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Last updated: General Pennsylvania surety bond information — confirm current requirements with the licensing authority.
Notary bond increased to $25,000 effective 3/28/2026
Pennsylvania Surety Bonds

Pennsylvania Surety Bonds— Notary Bonds Now $25,000

Pennsylvania's notary bond jumped from $10,000 to $25,000 on March 28, 2026 -- the largest single increase in the Commonwealth's history. Beyond notary bonds, PA requires auto dealer bonds ($20,000 via PennDOT), one of the nation's highest money transmitter bonds at $1,000,000, and fiduciary bonds through its unique Orphans' Court system. We place bonds with Treasury-listed carriers on the form your PA agency, court, or municipality requires.

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Notary, auto dealer, contractor, and all bond types

Quick answer
Pennsylvania raised its notary bond from $10,000 to $25,000 on March 28, 2026. Other common bonds are the $20,000 auto dealer bond filed with PennDOT, Orphans' Court fiduciary bonds and the $1,000,000 money transmitter bond.
  • Who requires it: PennDOT (Title 75 section 1335) for dealers. 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3 for notaries. Department of Banking and Securities (7 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61) for money transmitters.
  • Amount: Notary: $25,000. Auto dealer: $20,000. Money transmitter: $1,000,000. Philadelphia demolition contractors: $50,000 (Class A) or $10,000 (Class B).
  • Typical cost (estimate): about 1-3% of the bond amount per year for auto dealers with strong credit. The surety sets the final price.
  • Timing: We submit complete applications to the carrier promptly; most quotes within one business day.
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Official Pennsylvania Requirements

"A notary public shall, within 45 days of the date of appointment, execute a $25,000 surety bond... and record it with the recorder of deeds of the county in which the notary public maintains an office."
Pennsylvania Department of State • 57 Pa.C.S. Ch. 3 (as amended, eff. 3/28/2026)
$25K
Notary Bond (New)
$1M
Money Transmitter
Prompt
Submission
67
Counties Served

PA Notary Bond Increased to $25,000

Effective March 28, 2026 -- 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

What Changed

  • Bond amount increased from $10,000 to $25,000
  • 4-year commission term unchanged
  • Must still be recorded with county Recorder of Deeds within 45 days
  • Existing notaries must obtain the new bond amount at next renewal

What It Costs You

$50-$100for 4-year term
  • Many small license bonds don’t require a credit check
  • Fast quote and delivery
  • Covers full 4-year commission
Get Your $25,000 Notary Bond

Pennsylvania Bond Amounts and Statutes

Every major bond the Commonwealth requires, with the statutory authority and current amount. For general information, see our guide on what a surety bond is, browse all types on our surety bonds hub, or use the notary bond calculator to estimate your cost.

Bond TypeAmountStatute
Notary Public$25,00057 Pa.C.S. Ch. 3
Auto Dealer$20,000Title 75 §1335
Mortgage Broker$50K-$100K7 Pa.C.S. §6131
Telemarketer$50,00073 P.S. §§2241-2249
Public Adjuster$20,000Act 21 of 2012
Private Detective$10,00022 Pa. Code Ch. 501
Money Transmitter$1,000,0007 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61
Auctioneer$5,00063 Pa.C.S. §734.4
Collection Agency$5,00073 P.S. §2270.4
Credit Services Org.$5K-$25K1992 Act 150
Debt Management$50K/$10K63 Pa.C.S. §4713
Health Club$50K-$200K73 P.S. §2164
Tax CollectorSet by county72 P.S. §5511.21
Freight Broker$75,00049 CFR 387.307
Public Works100% of contractAct 385 of 1967
Court / ProbateSet by court20 Pa.C.S. §3171

Amounts current as of April 2026. Municipal bonds (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, etc.) have separate requirements listed below.

Home Improvement Contractors: HICPA Explained

One of the most common questions we hear: "Do I need a surety bond to do home improvement work in Pennsylvania?" The short answer is no, not at the state level.

The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA, 73 P.S. Section 517.1 et seq.) requires contractors to register with the Attorney General's office. Registration requires $50,000 in general liability insurance and a $100 biennial fee. It does not require a surety bond.

However, individual municipalities can and do require bonds. If you work in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or other PA cities, check with your local Licenses and Inspections office for any additional bonding requirements before starting work. Our hub on bonds for contractors sets municipal license and permit bonds beside the project bonds — bid, performance and payment — that public jobs carry.

HICPA Registration vs. Bond

State Registration
Required. File with AG's office. $100 every 2 years.
Liability Insurance
Required. Minimum $50,000 general liability.
State-Level Bond
Not required under HICPA.
Municipal Bond
May be required. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other cities set their own bonding rules.

Orphans' Court Bonds

Pennsylvania's unique probate court system

Unlike most states that have a separate probate court, Pennsylvania handles estates, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions through a division of the Court of Common Pleas called the Orphans' Court. Under 20 Pa.C.S. Section 3171, the court may require executors, administrators, and guardians to post a fiduciary bond to protect the assets they manage.

Executor / Administrator

Bond set at estimated personal property value. Required unless the will expressly waives it or all beneficiaries consent.

Guardian of Estate

Appointed for minors or incapacitated adults. Bond amount covers the ward's assets plus anticipated income during the guardianship.

Trustee Bond

Court-appointed or successor trustees may be required to post a bond equal to the trust corpus. Amount determined by the Orphans' Court judge.

Learn About Probate Bonds All Court Bonds

Philadelphia-Specific Bonds

Philadelphia maintains its own Licenses and Inspections (L&I) department with bond requirements separate from the rest of the state.

$50,000

Demolition Class A

Required for demolition of commercial buildings and large structures in Philadelphia.

$10,000

Demolition Class B

Required for demolition of residential and smaller structures in the city.

$1,000

Curb Setter Bond

Required for contractors performing curb-setting work within Philadelphia city limits.

$1,000,000 Money Transmitter Bond

One of the highest state-level surety bonds in the nation

Pennsylvania's $1,000,000 money transmitter bond under 7 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61 dwarfs most other state requirements. It covers businesses that transmit money, sell payment instruments, or provide stored-value services within the Commonwealth. The bond is filed with the PA Department of Banking and Securities.

Typical Premium Range

Strong financials
$10,000-$20,000/yr
1-2% of bond amount
Average risk
$30,000-$50,000/yr
3-5% of bond amount
Higher risk / startup
$80,000-$100,000/yr
8-10% of bond amount

How to Get Your Pennsylvania Surety Bond

1

Tell Us Your Bond Type

Select the bond you need -- notary, auto dealer, mortgage broker, or any of the bond types listed above. Provide your business details for a fast quote.

2

Prompt Submission

Notary bonds are quoted quickly online, and many notary bonds don’t require a credit check. License and contractor bond applications are submitted promptly to Treasury-listed sureties authorized in Pennsylvania.

3

Record or File

Notary bonds must be recorded with the county Recorder of Deeds. Auto dealer bonds go to PennDOT. Other bonds are filed with the relevant state agency or court. We handle the paperwork.

Pennsylvania Bond Categories

Construction Bonds

Court & Fiduciary

Business & Professional

Serving the Entire Commonwealth

Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Allentown
Erie
Reading
Scranton
Bethlehem
Lancaster
Harrisburg
York
Wilkes-Barre
Chester

Pennsylvania Surety Bond Questions

Notary bond increase, HICPA, Orphans' Court, and PA-specific rules

Why did the Pennsylvania notary bond increase to $25,000?
Effective March 28, 2026, the PA notary bond increased from $10,000 to $25,000 under the revised provisions of 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3. The increase reflects two decades of inflation since the prior amount was set and the expanded duties notaries now perform, including remote online notarization. The bond must still be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the notary maintains an office -- a step unique to Pennsylvania. Notaries commissioned before the effective date must obtain the higher bond amount at their next renewal.
Does Pennsylvania require a home improvement contractor bond?
No. Under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA, 73 P.S. § 517.1 et seq.), Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General's office, carry $50,000 in general liability insurance, and pay a $100 biennial registration fee. However, HICPA does not mandate a surety bond at the state level. Some municipalities -- particularly Philadelphia and Pittsburgh -- impose their own contractor bonding requirements on top of the state registration, so check your local L&I office for bond amounts specific to your city.
What is the Orphans' Court and why does it require bonds?
Pennsylvania's Orphans' Court is a division of the Court of Common Pleas that handles estates, trusts, guardianships of minors and incapacitated persons, and adoptions. It is the rough equivalent of a probate court in other states. When the Orphans' Court appoints an executor, administrator, or guardian, it typically requires a fiduciary bond (under 20 Pa.C.S. § 3171) to protect the estate or ward from mismanagement. The bond amount is usually set at the estimated value of the personal property in the estate. We place Orphans' Court bonds for all 67 PA counties, on the form your court requires.
Why is the PA money transmitter bond $1,000,000?
Pennsylvania's Department of Banking and Securities requires money transmitters to post a $1,000,000 surety bond under 7 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61. This is among the highest money transmitter bonds in the nation and reflects the significant consumer risk involved in holding and transmitting funds. The bond protects consumers if the transmitter fails to deliver funds, becomes insolvent, or violates the Money Transmitter Act. Businesses with strong financials and operating history may qualify for rates as low as 1-2% of the bond amount.
How much does a Pennsylvania auto dealer bond cost?
The required PA auto dealer bond is $20,000, filed with PennDOT using Form MV-375 (Title 75 §1335). Dealers with credit scores above 700 typically pay $200-$600 per year (1-3% of the bond amount). Dealers with credit challenges may pay $1,000-$2,000 annually (5-10%). The bond protects consumers from dealer misconduct including failure to deliver titles, odometer fraud, and misrepresentation of vehicle condition.
What bonds does Philadelphia require that other PA cities do not?
Philadelphia has its own Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) that requires several bonds not found elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Demolition contractors must post either a $50,000 Class A bond or a $10,000 Class B bond depending on the type of structure. Curb setters need a $1,000 bond. General contractors working in Philadelphia need a separate city-issued license and bond that is independent of any state registration. Always check with Philadelphia L&I for the most current bond amounts for your trade.
Can I get a Pennsylvania surety bond with bad credit?
Yes. Many PA notary bonds don’t require a credit check and are quoted quickly online. For auto dealer bonds, contractor bonds, and most license bonds, we work with sureties that accept applicants with credit scores in the 500-600 range. Rates will be higher -- typically 5-10% of the bond amount instead of 1-3% -- but approval is still possible. For the $1,000,000 money transmitter bond, strong financials and industry experience carry more weight than personal credit alone.
How do I get a Pennsylvania surety bond?
Request a quote with the form on this page. A licensed agent submits your application to a Treasury-listed surety carrier; once the carrier issues your bond, file it as the requiring agency directs.
What happens after I apply?
We submit complete applications to the carrier promptly; most quotes come back within one business day. The carrier decides approval and the final premium, and you pay only when your bond is issued.

Surety Bonds in Neighboring States

Ohio Surety BondsNew York Surety BondsVirginia Surety Bonds

Official Pennsylvania Resources

Government sources for PA bond requirements

PA Department of State -- Notary Bonding Requirement

Official $25,000 bond requirement (eff. 3/28/2026) and 45-day recording deadline

PennDOT -- Auto Dealer Licensing

$20,000 dealer bond requirement under Title 75 \u00a71335

PA Attorney General -- Home Improvement Contractor Registration

HICPA registration requirements (no state bond required)

PA Dept. of Banking and Securities

Money transmitter ($1M), mortgage broker, and financial services bond requirements

U.S. Treasury Surety Bond List

Federal listing of Treasury-listed surety companies authorized to write bonds for U.S. government contracts

Eric Drummond, Licensed Surety Producer
Reviewed by
Eric Drummond, Licensed Surety Producer
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All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov). BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-listed surety carriers.

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Other Pennsylvania Bonds

Additional surety bonds available in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Notary Bond

Notary public bond

Pennsylvania Contractor License Bond

Contractor licensing

Pennsylvania Auto Dealer Bond

DMV dealer licensing

Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker Bond

NMLS mortgage licensing

Pennsylvania Performance Bond

Construction & service contracts

Pennsylvania Probate Bond

Executors, administrators & guardians

Pennsylvania Freight Broker Bond

FMCSA broker authority

More Pennsylvania bond requirements

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$25,000 notary bonds, auto dealer bonds, Orphans' Court bonds, and every bond the Commonwealth requires

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