters Bond | Apply Now |
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond | IBEW Local 98 | Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond | Apply Now |
Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond | Local No.380 I.B.E.W. | Wage & Fringe Benefit Bond (IBEW Local 380) | Apply Now |
Fringe Benefits Only Bond | Local 27 Plumbers Union | Local Union 27 Plumbers Benefit Funds Bond | Apply Now |
Lottery Bond | Pennsylvania Lottery | Lottery Retailer | Apply Now |
Money Transmitter Bond | Merchants Express Money Order Company, Inc. | Money Transmitter Bond | Apply Now |
Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond | Department of State | BOND - FORM BCO-160 | Apply Now |
Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond | Department of State | Telemarketing Bond | Apply Now |
Repossession Agent Bond | Department of Banking and Securities | Collector-Repossessor Bond | Apply Now |
Appraisal Management | Commonwealth of PA - State Board of Certified Real | Appraisal Management Company Bond | Apply Now |
Types of Surety Bonds in Pennsylvania
License bonds are required of businesses that need a business license in the state. Contract bonds, or construction bonds, are the bonds that licensed and bonded contractors need to obtain when they are awarded a contract for work on a construction project in the state. Finally, court bonds are required in specific cases, for individuals appearing in front of a Pennsylvania court.
Read on for all for more about these different types of Pennsylvania surety bonds.
License & Permit Bonds
A license and permit bond is a type of guarantee to customers, that the business is licensed and will adhere to Pennsylvania state regulations and rules. If a business does not adhere to said regulations, customers can seek legal recourse by filing a claim against the business’s bond. Through filing a claim, customers can ultimately secure financial compensation for having been deceived or otherwise harmed by a business.
Bonds such as the auto dealer bond, the mortgage broker bond and the freight broker bond are some of the most common license bonds in the state.
Contract Bonds
According to federal and state law, contractors who are licensed and bonded in Pennsylvania may need to obtain contract bonds, especially when working on federal or state projects. Private project owners will often also require contractors to get bonded.
Like all bonds, these bonds are also a type of guarantee – to project owners and subcontractors – that a contractor will comply with state regulations as well as with the specific conditions of the project contract.
These types of bonds include bid bonds, performance and payment bonds, and a variety of others.
Court Bonds
Pennsylvania state regulations also require some individuals to get a court bond when appearing before a court. Usually, a court bond is either an appeal (or supersedeas) bond – required of someone appealing a court ruling – or a fiduciary bond, which is required of someone appointed to act as another person’s fiduciary.
Want to know more about your bond? Call our surety experts at 866.450.3412 with all your questions about getting bonded in Pennsylvania.
How Much Does it Cost to Get Bonded in Pennsylvania?
You obtain your bond by paying a surety bond premium. Premiums are not fixed, but are offered by sureties to each applicant individually. The premium is a percentage of the total bond amount of an applicant’s surety bond. In other words, if the state requires you to obtain a $50,000 bond, your premium (or rate) will be a percentage of that sum.
What determines my bond premium?
How high or low your rate is depends largely on your personal credit score. Sureties base their decisions on credit scores because it’s a reliable predictor of an applicant’s financial stability.
Other factors which sureties include in their assessment of applicants are:
- Applicants’ financial statements
- Fixed and liquid assets
- Industry experience and work record
Based on all of these factors, especially your credit score, applicants are asked to pay a particular premium. Those with a high credit score receive so-called standard rates which vary between 1%-4% of the amount of their bond.
But surety bonds are also accessible to those with a low or even nonexistent credit score. Applicants with such score can get bonded at rates that vary between 5%-15% of the total bond amount.
To make an initial calculation of your surety bond premium, try our surety bond cost calculator below. Find out more about how sureties determine rates at our 'surety bond cost' page.
How to Get Bonded in Pennsylvania
Getting bonded is a quick and easy process. Follow the instructions below and we will get in touch with you shortly!
License bond application
To apply for a license bond, use our online application form. Once we receive your application, we will contact you shortly with a free and exact quote on your bond.
Contract bond application
To apply for a contract bond, complete the online application, based on your contract bond type. Once you have completed it, we will contact you with more information about your bond quote.
To learn more about the bonding requirements in Pennsylvania, call our experts at 866.450.3412.