Last updated: September 27, 2026|General Alabama surety bond information — confirm current requirements with the licensing authority.

Alabama Surety Bonds

Alabama Surety BondsState Agencies + 67 County Probate Judges

A surety bond in Alabama is a three-party guarantee that a licensee will follow the law, and the most commonly required ones are the $50,000 auto dealer bond filed with the Department of Revenue (Form MVT 4-3), the $50,000 notary bond filed with your county Judge of Probate, contractor bonds split across three separate boards, bonded-title bonds the Department of Revenue sizes for you, and county probate and fiduciary bonds. The carriers that write them are licensed by the Alabama Department of Insurance, and for a strong-credit applicant the premium is typically just 1–3% of the bond amount paid once a year. What makes Alabama unusual is where the paperwork goes: many bonds are recorded not by a state office but by the elected Judge of Probate in one of the state’s 67 counties.

County Probate Judges

$50K

Notary — highest in U.S.

Contractor Boards

1–3%

Typical Premium

Same-Day Submission

ALDOI-Authorized Carriers

All Credit Reviewed

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Auto dealer, notary, contractor, title, probate, and every Alabama bond type

Quick answer

The most common Alabama surety bonds are the $50,000 auto dealer bond filed with the Department of Revenue and the $50,000 notary bond filed with your county Judge of Probate. Contractor bonds are split across three separate boards, and bonded-title and probate bonds are also common. The surety sets approval and price.

Who requires it: Alabama Department of Revenue (dealers, Form MVT 4-3), the county Judge of Probate (notary and probate bonds) and three contractor boards. Surety carriers are licensed by the Alabama Department of Insurance.
Amount: $50,000 for auto dealers and $50,000 for notaries. Bonded titles are sized by the Department of Revenue.
Typical cost (estimate): about 1-3% of the bond amount per year for a strong-credit applicant. The surety sets the final price.
Timing: Same-day submission; most quotes within one business day.

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$50,000

Auto Dealer (MVT 4-3)

$50,000

Notary (Act 2023-548)

$15K–$20K

HVAC (§ 34-31-18)

$10,000

Residential Roofer (§ 34-14A-5)

1.5×

Bonded Title Value (§ 32-8-36)

What Makes Alabama Different

The One Question That Trips People Up: Who Holds My Bond?

In most states every license bond funnels to one or two central agencies. Alabama splits the job. Some bonds go to a state department; others are recorded by the elected Judge of Probate in your county of residence — and Alabama has 67 of them, each running its own counter. Knowing where a bond lands tells you the form, the filing fee, and how fast you can be licensed. Here is the map.

Where Each Alabama Bond Is Filed

State agency vs. county probate judge — the split that defines Alabama bonding

Bond	Amount	Filed With / Obligee	Authority
Auto Dealer	$50,000	AL Dept. of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Div. (Form MVT 4-3)	HB 393 / Act 2019-244
Notary Public	$50,000	County Judge of Probate (your county)	Act 2023-548 (SB 322)
Probate / Fiduciary	Court-set	County Probate Court handling the estate	Ala. Code § 43-2-851; § 26-2A-139
Bonded Title	1.5× value	AL Dept. of Revenue (Portal; Forms MVT 10-1A → 10-1)	Ala. Code § 32-8-36
Contractor (HVAC / Roofer)	$10K–$20K	HVAC Board or Home Builders Licensure Board	§ 34-31-18; § 34-14A-5
Freight Broker	$75,000	FMCSA (federal, not Alabama-specific)	49 CFR § 387.307 (BMC-84)

County probate offices set their own recording fees and processing times. Confirm your county’s counter before filing notary or fiduciary bonds.

Sources: Alabama Department of Revenue; Ala. Code Titles 32, 34, 36, 43; FMCSA. Carriers authorized by the Alabama Department of Insurance.

Practical takeaway: If your bond is filed with a county probate judge (notary, fiduciary), you deal with a local office — not Montgomery. If it is a state license bond (dealer, title, contractor), it filters through a state agency. Not sure which applies? Tell us the license and we’ll route it correctly.

Official Alabama Requirements

"The Code of Alabama requires a $50,000 surety bond to be filed by individuals applying for any motor vehicle industry license. The surety bond is required to be on Department form MVT 4-3."

Alabama Department of Revenue • Code of Alabama §40-12-390 et seq. (HB 393 / Act 2019-244)

Alabama Bonds by Category

The bonds Alabamians request most, grouped by the agency or court that requires them. Every linked page below is a full Alabama-specific guide with the exact form, filing steps, and current pricing.

Motor Vehicle

Dept. of Revenue

Auto Dealer — $50,000 on Form MVT 4-3. All dealer licenses expire Sept. 30. Doubled from $25K by HB 393.
Bonded Title — 1.5× the value ALDOR determines (§ 32-8-36). File MVT 10-1A first; bond is MVT 10-1. 3-year term.

Alabama Dealer Bonds

County Probate Judge

Filed locally, 67 counties

Notary — $50,000 (Act 2023-548). 4-year term, ~$35–$100, many small license bonds don’t require a credit check. Highest standard notary bond in the U.S.
Probate / Fiduciary — personal representative, administrator, conservator, and guardian bonds, sized by the court (§ 43-2-851; § 26-2A-139). A will can waive.

Alabama Notary Bonds

Construction

3 separate boards

HVAC / Refrigeration — $15,000 domestic, $20,000 foreign (§ 34-31-18). Mandatory.
Residential Roofer — $10,000 via the Home Builders Licensure Board (§ 34-14A-5).
General (ALBGC) — bond optional, used to raise your bid classification.

Alabama Contractor Bonds

Freight & Logistics

Federal (FMCSA)

Freight Broker — $75,000 BMC-84 (49 CFR § 387.307). Federal, but heavily used across Mobile port drayage and JIT auto-plant freight.

Alabama Freight Broker Bonds

Real Estate

AL Real Estate Commission

General Broker — no bond. A one-time $30 Recovery Fund fee stands "in lieu of bond" (§ 34-27-31).
Time-Sharing Broker — $10,000 ($5,000 salesperson) under § 34-27-69. The only bonded real estate license.

Alabama Real Estate Bonds

Court & Estate

Probate & circuit courts

Personal Representative Bond — required unless the will waives it (§ 43-2-851).
Conservator / Guardian Bond — set by the court; a conservatorship is far harder to waive than an estate (§ 26-2A-139).

Alabama Probate Bonds

Why "Alabama Contractor Bond" Isn’t One Thing

Most states run contractors through a single board. Alabama splits construction across three, and each treats bonding differently. Get the board wrong and you’ll buy a bond you don’t need — or skip one you do. Here’s the breakdown, with full detail on our Alabama contractor bond page.

ALBGC — General

The Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors licenses commercial and industrial work over $100,000. A surety bond is optional — you post one only to supplement net worth or working capital and reach a higher bid classification.

Obligee: ALBGC · Bond optional

HVAC / Refrigeration

The Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors mandates a bond: $15,000 for in-state (domestic) firms, $20,000 for out-of-state (foreign) firms, under Ala. Code § 34-31-18.

Obligee: HVAC Board · § 34-31-18 · Mandatory

Home Builders (HBLB)

The Home Builders Licensure Board mandates a $10,000 bond for residential roofers under Ala. Code § 34-14A-5, protecting homeowners against defective work.

Obligee: HBLB · § 34-14A-5 · Mandatory

ALBGC License Classifications — Bond as a Bid-Limit Tool

Your bid ceiling equals 10× the lesser of net worth or working capital. A surety bond can fill the gap to reach a higher class.

Class A

Up to $100K

Entry commercial/industrial bid limit

Class B

Up to $250K

Mid-range project ceiling

Class C

Up to $500K

Larger commercial work

Class D

Up to $1M

Major project capacity

Class E

Up to $3M

High-value contracts

Most Common

Class U

Unlimited

No bid ceiling

Source: Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Classification = 10× the lesser of net worth or working capital; a surety bond can supplement a shortfall.

A National Outlier

Alabama’s $50,000 Notary Bond — Big Number, Small Premium

Effective September 1, 2023, Act 2023-548 doubled the Alabama notary bond from $25,000 to $50,000 — the largest standard notary bond required by any state. The same law reworked the whole commission: a $25 commission fee, a new $10 application fee, a maximum notarial-act fee raised to $10, and mandatory training before you’re commissioned.

A $50,000 face amount sounds expensive, but the premium isn’t. Sureties price notary bonds on claims experience — which is extremely low — not on bond size. The bond typically costs $35–$100 for the full four-year term, many small license bonds don’t require a credit check for most applicants. You apply to and are commissioned by the Judge of Probate in your county of residence, who administers the oath and records the bond; the Secretary of State keeps the statewide record.

Already commissioned before Sept. 1, 2023? You may keep your $25,000 bond until your current commission expires; the $50,000 bond kicks in at renewal.

Full Alabama notary bond guide

What Act 2023-548 Changed

Bond amount$25,000 → $50,000

Max notarial act fee$5 → $10

Commission fee$10 → $25

Application feeNone → $10

TrainingNone → Mandatory

Filed withCounty Judge of Probate

Source: Act 2023-548 (SB 322); Ala. Code Title 36, Ch. 20.

What an Alabama Bond Actually Costs

For fixed-dollar license bonds you pay a premium — a small percentage of the bond’s face amount — once a year, not the full bond. Credit is the biggest lever. Below is the pricing curve for the state’s most common paid bond, the $50,000 auto dealer bond. Notary bonds usually sidestep this: many notary bonds don’t require a credit check, a flat $35–$100 for four years. For the mechanics across all bond types, see our surety bond cost guide.

Alabama Auto Dealer Bond — Annual Premium by Credit

Based on a $50,000 bond amount

Credit ScoreEst. Annual Cost

Excellent (750+)Rate: 1–2%
$500 – $1,000
Good (680–749)Rate: 2–5%
$1,000 – $2,500
Fair (620–679)Rate: 5–7%
$2,500 – $3,500
Challenged (<620)Rate: up to 10%
up to $5,000

Rates for the $50,000 Form MVT 4-3 dealer bond. Specialty carriers write below-620 files; you never pay the full $50,000, only the annual premium.

See your exact Alabama rate

One short application reaches multiple ALDOI-authorized carriers. Most approvals are same-day, and you pay nothing until the bond is issued.

Get Your Quote Bond Cost Guide

Three Alabama Bond Myths Worth Correcting

Copy that circulates on other bond sites gets Alabama wrong in predictable ways. Here is what the statutes actually say.

"Every Alabama broker needs a $10,000 bond"

False. A general broker posts no bond — just a one-time $30 Recovery Fund fee "in lieu of bond" (§ 34-27-31). The $10,000 bond belongs only to vacation time-sharing brokers under § 34-27-69. See the detail.

"The dealer bond is $25,000"

Outdated. HB 393 (Act 2019-244) doubled it to $50,000 effective October 1, 2020. Any page still quoting $25,000 predates the reform aimed at unlicensed "curb stoning." Current dealer rules.

"Buy the title bond, then file it"

Backwards. ALDOR sets the amount first: file Form MVT 10-1A through the Surety Bond Portal, get the department’s 1.5× value, then execute the MVT 10-1 bond (§ 32-8-36). The exact sequence.

Alabama Surety Bond Questions

The $50K notary, the county probate judge system, contractor boards, dealer and title bonds

Why is Alabama’s notary bond $50,000 — the highest standard notary bond in the country?

Act 2023-548 (Senate Bill 322) raised the Alabama notary bond from $25,000 to $50,000 effective September 1, 2023. No other state requires a standard notary bond that large. The same act raised the commission fee to $25, added a $10 application fee, lifted the maximum notarial act fee to $10, and introduced mandatory applicant training. Despite the size, the premium is small — a $50,000 notary bond usually runs $35 to $100 for the full four-year term, many notary bonds don’t require a credit check, because sureties price notary risk on claims history, not bond face value. The bond is filed with the Judge of Probate in your county of residence, not with a central state agency.

Which Alabama bonds are filed with the county probate judge instead of a state agency?

Alabama is one of the few states that pushes bond filing down to its 67 elected Judges of Probate. Notary bonds are accepted and recorded by the probate judge in your county of residence (Ala. Code Title 36, Chapter 20). Probate and fiduciary bonds — personal representative, administrator, executor, conservator, and guardian bonds — are set and approved by the probate court handling the estate under Ala. Code §§ 43-2-851 and 26-2A-139. Because each county judge administers these locally, filing steps, recording fees, and turnaround differ from county to county. Statewide license bonds (auto dealer, contractor, title) go to the relevant state agency instead.

How much is the Alabama auto dealer bond and who holds it?

Alabama motor vehicle dealers post a $50,000 surety bond on Department Form MVT 4-3, filed with the Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division through the MyDMV portal. House Bill 393 (Act 2019-244) doubled the bond from $25,000 to $50,000 effective October 1, 2020 to curb "curb stoning" by unlicensed sellers. Every dealer license expires on September 30 — a universal fixed renewal date, unusual among states. Premium runs roughly 1–2% of the bond ($500–$1,000) for strong credit and higher for weaker credit.

Does Alabama require a contractor license bond?

It depends on which of Alabama’s three contractor boards licenses you. The Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (ALBGC) — which licenses commercial and industrial work over $100,000 — treats a surety bond as optional: you can post one to supplement net worth or working capital and reach a higher bid classification, but it is not mandatory. The Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors mandates a $15,000 bond for in-state (domestic) firms and $20,000 for out-of-state (foreign) firms under Ala. Code § 34-31-18. The Home Builders Licensure Board mandates a $10,000 bond for residential roofers under Ala. Code § 34-14A-5. One "Alabama contractor bond" does not exist — the requirement follows the board.

Do I need a surety bond for an Alabama real estate broker license?

No. A general Alabama real estate broker or salesperson does not post a surety bond. Instead, the Alabama Real Estate Commission runs a Real Estate Recovery Fund: at first licensure you pay a one-time $30 fee that Ala. Code § 34-27-31 expressly describes as being "in lieu of bond." The only real estate license that carries a bond is the vacation time-sharing plan license under § 34-27-69 — $10,000 for a time-sharing broker and $5,000 for a time-sharing salesperson. If a website quoted you a generic "$10,000 Alabama broker bond," it stripped the "time-sharing" qualifier off a narrow product that almost certainly does not apply to you.

How does an Alabama bonded (surety) title work, and why can’t I buy the bond first?

For an Alabama bonded title you cannot pick the bond amount — the Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR) does. Ala. Code § 32-8-36 sets the bond at one and one-half times the vehicle’s value "as determined by the department." You first file an electronic Application for Title Surety Bond (Form MVT 10-1A) through ALDOR’s Surety Bond Portal, ALDOR returns the required value, and only then is the actual bond (Form MVT 10-1) executed by a surety admitted in Alabama. The bond runs a 3-year term. Vehicles more than 35 model years old are exempt from titling entirely under § 32-8-31, so they need no bond.

Who regulates surety companies and bond producers in Alabama?

The Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) licenses and regulates the surety carriers and the producers who place bonds in the state. When you buy an Alabama license or court bond, the underwriting company must be authorized by ALDOI, and for federal or public-works obligations it typically must also appear on the U.S. Treasury’s Circular 570 list of certified sureties. The obligee — the party protected by the bond — is the agency behind the license: the Department of Revenue for dealer and title bonds, the ALBGC or HVAC/HBLB boards for contractors, and your county Judge of Probate for notary and fiduciary bonds.

Can I get an Alabama surety bond with bad credit?

Yes. Many notary bonds don’t require a credit check, which matters more in Alabama than elsewhere because the face amount is $50,000. For the $50,000 auto dealer bond, contractor bonds, and title bonds, applicants with lower credit still qualify through specialty sureties — expect to pay a higher percentage of the bond (often 5–10% annually) rather than the 1–3% strong-credit applicants pay. Court and probate bonds with weak credit are frequently written with collateral. We place bonds across multiple Alabama-authorized carriers so a single application reaches markets that write higher-risk files.

Official Alabama Resources

Primary state sources for Alabama bond requirements and filings

Alabama Department of Insurance

Licenses and regulates the surety carriers and producers authorized to write bonds in Alabama

AL Dept. of Revenue — Motor Vehicle Division

$50,000 auto dealer bond (Form MVT 4-3) and bonded-title bonds (Forms MVT 10-1A / MVT 10-1)

Alabama Secretary of State — Notaries Public

Notary commission process; the $50,000 bond is filed with your county Judge of Probate under Act 2023-548

Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (ALBGC)

Classifications A–U, bid-limit formula, and the optional surety-bond financial qualification

Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC)

Recovery Fund ($30 in lieu of bond, § 34-27-31) and the vacation time-sharing bond (§ 34-27-69)

U.S. Treasury Circular 570

Federal listing of certified sureties authorized for federal and public-works obligations

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Eric Drummond, Licensed Surety Producer

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Other Alabama Bonds

Additional surety bonds available in Alabama

Alabama Notary Bond

Notary public bond

Alabama Contractor License Bond

Contractor licensing

Alabama Auto Dealer Bond

DMV dealer licensing

Alabama Mortgage Broker Bond

NMLS mortgage licensing

Alabama Performance Bond

Construction & service contracts

Alabama Probate Bond

Executors, administrators & guardians

Alabama Freight Broker Bond

FMCSA broker authority

Nearby States

Surety bonds in neighboring states

Florida Surety Bond

Florida requirements, statute, and bond amount

Georgia Surety Bond

Georgia requirements, statute, and bond amount

Mississippi Surety Bond

Mississippi requirements, statute, and bond amount

Tennessee Surety Bond

Tennessee requirements, statute, and bond amount

More Alabama bond requirements

Get Your Alabama Surety Bond

Whether it files with the Department of Revenue or your county Judge of Probate, we place it with an ALDOI-authorized carrier — usually same day, with no upfront charge.

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Alabama Surety BondsState Agencies + 67 County Probate Judges

Get Your Alabama Bond

The One Question That Trips People Up: Who Holds My Bond?

Where Each Alabama Bond Is Filed

Official Alabama Requirements

Alabama Bonds by Category

Motor Vehicle

County Probate Judge

Construction

Freight & Logistics

Real Estate

Court & Estate

Why "Alabama Contractor Bond" Isn’t One Thing

ALBGC — General

HVAC / Refrigeration

Home Builders (HBLB)

ALBGC License Classifications — Bond as a Bid-Limit Tool

Alabama’s $50,000 Notary Bond — Big Number, Small Premium

What Act 2023-548 Changed

What an Alabama Bond Actually Costs

Alabama Auto Dealer Bond — Annual Premium by Credit

See your exact Alabama rate

Three Alabama Bond Myths Worth Correcting

"Every Alabama broker needs a $10,000 bond"

"The dealer bond is $25,000"

"Buy the title bond, then file it"

Alabama Surety Bond Questions

Official Alabama Resources

Estimate Your Alabama Surety Bond Premium

Other Alabama Bonds

Nearby States

More Alabama bond requirements

Get Your Alabama Surety Bond

Bond requirements in Alabama by type

Surety bonds in other states

Alabama Surety BondsState Agencies + 67 County Probate Judges

Get Your Alabama Bond

The One Question That Trips People Up: Who Holds My Bond?

Where Each Alabama Bond Is Filed

Official Alabama Requirements

Alabama Bonds by Category

Motor Vehicle

County Probate Judge

Construction

Freight & Logistics

Real Estate

Court & Estate

Why "Alabama Contractor Bond" Isn’t One Thing

ALBGC — General

HVAC / Refrigeration

Home Builders (HBLB)

ALBGC License Classifications — Bond as a Bid-Limit Tool

Alabama’s $50,000 Notary Bond — Big Number, Small Premium

What Act 2023-548 Changed

What an Alabama Bond Actually Costs

Alabama Auto Dealer Bond — Annual Premium by Credit

See your exact Alabama rate

Three Alabama Bond Myths Worth Correcting

"Every Alabama broker needs a $10,000 bond"

"The dealer bond is $25,000"

"Buy the title bond, then file it"

Alabama Surety Bond Questions

Official Alabama Resources

Estimate Your Alabama Surety Bond Premium

Other Alabama Bonds

Nearby States

More Alabama bond requirements

Get Your Alabama Surety Bond

Bond requirements in Alabama by type

Surety bonds in other states

Related Surety Bonds