Types of Surety Bonds in Iowa
You may need to get three main kinds of surety bonds in Iowa:
- To start some types of business such as an auto dealership or a mortgage brokerage, you’ll need to get a commercial bond (also known as a license bond).
- You’ll need contract bonds to participate in many public and private construction projects as a general contractor.
- A court bond may be required if you want to appeal a case or get appointed as a guardian.
In the table below, you can find the exact bond you need and apply for a free quote online.
Find Your Iowa Surety Bond
| Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84) | N/A | FMCSA | Apply Now |
| General license & permit bond (not listed) | N/A | N/A | Apply Now |
| Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | City of Bettendorf Contractor License Bond | City of Bettendorf, Building Inspection Services | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | License and Permit Bond (Davenport, IA) | City of Davenport, Iowa | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | General Contractor Bond (Fort Dodge, IA) | City of Fort Dodge, IA; City Treasurer's Office | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | Right of Way Permit Bond (Fort Dodge, IA) | City Treasurer's Office | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Division of Labor Out of State Contractor | Iowa division of labor contractor registration | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) B | Iowa Division of Labor | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Commercial Refrigeration Bond | Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board | Apply Now |
| Debt Consolidators Bond | Credit Services Organization | Secretary of State | Apply Now |
| Insurance Adjusters Bond | Insurance Adjuster Bond | Iowa Insurance Division | Apply Now |
| Insurance 3rd Party Administrator Bond | Third Party Administrator | Insurance Division | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Mortgage Surety | Superintendent of Banking, Dept of Commerce | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Mortgage Broker | Superintendent of Banking, Dept of Commerce | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | REGULATED LOAN LICENSE (IOWA) | Superintendent of Banking | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond | Mortgage Banker | Superintendant of Banking, Iowa Dept of Commerce | Apply Now |
| Title Insurance Agents & Escrow Officers Bond | Closing Agent | Superintendent of Banking Iowa Department | Apply Now |
| Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond | Motor Vehicle Dealer | Department of Transportation | Apply Now |
| Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (Used Only, No New) Bond | Motor Vehicle Dealer | Department of Transportation | Apply Now |
| Sport Permits Bond | Athletic Commissioner Boxing/Wrestling/Mixed Marti | State of Iowa Athletic Commission Iowa Division of | Apply Now |
| Detectives Bond | Detectives Bond | Iowa Department of Public Safety | Apply Now |
| Employment Agencies Bond | Employment Agency Bond | Workforce Developmetn Division of Labor Services | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Purchase of Timber from Timber Growers by a Timber | DNR - FORESTRY BUREAU | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Licensed Service Company's Bond | Insurance Commissioner of Iowa | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | Instructional School | State of Iowa | Apply Now |
| Travel Agencies Bond | TRAVEL AGENCY BOND FORM | Secretary of State | Apply Now |
| Alcohol (Retailers) Bond | Commerical Liquor License | Iowa Alcohlic Beverages division | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | Alliant Energy Utiltiy Bond | Alliant Energy | Apply Now |
| Money Transmitter Bond | Money Transmitter Bond | State of Iowa | Apply Now |
Have further questions about how to get bonded in Iowa? Call us at (877)-514-5146 to speak with our bonding experts.
How to Get an Iowa Surety Bond?
You can get your bond in three steps:
Apply Online
Complete our online application containing information about your bond and your details as an applicant.
Get a Bond Rate
Once we receive your application, we’ll find the most appropriate bonding option for you via our large surety partner network. You’ll then get a free, no-obligations quote.
Buy Your Bond
Just pay the bond premium to complete the bonding process. We’ll send your bond via email, and you can also request a paper copy.
Would you like to know more about how bonding works? Our extensive How to Get Bonded guide is an excellent resource on the topic.
If you want to learn how exactly your bond premium is set, you can use our How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost? guide.
Most Popular Surety Bonds in Iowa
Most Popular Surety Bonds in Iowa
Iowa motor vehicle dealers need a $75,000 bond to get licensed with the state Department of Transportation.
A number of cities in Iowa require contractors to get bonded. You may need a bond between $5,000 and $10,000. Out-of-state contractors need a $25,000 bond.
To get licensed as a mortgage broker with the Iowa Division of Banking, you’ll need a $100,000 bond.
Money transmitters have to get a bond between $50,000 and $300,000, depending on the number of locations they want to operate. The licensing body is the Iowa Division of Banking.
Can I Get an Iowa Surety Bond with Bad Credit?
It can be difficult to get bonded if your credit is not stellar or if you're struggling with other financial issues.
Lance Surety Bonds’ bad credit surety bonds program can be a great option for you if that’s the case. The bonding rates are between 5%-15% of the required bond amount because of the increased bonding risk.
Additional Resources
Here are our detailed licensing guides for Iowa professionals:
- How to Get an Iowa Dealer License
- A Full Guide To Obtaining a Contractor’s License in Iowa
- The Full Iowa Mortgage Broker License Guidend price, or the surety bond cost, that you will need to pay in order to get bonded in Iowa will largely depend on the surety bond amount that you are asked to post. Depending on the business you are running, this amount might be applicable for the whole country, for Iowa state, or only for your local area. In some cases, the bond amount is even determined individually for each case.
However your bond amount is set, your bond price will be only a fraction of it, called the bond premium. This means that you need to pay only a percentage in order to get bonded, which is usually between 1% and 4% if you qualify for standard bonding.
When you apply for a bond, your surety takes a close look at your personal and business finances. It considers your personal credit score, business stats and overall experience. This is how the surety assesses the risk of providing you with a bond. If your finances are stable, you can expect a lower bond premium. | [/question]
Questions about Surety Bonds in Iowa
Can I get an Iowa surety bond with bad credit?
Even if your finances are far from perfect, there is a way to get bonded even with bad credit. Since we understand the hardships that bad credit applicants face, we operate our Bad Credit Program to assist them.
Under this program, the typical bond rates range between 5%-15%. The increased rate mitigates the risk of bonding applicants with low credit scores, liens, past bankruptcies or civil judgments.
Still, our clients benefit from our excellent bonding rates even with bad credit. Lance Surety Bonds fosters close relations with a number of A-rated, T-listed surety companies. This means we can select the top bonding option for your particular circumstances.
You can start your bonding process today with ease. Just apply online for your free Iowa surety bond quote, and you’ll receive a response in no time. Your exact bond cost will be available after you submit a full application.
Whether you need help with your application or have questions about bonding, you can always call us at (877) 514-5146. Lance Surety Bonds’ specialists will be happy to advise you.
For a complete guide to the bonding process, make sure to consult our How to Get Bonded page.
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