Types of Surety Bonds — Find the Bond You Need
There are four main categories of surety bonds: license and permit bonds, contract bonds, court bonds, and commercial bonds. Each one protects a different party for a different reason. Use the directory below to find the specific bond your state, court, or contract requires — then get an instant quote.
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Not Sure Which Bond You Need?
Start with why you need a bond. The answer points you to the right category.
Getting a business license or permit?
Your state or city requires a bond before they will issue or renew your license. This applies to contractors, auto dealers, mortgage brokers, notaries, and dozens of other professions.
Browse License & Permit Bonds →Bidding on or starting a construction project?
Public projects (and many private ones) require bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds. Federal projects over $150,000 require them by law under the Miller Act.
Browse Contract Bonds →Involved in a court case or managing an estate?
Courts require bonds for appeals, injunctions, and when someone is appointed to manage another person's money or property (executors, guardians, trustees).
Browse Court & Fiduciary Bonds →Need a bond for taxes, customs, or compliance?
ERISA bonds, sales tax bonds, customs bonds, warehouse bonds, and vehicle title bonds fall into this category. These cover specialized business obligations.
Browse Commercial Bonds →Still not sure? Tell us what you need and we will point you to the right bond.
Get Help Finding Your Bond →4 Main Surety Bond Categories
Every surety bond falls into one of these categories
License & Permit
60%+
Largest category by volume. Contractor, notary, auto dealer, freight broker, and other professional license bonds.
Contract
$6.5B+
Highest dollar value. Performance, payment, and bid bonds for public and private construction projects.
Court & Fiduciary
10,000+
Court-ordered bonds per year. Appeal, probate, guardianship, and fiduciary bonds protecting legal proceedings.
Commercial
50+ Types
ERISA, customs, sales tax, warehouse, vehicle title, and other specialized compliance bonds.
Source: Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) market reports. License bonds represent the majority of bond count; contract bonds dominate by premium volume.
License & Permit Bonds
Required by state and local governments before you can get or renew a business license. These bonds protect the public if a licensed professional breaks the rules. Most are affordable and many qualify for instant approval.
View All License & Permit Bonds →Contractor License Bonds
Required in most states before you can pull a contractor license.
Notary Bonds
Required in most states for notaries — protects the public from notary errors.
Auto Dealer Bonds
Required for new and used car dealers in every state.
Freight Broker Bonds
FMCSA-required $75,000 BMC-84 bond for freight brokers.
Permit Bonds
Tied to specific city or county permits like building or encroachment.
Mortgage Broker Bonds
State-required for mortgage brokers and loan originators.
Pest Control Bonds
Required for pest control operators in many states.
Contract Bonds
Required on construction projects to guarantee the work gets done and everyone gets paid. Federal projects over $150,000 require these by law (the Miller Act), and most state and municipal projects have similar rules.
View All Contract Bonds →Performance Bonds
Guarantees the contractor will complete the project per the contract.
Payment Bonds
Guarantees subcontractors and suppliers get paid.
Performance & Payment Bonds
Both bonds issued together — the standard for public construction.
Bid Bonds
Submitted with your bid to guarantee you will honor the price.
Court & Fiduciary Bonds
Ordered by courts or required when someone manages another person's money or estate. These bonds protect beneficiaries, heirs, and parties in legal disputes from financial harm.
View All Court & Fiduciary Bonds →Appeal Bonds
Required to appeal a court judgment — guarantees the original award.
Court Bonds
Ordered by a judge during legal proceedings like attachments or injunctions.
Probate Bonds
Required for executors and administrators of an estate.
Fiduciary Bonds
For guardians, trustees, and others managing someone else's assets.
Commercial & Specialty Bonds
A broad category covering tax compliance, employee benefit plans, customs, and other specialized business obligations. If your bond does not fit neatly into another category, it likely falls here.
View All Commercial & Specialty Bonds →ERISA Bonds
Federally required for anyone handling employee benefit plan funds.
Sales Tax Bonds
Required by state tax authorities to guarantee sales tax payments.
Warehouse Bonds
Protects stored goods — required for public warehouse operators.
Financial Guarantee Bonds
Guarantees a financial obligation will be paid as promised.
Vehicle Title Bonds
Needed when a vehicle title is lost, damaged, or has a lien issue.
Temporary Import Bonds
Required by U.S. Customs for goods temporarily imported into the country.
Official Government Bond Resources
Authoritative information on surety bond requirements
Official list of Treasury-certified surety companies authorized to write federal bonds
Federal surety bond guarantee programs for small businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about surety bonds
What is a surety bond?
How much do surety bonds cost?
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Do I need a surety bond?
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Surety Bond Resources
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and verified before publication. BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-certified, A- minimum rated surety carriers serving all 50 states.
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