Surety bonds
Quote and buy common bonds yourself, any time of day. If the bond needs underwriting or you’re not sure which one you need, a licensed agent picks up where the portal stops.
The short answer
Open our bond portal, search for the bond by name or by the agency requiring it, and answer the application questions. Many license, permit and notary bonds price instantly, and you can pay and print the bond the same session. Contract and larger bonds go to an underwriter, and we follow up.
Bond types
About 7,000
Instant bonds
License, permit, notary
Credit-based contract bonds
Up to $1MM
The portal works best when you know the exact bond and the amount. A notary renewing a Texas commission needs a $10,000 bond. A freight broker filing with FMCSA needs a $75,000 BMC-84. Those are standard forms with set pricing, and most people finish them faster online than on the phone.
Call us instead if the obligee sent you a bond form you don’t recognize, if you’re bidding your first bonded job, or if the portal declines you. We work with several surety markets, and some take files the portal declines. You can read how bonds work on our surety bonds page.
Checklist
Commercial bonds like BMC-84 and contract bonds go to underwriting. Expect us to contact you before the bond issues.
1
The bond’s exact name, or the agency or court that requires it
2
The bond amount set by the obligee
3
Your legal business name, address and license number, if you have one
4
Social Security number of each owner, for bonds priced on credit
5
A card or bank account to pay the premium
For many license, permit and notary bonds, yes. If the bond prices instantly, you can pay and download it in the same session. Some obligees require an original signed bond or a filing by the surety, which can add a day or two. Contract and fidelity bonds above small amounts need underwriting first.
A BMC-84 is the $75,000 surety bond FMCSA requires of licensed freight brokers and freight forwarders. It protects motor carriers and shippers if the broker fails to pay. The surety files it with FMCSA electronically, and your broker authority can’t stay active without it or a BMC-85 trust fund.
Under Department of Labor rules, each person who handles plan funds must be bonded for at least 10% of the funds they handle, with a $1,000 minimum. The required maximum is $500,000 per plan, or $1,000,000 if the plan holds employer securities.
Bonds priced on credit, such as auto dealer bonds and the Performance Plus contract program, review each owner’s credit before they quote. Many small license and notary bonds skip credit entirely. If you’d like to explain a credit problem first, call us before you apply.
Surety Bonds
A surety bond is a written guarantee that you'll meet an obligation, such as following licensing law or finishing a contract.
Commercial Trucking Insurance
A for-hire trucking company hauling general freight across state lines needs at least $750,000 in primary auto liability, filed with the FMCSA on…
General & Professional Liability
General liability insurance pays when someone outside your business says you hurt them or damaged their property.
