City Requirements
We have dedicated pages for several cities in Texas. Navigate to yours if you want to find out more about its specific requirements.
Overview of Texas Surety Bonds
Surety bonds can be required from a number of businesses or individuals looking to operate in Texas. Usually, they are needed as part of the process of obtaining a license or a permit.
What is the purpose of the surety bond?
Broadly put, surety bonds ensure that the bonded entity will comply with certain regulations imposed by the obligee (the state). Generally, bonds guarantee that the principal will comply with state laws, such as the Texas Administrative Code, that govern how business is conducted in the state.
The bond is backed by a bonding company which assumes financial and legal responsibility for the actions of the bondholder, also called a principal. Thus, the surety, the obligee and the principal sign a legally binding contract.
If the principal doesn’t adhere to the terms of this contract, they can become liable for sums up to the total amount of the bond. Surety bonds are a regulatory method not only in Texas but nationwide because they can provide quick compensation in case a third party suffers loss or damage.
Want to know more about bonds? See our ‘What is a surety bond’ guide to find out more about how bonds work.
See the sections below for more information on the different types of bonds in Texas, their cost, and how to get bonded.
Surety Bond Search
You can search for the bond you need in the table below. If the one you are looking for is not there, do not worry. Call us at 866.450.3412 and we will help you get bonded.
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 | Texas Department of Agriculture | Child and Adult Care Food Program Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | City of Abilene | Building Contractor's Bond (City of Abilene) | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Galveston | City of Galveston, TX -(Local) Payment & Performan | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Olmos Park | General Contractor's | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | AEP Texas Central Company | Pole Attachement | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of El Paso | Development Services Blanket Building and Construc | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Galveston | General Contractor License Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of El Paso - Development Services Dept | Blanket Building & Construction Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Sonora | City of Sonora Electrical Contractor Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | County of El Paso | Blanket Building & Construction Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Kirby | Home Improvement Contractor's/Salesman Bond | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Midland | Contractors Bond (City of Midland, TX) | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Abilene | Building Contractor's Bond (City of Abilene) | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | Town of Horizon City | Blanket Building and Construction Bond (Town of Ho | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Dallas | Paving Bond (City of Dallas) | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | City of El Paso | Development Services Dept Blanket Building & Const | Apply Now |
Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | State of Texas | Service Contract Provider Surety | Apply Now |
Excess Weight, Other Highway & Street Permit Bond | Dept. of Motor Vehciles, Motor Carrier Division | Over Axle and Over Gross Weight Tolerance Permit B | Apply Now |
Collection Agency Bond | Secretary of State, Statutory Documents Section | Third Party Debt Collector | Apply Now |
Collection Agency Bond | Texas Department of Banking | Private Child Support Enforcement Agencies Bond | Apply Now |
Debt Consolidators Bond | Secretary of State | Credit Services Organization | Apply Now |
Debt Consolidators Bond | The Office of Consumer Credit | Consumer Debt Management Services | Apply Now |
Insurance Adjusters Bond | Texas Department of Insurance | Public Insurance Adjuster Bond | Apply Now |
Insurance Agents/Brokers Bond | Department of Insurance | Insurance Agency | Apply Now |
Insurance Agents/Brokers Bond | Texas Department of Insurance | Discount Health Care Program Operator | Apply Now |
Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Dept of Savings and Mortgage Lending | Residential Mortgage Loan Servicer | Apply Now |
Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond | Dept of Savings and Mortgage Lending | Mortgage Lender | Apply Now |
Small Loan Companies Bond | STATE OF TEXAS | CREDIT SERVICES ORGANIZATION SURETY | Apply Now |
Title Insurance Agents & Escrow Officers Bond | Texas Department of Insurance | Texas Escrow Officers Schedule Bond | Apply Now |
Title Insurance Agents & Escrow Officers Bond | Department of Insurance | Title Insurance Agent's Direct Operation's Bond | Apply Now |
Defective Title Bond | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | Certificate of Title Bond | Apply Now |
Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond | Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Divis | Motor Vehicle Dealer | Apply Now |
Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Dept of Housing and Conmmunity Affairs - MHD | Continuous Manufactured Housing License | Apply Now |
Sport Permits Bond | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | Combative Sports Promoter Bond | Apply Now |
Sport Permits Bond | Secretary of State | Athlete Agent | Apply Now |
Health Spas/Health Clubs Bond | Secretary of State | Health Spa | Apply Now |
Employment Agencies Bond | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | PERSONNEL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SURETY | Apply Now |
Employment Agencies Bond | TX Dept of Licesning and Regulation | Staff Leasing Service | Apply Now |
Medicare & Medicaid (Durable Equip, State) Bond | Medicaid & Health Partnership | Medicaid Provider Bond | Apply Now |
Nursing Homes Bond | Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services | Nursing Homes | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Texas Depertment of Licensing and Regulation | TALENT AGENCY BOND | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Texas Department of Health | Subscription Program | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | SECRETARY OF STATE - Statutory Documents Section | Business Opportunity Seller | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Department of Licensing and Regulation | For-Profit Legal Services Contracts | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Texas Real Estate Commission | Residential Service Company Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | CITY OF PLACIOS | Vendor's Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Texas Department of Insurance | Discount Health Care Program Operator Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Secretary of State | Athlete Agent Financial Services Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Department of Transportation | Outdoor Advertisers Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | City of Irving | City of Irving Public Works Restoration Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | City of Copperas Cove, Texas | (City of Copperas Cove, TX) Solicitation Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Secretary of State Registrations Unit | Veterans Organization Solicitor's Bond | Apply Now |
Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Texas Department of Insurance-Financial Regulation | Navigator Entity Bond | Apply Now |
Schools (All) Bond | Texas Education Agency | Driver Education School | Apply Now |
Schools (All) Bond | Texas Real Estate Commission | Real Estate School | Apply Now |
Schools (All) Bond | TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY | Driver Education School Bond | Apply Now |
Alcohol (Manufacturers, Warehouses, Wholesalers) Bond | Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission | Liquor Tax | Apply Now |
Alcohol (Manufacturers, Warehouses, Wholesalers) Bond | Texas Department of Agriculture | Grain Warehouse Schedule D- Operator Bond | Apply Now |
Alcohol (Manufacturers, Warehouses, Wholesalers) Bond | Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission | Contract/Alternating Resident and Non Resident Bre | Apply Now |
Alcohol (Retailers) Bond | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | Gross Receipts Tax Bond | Apply Now |
Alcohol (Retailers) Bond | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | Sales Tax Bond | Apply Now |
Alcohol (All Others) Bond | Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission | Conduct Surety Bond | Apply Now |
Alcohol (All Others) Bond | Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission | TABC - Performance | Apply Now |
Alcohol (All Others) Bond | Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission | Tax Bond | Apply Now |
Fuel Tax (All Others, Sellers & Users) Bond | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Motor Fuels Tax (Diesel) Continuous | Apply Now |
Fuel Tax (All Others, Sellers & Users) Bond | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Motor Fuels Tax (Gasoline) Continuous | Apply Now |
Fuel Tax (All Others, Sellers & Users) Bond | Comptroller of Public Accounts | International Fuel Tax License Bond | Apply Now |
Miscellaneous Taxes Bond | TX Dept of Licensing and Regulation | Combative Sports Bond For Gross Receipts Tax | Apply Now |
Sales, Use & Consumer Tax Bond | Dept. of Licensing | Continuous Bond of Seller (Sales Tax) | Apply Now |
Sales, Use & Consumer Tax Bond | Texas State Comptroller | Customs Broker | Apply Now |
Utility Deposit Bond | City of Houston | Utility Deposit Bond | Apply Now |
Utility Deposit Bond | City of Dallas Water Department | Guaranty Bond | Apply Now |
Utility Deposit Bond | Atmos Energy Corporation | Atmos Energy Utility Deposit Bond | Apply Now |
Utility Deposit Bond | Texas New Mexico Power Company | Texas-New Mexico Power Company Utility Bond | Apply Now |
Utility Deposit Bond | CenterPoint Energy | Centerpoint Energy Utility Bond | Apply Now |
Utility Deposit Bond | City of Chillicothe-Chillicothe Municipal Utilitie | Utility Payment Bond (Chillicothe Municipal) | Apply Now |
Lottery Bond | Texas Lottery Commission | Bingo Prize Fees | Apply Now |
Money Transmitter Bond | Texas Banking Commissioner | Money Services Bond | Apply Now |
Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond | Office of Attorney General | Telephone Solicitation | Apply Now |
Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond | Charitable Trust Section Consumer Protection Divis | Commercial Telephone Solicitor | Apply Now |
Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond | Texas - Office of Attorney General | Public Safety Organization, Independent Promoter | Apply Now |
Warranty Bond | State of Texas | Service Contract Provider | Apply Now |
Texas Surety Bond Requirements
As mentioned in the beginning, surety bonds can be required from businesses and individuals alike. Depending on the purpose they serve, these bonds can fall into one of the following two main categories.
License and Permit Bonds
License bonds are the most frequently required types of bonds. A number of businesses need to obtain them when they apply to get or renew their business license.
For example, if you are an auto dealer in Houston you’ll need to post a $25,000 auto dealer bond in order to get licensed. Other popular types of bonds in the state are contractor license bonds and freight broker bonds.
Contract Bonds
Contract bonds, such as performance and payment bonds, are required on large public projects as well as on some private ones. Their purpose is to protect the project owner from negligence, contractor default, and other violations. Some contract bonds are also required to ensure subcontractors, laborers and suppliers are duly paid.
If you’ve never obtained a surety bond before, read on to find out more about surety bond rates and premiums.
How Much Does it Cost to Get Bonded in Texas?
The cost of getting bonded depends on the type of bond you are applying for. Each bond has a different total amount which refers to its penal sum. This is the maximum amount of compensation a surety may extend to claimants against the bond.
The total cost you will have to pay is a premium - a fraction of the total amount. The factors that influence the rate of that premium the most are:
- Your personal credit score
- Your personal and business financials
- Your industry experience
- How long your business has existed
These factors, and especially personal credit score determine the amount of your bond premium. If you have a high personal credit score, the rate of your Texas surety bond will range between 1%-4% of the full bond amount. This is called a standard market rate.
You can enter your bond type, bond amount and credit score in the calculator below to get an estimate of your bond premium.
Can I get bonded if I have a low credit score?
If you happen to have a low credit score, tax liens, civil judgments or other issues which may qualify you as a high-risk applicant, you will receive a slightly higher premium rate which ranges between 5%-15% of the total amount.
By improving your credit score and removing any liens and judgments from your record over time, you can improve your bond rate significantly, and come to qualify for standard market bond rates.
How Can I Get Bonded in Texas?
There are two different bond applications depending on the type of bond you are applying for.
License bond application
Applying for a surety bond is quite straightforward with our simple 1-page online application. Once you complete the application, you will be contacted by one of our experts and offered a free quote on your bond.
To complete the bonding process you will have to submit a number of documents pertaining to your bond, along with your bond form. From then on it’s only a matter of time for your bond to be underwritten.
Contract Bond Application
To apply for a contract surety bond, fill out the online application. We will get in touch with you as soon as we have processed and reviewed your application
Call us at 866.450.3412 anytime to speak to one of our surety bond professionals. They can help you with the application process and answer all your questions regarding getting bonded in Texas.