Virginia Surety Bonds— Three Agencies, One Source
Virginia splits bond authority across three agencies -- DPOR for contractors and tradespeople, the SCC for financial services, and VDACS for consumer protection bonds. That means three sets of forms, three filing systems, and three different renewal calendars.
We write every Virginia bond type on the correct agency form, from the $50,000 DPOR contractor bond to the $200,000 title insurance settlement agent bond that most competitors overlook entirely.
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Official Virginia Requirements
"Each settlement agent shall maintain... a blanket surety bond in the amount of $200,000 payable to the Bureau of Insurance."Virginia Bureau of Insurance • 14VAC5-395-40
Virginia Money Transmitter Bond -- Repealed July 1, 2026
Virginia's money transmitter licensing statute (VA Code Section 6.2-1904) is repealed effective July 1, 2026. The current bond requirement of $25,000 to $1,000,000 will no longer apply after that date. If you hold an active money transmitter bond:
- Bonds renewing before July 1, 2026 must be maintained through the repeal date
- Contact your surety about cancellation procedures and any tail liability
- Federal regulation will govern money transmission in Virginia after the repeal
Virginia Bonds by Regulating Agency
Unlike most states that centralize bond requirements, Virginia distributes authority across three agencies. Knowing which agency regulates your bond determines the form, the filing address, and the renewal schedule.
Virginia Bonds by Regulating Agency
Three agencies regulate surety bonds in Virginia — each with its own forms and filing requirements
| Agency | Bond Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DPOR | Contractor License Bond | $50,000 |
| DPOR | Auctioneer Bond | $10,000 |
| SCC | Title Settlement Agent Bond | $200,000 |
| SCC | Mortgage Broker Bond | $25,000 |
| SCC | Mortgage Lender Bond | $50,000 |
| SCC | Debt Settlement Bond | $25,000–$350,000 |
| VDACS | Health Club / Spa Bond | $10,000–$100,000 |
DPOR bonds expire on the last day of the month. SCC and VDACS bonds have separate renewal calendars.
VA Code §54.1-1106 (DPOR); 14VAC5-395-40 (SCC); VA Code §59.1-296 (VDACS)
DPOR -- Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Construction, trades, and professional licensing
Contractor License Bond
- $50,000 -- alternative to net worth requirement
- Filed on form A501-27BOND, 2-year term
- Class A and Class B only (Class C exempt)
- Per VA Code Section 54.1-1106
Other DPOR Bonds
- Auctioneer Bond -- $10,000 (VA Code Section 54.1-600)
- Electrical contractor bonds (local jurisdictions)
- HVAC contractor bonds (local jurisdictions)
SCC -- State Corporation Commission
Financial services, insurance, and lending
Title Settlement Agent Bond
- $200,000 blanket surety bond
- Plus $250,000 E&O and $100,000 fidelity
- 14VAC5-395-40, Bureau of Insurance
Mortgage & Lending
- Mortgage Broker -- $25,000 (VA Code Section 6.2-1604)
- Mortgage Lender -- $50,000 (10VAC5-160-15)
- Consumer Finance -- $25,000 (10VAC5-60-15)
Other SCC Bonds
- Debt Settlement -- $25K-$350K + $50K fidelity
- Money Transmitter -- $25K-$1MREPEALED 7/1/26
VDACS -- Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Consumer protection and business regulation
Health Club / Spa Bonds
- $10,000 - $100,000 sliding scale
- VA Code Section 59.1-306, based on prepaid revenue
Credit Services Business
- $5,000 - $50,000 per VA Code Section 59.1-335.4
Professional Solicitor
- $20,000 per VA Code Section 57-61
Virginia Title Insurance Settlement Agent Bond -- $200,000
Virginia's title insurance settlement agent bond is one of the largest professional bonds in the Commonwealth, yet most surety bond websites never mention it. Under 14VAC5-395-40, every settlement agent who conducts real estate closings in Virginia must maintain a $200,000 blanket surety bond payable to the Bureau of Insurance.
The bond exists because settlement agents handle escrow funds, mortgage payoffs, and title transfers -- often involving hundreds of thousands of dollars per transaction. A single agent may handle millions in consumer funds annually. The $200,000 bond protects consumers if a settlement agent misappropriates closing funds or fails to properly disburse settlement proceeds.
In addition to the surety bond, Virginia law requires settlement agents to carry $250,000 in professional liability (E&O) insurance and $100,000 in fidelity coverage. This triple layer of protection makes Virginia one of the strictest states for title settlement regulation, and the bond component alone costs $2,000-$6,000 per year depending on the agent's volume and financials.
Settlement Agent Bond Requirements at a Glance
No Notary Bond Required
Virginia does not require notaries public to post a surety bond. Commissions are issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth without any bonding requirement.
This differs from neighboring states: North Carolina requires a $10,000 notary bond and Pennsylvania mandates $25,000. If you are a Virginia notary, you do not need a bond -- but E&O insurance is available for voluntary protection.
Virginia Court Bonds
Probate bonds, appeal bonds, and fiduciary bonds for Virginia's 120 circuit courts across 31 judicial circuits. Amounts are set by the presiding judge under VA Code Section 64.2-504 and related statutes.
Other High-Demand Virginia Bonds
Beyond the agency-regulated bonds above, Virginia requires surety bonds for auto dealers, public works, and several specialty industries. Browse all bond types on our surety bonds hub, use the contractor bond cost calculator, or start with what a surety bond is.
Auto Dealer Bond
Filed with the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board on form MVDB-2. VA Code Section 46.2-1527.2. Renewal may qualify for a $100,000 alternative bond amount.
Auto Dealer BondsPublic Works Bonds
Performance and payment bonds required on projects over $500K (non-transport) or $350K (transport). VA Code Section 2.2-4337 -- Virginia's Little Miller Act.
Performance & Payment BondsFreight Broker Bond
Required by FMCSA for all freight brokers and forwarders, including those based in Virginia. Federal requirement, not state-specific.
Freight Broker BondsLottery Retailer Bond
Required under 11VAC5-31-50 for Virginia Lottery retailers. Bond amount is set on a sliding scale based on projected sales volume.
License BondsMining / Reclamation Bond
VA Code Section 45.2-1016 requires mining operators to post a reclamation bond. Amount determined by the Director of Mines based on site restoration cost.
Commercial BondsAlcohol Tax Bond
VA Code Section 58.1-630 requires alcohol distributors and manufacturers to post tax bonds. Amount depends on estimated monthly tax liability.
License BondsLocal Virginia Bond Requirements
Several Virginia cities and counties impose their own surety bond requirements on top of state-level mandates. These local bonds are separate from anything required by DPOR, the SCC, or VDACS and are typically enforced through local building codes or business license ordinances.
Fairfax County
$5,000 - $10,000 home improvement contractor bond required for local business license
Prince William County
$10,000 contractor bond for certain trade categories beyond DPOR requirements
Always check with your local building official or business license office for county- or city-specific bonding requirements before beginning work.
Bail Bonds in Virginia
Virginia handles bail bonds differently from most states. Bail bondsmen in Virginia must be licensed property and casualty insurance agents -- there is no standalone bail bond license or separate surety bond for bail bondsmen. The bail bond is written as a form of insurance, not as a traditional surety bond.
If you are looking for a bail bond, contact a licensed P&C agent in your jurisdiction. If you need a court bond for civil matters (probate, appeal, fiduciary), those are traditional surety bonds and we can help.
How to Get Your Virginia Surety Bond
Three steps regardless of which agency requires your bond
Identify Your Bond and Agency
Tell us the bond type you need. We determine whether it falls under DPOR, SCC, VDACS, or a local jurisdiction, and pull the correct form and filing requirements automatically.
Receive Your Quote and Get Approved
We match you with Treasury-certified sureties authorized to write bonds in Virginia. Most DPOR contractor bonds, auto dealer bonds, and license bonds are approved the same business day. Larger bonds like the $200,000 title settlement agent bond may require financial review.
File with the Correct Agency
Your bond is issued on the agency-specific form with the correct expiration date. For DPOR bonds, the expiration must fall on the last day of the month. We can file directly with DPOR, the SCC, MVDB, or your local jurisdiction.
Serving the Commonwealth of Virginia
Bond filings accepted by every Virginia state agency and all 120 circuit courts
Virginia Surety Bond Questions
Specific to DPOR, SCC, VDACS, and Virginia Commonwealth law
Why does Virginia require a $200,000 title insurance settlement agent bond?
Which Virginia contractors need a $50,000 surety bond?
Does Virginia require a notary bond?
What happens to Virginia money transmitter bonds after July 1, 2026?
How much does a Virginia auto dealer bond cost?
What Virginia agencies require surety bonds?
What is Virginia's public works bond requirement?
How does Virginia's debt settlement bond work?
Official Virginia Resources
Government sources for Virginia bond requirements
License classes, net worth thresholds, and form A501-27BOND for the $50,000 contractor bond
Bureau of Insurance regulation requiring $200,000 surety bond for settlement agents
Mortgage broker, mortgage lender, consumer finance, and debt settlement bond requirements
Statute authorizing the $50,000 surety bond as alternative to net worth for Class A/B contractors
Federal listing of Treasury-certified surety companies authorized to write bonds for U.S. government contracts
Other Virginia Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in Virginia
Get Your Virginia Surety Bond Today
Title settlement agent bonds, DPOR contractor bonds, SCC financial bonds, and every bond the Commonwealth requires