Types of Surety Bonds in California
There are three typical cases in which you may need a surety bond in the state of California:
- If you want to get a professional license as an auto dealer, contractor, or mortgage broker, among others, you’ll need to get a commercial bond (also known as a license bond).
- To participate in many public and private construction projects, you’ll have to get contract bonds for your contracting business.
- A court may require you to get a court bond to appeal a ruling or to be appointed as another person’s guardian.
Looking for a specific surety bond? Check out the table below to quickly identify it and apply online for a free quote.
Find Your California Surety Bond
| Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84) | N/A | FMCSA | Apply Now |
| General license & permit bond (not listed) | N/A | N/A | Apply Now |
| Agricultural (Non-Livestock) Bond | SURETY BOND / PRODUCE DEALERS ACT | Department of Food & Agriculture | Apply Now |
| Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | Public Works Bond (Sonoma County Department) | Sonoma Count PRMD | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | Waste Collector's Performance Bond | City of Los Angeles - Environmental Affairs Dept | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Contractor's Bond | Contractors State License Board | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Bond of Qualifying Individual | CSLB | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Company Registration | Structual Pest Control Board | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Sewer/Storm Drain Connectin Bond | City of Los Angeles | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Farm Labor Contractor Bond | Dept of Industrial Relations | Apply Now |
| Check Sellers Bond | Check Sellers Bond | CA Commissioner of Business Oversight | Apply Now |
| Debt Consolidators Bond | Credit Services Organization | Attorney General's Office | Apply Now |
| Professional Fund Raisers Bond | Commercial Fundraiser for Charitable Purposes Bond | Attorney General - Registry of Charitable Trusts | Apply Now |
| Insurance Adjusters Bond | Bond of Public Insurance Adjuster | State of California | Apply Now |
| Insurance Adjusters Bond | Insurance Adjuster Bond | Producer Licensing Bureau | Apply Now |
| Insurance Agents/Brokers Bond | Bond for Insurance Broker | Producer Licensing Bureau | Apply Now |
| Insurance Surplus Lines Brokers Bond | Bond of Surplus Line Broker | State of California - Dept of Ins | Apply Now |
| Insurance Surplus Lines Brokers Bond | Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker | Producer Licensing Bureau | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Mortgage Broker | Commissioner of Corporations, Dept of Corporations | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond | Finance Lender | Commissioner of Corporations, Dept of Corporations | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond | Residential Mortgage Lender and-or Servicer Bond | Commissioner of Corporations, Dept of Corporations | Apply Now |
| Small Loan Companies Bond | Deferred Deposit Transaction Law Licensee | Department Of Corporations | Apply Now |
| Title Insurance Agents & Escrow Officers Bond | Escrow Licensee | California Department of Corporations | Apply Now |
| Defective Title Bond | Motor Vehicles Ownership Bond | State of California Dept of Motor Vehicles | Apply Now |
| Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond | Retail Dealer | Department of Motor Vehicles - Occupational License | Apply Now |
| Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond | Wholesale Dealer | Department of Motor Vehicles - Occupational License | Apply Now |
| Self-Insurers & Financial Responsibility Bond | Financial Responsibility Bond | CA DMV | Apply Now |
| Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (Used Only, No New) Bond | Retail Dealer | Department of Motor Vehicles - Occupational License | Apply Now |
| Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Business Partner Automation | Registration Operations Division | Apply Now |
| Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | REGISTRATION SERVICE SURETY BOND | California Registration Operations Division | Apply Now |
| Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Vehicle Verifier | State of California DMV | Apply Now |
| Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Commercial Requester Account | State of California DMV | Apply Now |
| Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | Yacht and Ship Broker Bond | California Department of Boating and Waterways | Apply Now |
| Motor Vehicle (Non-Dealer, Not Listed) Bond | IRP Bonded Web User Bond | Department Of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Div. | Apply Now |
| Sport Permits Bond | Professional Club and Promoter's Bond | State Athletic Commission | Apply Now |
| Auctioneers (Other than Livestock) Bond | Auctioneer/Auction Company | California Secretary of Sate | Apply Now |
| Employment Agencies Bond | Employment Counseling Service | California Secretary of State | Apply Now |
| Employment Agencies Bond | Employment Agencies | CA Secretary of the State | Apply Now |
| Nursing Homes Bond | Health and Human Services Agency | CA Health & Human Services | Apply Now |
| Nursing Homes Bond | Health Facility Bond | CA Dept of Public Health | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Wholesaler or Nonresident Wholesaler Surety Bond | State Board of Pharmacy | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Company Registration Bond | Structural Pest Control Board | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pharmacy Wholesaler or Non-Resident Wholesaler | California State Board of Pharmacy | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Legal Document Assistant | California Secretary of State | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Talent Agency | Department of Industrial Relations | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | (National City, CA) Pawn Broker Bond | City of National City | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Immigration Consultants | California Secretary of State | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Fee-Related Talent Service Bond | CA Dept of Industrial Relations | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Contract Postal Unit | USPS | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Car Wash | Department of Industrial Relations | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pawnbrokers | Department of Justice- Second Hand Dealer Pawn Bro | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Adoption Facilitator | Dept of Social Services-Adoptions Support Unit | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Waste Tire Hauler | California Integrated Waste Management Board | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Mobile Car Wash | State of California DMV | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Foreclosure Consultant Bond | Secretary of State | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pawnbroker | RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | State of California, Public Utilities Commission | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Cemetary Broker | Cemetery and Funeral Bureau | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pawnbroker | Department of Justice | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Waste Hauler Bond | County Santiation Districts of Los Angeles | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Franchise Registration Bond | Department of Corporations | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Tax Preparer Bond | Tax Education Council | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pawnbroker Bond | City of Newport Beach, CA | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Cargo Shipper's Agent Bond | Producer Licensing Bureau | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Pest Control Business Licensees Bond | State of Califonia, Department of Pesticide Regula | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Parking Occupancy Tax Collection Bond | City of Los Angeles - Office of Finance | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | Driving School Owner or ATV Safety Training Org Pr | Department of Motor Vehicles | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | Home Study Traffic School | Traffic Violator School Monitoring Division - LA | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | Traffic Violator School (TVS) Owner | Department of Motor Vehicles | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | TRAFFIC VIOLATOR SCHOOL (TVS) OWNER BOND | Department of Motor Vehicles | Apply Now |
| Travel Agencies Bond | Seller of Travel Surety Bond | Dept. of Justice, Seller of Travel Program | Apply Now |
| Travel Agencies Bond | Seller of Travel Discount Programs Bond | Secretary Of State | Apply Now |
| Cigar/Cigarette & Tobacco Tax Bond | Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Bond | State of California Dept of Equalization | Apply Now |
| Cigar/Cigarette & Tobacco Tax Bond | Tobacco Manufacturer and Importer Bond | CA Office of the Attonrey General | Apply Now |
| Fuel Tax (All Others, Sellers & Users) Bond | Diesel Fuel Supplier Bond | California Board of Equalization | Apply Now |
| Miscellaneous Taxes Bond | Parking Tax Collection | City and County of San Francisco | Apply Now |
| Sales, Use & Consumer Tax Bond | Bond of Seller | State Board of Equalization | Apply Now |
| Sales, Use & Consumer Tax Bond | User of Fuel Bond | State Board Of Equalization | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | SURETY BOND / BILL GUARANTY | PG&E | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Public Utilities Commission | Public Utilities Commission | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Edison Company | Southern California Edison Company | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Southern California Gas Company Bond | Southern California Gas Company | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | SDGE Utility Deposit Bond | SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Sacramento Municipal Utility District Bond | Sacramento Municipal Utility District | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Modesto Irrigation District Utility Deposit Bond | Modesto Irrigation District | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | SCEC Utility Deposit Bond | Southern California Edison Company | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Southwest Gas Corporation Utility Bond | Southwest Gas Corporation | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | City of Los Angeles Utility Bond | Department of Water and Power | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Electric Service Provider Bond | California Public Utilities Commission | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Telephone Corporation Bond (CPUC) | Public Utilities Commission of California | Apply Now |
| Financial Guarantee (All Other) Bond | Disposal Payment Bond | Allied Waste Transfer Services of California, LLC | Apply Now |
| Auctioneer's (Net Proceeds Meet Amount) Bond | Auctioneer/Auction Company Bond | California Secretary of State | Apply Now |
| Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond | District Council of Iron Workers | CA District Council Of Iron Workers | Apply Now |
| Money Transmitter Bond | Money Order, Money Gram, Buypay Bond | PNB Remittance Center, Inc. | Apply Now |
| Telemarketing/Phone Solicitor Bond | Telephonic Seller Bond | Attorney General's Office | Apply Now |
| Non-Construction Performance Bond | CPUC Performance Bond | CA Public Utilites Commission | Apply Now |
If you need more information about California surety bond requirements, just call us at (877)-514-5146 to speak with our bonding experts.
How to Get a California Surety Bond?
To get bonded, just follow these three straightforward steps:
Apply Online
Complete our easy online application with basic details about the bond you need and your details as an applicant.
Get a Bond Rate
We’ll look for the top bonding option through our large surety partner network. You’ll then receive your free, no-obligations quote.
Buy Your Bond
The last step of the process is to pay your bond premium. Then we’ll email your bond straight away. You can also get a paper copy if you need it.
Our in-depth How to Get Bonded guide is an excellent resource if you want to learn more about the bonding process.
Want to know how the bond pricing is set? Don’t miss our How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost? guide.
Most Popular Surety Bonds in California
Most Popular Surety Bonds in California
To get a California dealer license from the state Department of Motor Vehicles, you’ll need a $10,000 or $50,000 surety bond, depending on the type of motor vehicles you’d like to sell.
California contractors have to provide a $15,000 bond to obtain a license from the Contractors State License Board.
California mortgage brokers who want to work with lenders licensed under the California Finance Lenders Law have to obtain a $25,000 to get their license from the Department of Business Oversight (DBO).
The California Secretary of State requires auctioneer companies to post a $20,000 surety bond.
If you want to sell or issue payment instruments or stored value as a money transmitter in California, you’ll need a bond between $500,000 and $2 million. To receive money for transmission, you’ll need a bond between $250,000 and $7 million.
To register with the California Department of Justice as a credit services organization, you’ll need to post a $100,000 bond.
California immigration consultants have to get a $10,000 surety bond to obtain a license from the Secretary of State.
Insurance brokers in California need a $10,000 bond to get licensed with the state Department of Insurance.
California public adjusters have to get a license from the state Department of Insurance and post a $20,000 bond.
If you want to start a telemarketing business in California, you’ll need a $100,000 bond for obtaining a license from the state Attorney General’s Office.
Talent agents in the state need a $50,000 bond as a part of their licensing process with the Department of Industrial Relations.
Can I Get a California Surety Bond with Bad Credit?
Applicants with financial problems have a more difficult time getting bonded.
Lance Surety Bonds’ bad credit surety bonds program is designed to provide you with a bonding option if you’re struggling with a low credit score or other financial issues. Due to the higher bonding risk, the rates you can expect are slightly higher - between 5%-15% of the required bond amount. The program, however, is a great way to get the bond you need.
Additional Resources
If you want to get a professional license in California, here are our licensing guides for the most common fields:
- How to Get a California Dealer License
- How to Get a Used Car Dealer License in California
- Simple Guide To Getting A California Contractor License
- Your Guide To Becoming A Mortgage Broker In California
- How to Get a California Money Transmitter License [2021 Guide]
- How to Open a California Credit Services Organization [2021 Guide]
- How to Become a California Immigration Consultant (2021)
- How to Get an Insurance Broker License in California
- Your Guide to Liquor License Costs in California
City-level Bonding Requirements
Choose your city from the list below if you wish to learn more about its bonding requirements. For an overview of all bonds in the state, keep reading.
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