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Last updated: General Virginia surety bond information — confirm current requirements with the licensing authority.
Commonwealth of Virginia

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.

Each Virginia bond type has its own agency form, from the $50,000 DPOR contractor bond to the $200,000 title insurance settlement agent bond that is easy to overlook.

Prompt Submission
DPOR / SCC / VDACS Forms
No Notary Bond Needed

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Contractor, title settlement, auto dealer, and all bond types

Quick answer
Virginia splits bond authority across three agencies: DPOR for contractors, the SCC for financial services and VDACS for consumer protection. Notable bonds are the $200,000 title insurance settlement agent bond, the $50,000 DPOR contractor bond and the $50,000 initial auto dealer bond. Notaries need no bond.
  • Who requires it: DPOR, the SCC and VDACS. 14VAC5-395-40 for settlement agents. VA Code 46.2-1527.2 for dealers.
  • Amount: Settlement agent: $200,000. DPOR contractor: $50,000 as an alternative to meeting net worth thresholds. Dealer: $50,000 initially. Debt settlement providers: $25,000 to $350,000 plus a $50,000 fidelity bond.
  • Timing: We submit complete applications to the carrier promptly; most quotes within one business day.
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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
$200K
Title Settlement Bond
$50K
DPOR Contractor Bond
3
Regulating Agencies
Prompt
Submission

Virginia Money Transmitter Bond -- New Rules Since July 1, 2026

Virginia replaced its old money transmitter chapter with the Money Transmission Modernization Act (Va. Code Chapter 19.1), effective July 1, 2026. Licensing and a surety bond are still required. If you transmit money in Virginia:

  • Security under Va. Code § 6.2-1951 is generally the greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily Virginia transmission liability, up to $1 million
  • Licensees licensed on June 30, 2026 carried over to the new chapter; review whether your bond amount meets the new formula
  • Confirm your required bond amount with the SCC Bureau of Financial Institutions

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.

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
Virginia Contractor Bonds

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 -- $100K-$1M (Chapter 19.1, since 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

Surety Bond
$200,000
E&O Insurance
$250,000
Fidelity Coverage
$100,000
Statute
14VAC5-395-40

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

$50,000 initial

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 Bonds

Public Works Bonds

100% of contract

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 Bonds

Freight Broker Bond

$75,000 federal

Required by FMCSA for all freight brokers and forwarders, including those based in Virginia. Federal requirement, not state-specific.

Freight Broker Bonds

Lottery Retailer Bond

Sliding scale

Required under 11VAC5-31-50 for Virginia Lottery retailers. Bond amount is set on a sliding scale based on projected sales volume.

For how lottery retailer bonds work in other states, see our lottery bond overview.

License Bonds

Mining / Reclamation Bond

Set by Director

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 Bonds

Alcohol Tax Bond

$1,000 - $50,000+

VA Code Section 58.1-630 requires alcohol distributors and manufacturers to post tax bonds. Amount depends on estimated monthly tax liability.

License Bonds

Local 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.

A Note on 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.

We don’t serve the bail bond industry — that includes bail agent licensing bonds, bail enforcement bonds, and criminal bail bonds themselves. If you need a bail bond in Virginia, 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

1

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.

2

Receive Your Quote and Get Approved

We match you with Treasury-listed sureties authorized to write bonds in Virginia. Most DPOR contractor bonds, auto dealer bonds, and license bonds are submitted promptly. Larger bonds like the $200,000 title settlement agent bond may require financial review.

3

File with the Correct Agency

The bond must be written on the agency-specific form with the correct expiration date. For DPOR bonds, the expiration must fall on the last day of the month. Confirm with DPOR, the SCC, MVDB, or your local jurisdiction how the bond is filed.

Serving the Commonwealth of Virginia

Bonds written on the form your Virginia state agency or circuit court requires

Virginia Beach
Norfolk
Chesapeake
Richmond
Newport News
Alexandria
Hampton
Roanoke
Portsmouth
Lynchburg
Fairfax
Arlington

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?
Virginia requires title insurance settlement agents to post a $200,000 surety bond under 14VAC5-395-40 to protect consumers in real estate closings. Settlement agents handle escrow funds, mortgage payoffs, and title transfers -- often involving hundreds of thousands of dollars per transaction. The bond protects against misappropriation of settlement funds. Agents must also carry $250,000 in errors and omissions insurance and $100,000 in fidelity coverage, making this one of the most heavily bonded professions in the Commonwealth.
Which Virginia contractors need a $50,000 surety bond?
Class A and Class B contractors who cannot meet DPOR's net worth thresholds may post a $50,000 surety bond as an alternative. Class A applicants must show $45,000 net worth; Class B applicants must show $15,000. If you fall short, DPOR allows a $50,000 bond on form A501-27BOND for the 2-year license term per VA Code Section 54.1-1106. Class C contractors (projects under $10,000) have no bond or net worth requirement.
Does Virginia require a notary bond?
No. Virginia is one of the states that does not require notaries public to post a surety bond. Notary commissions are issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth without a bonding requirement. This is different from neighboring states -- North Carolina requires a $10,000 notary bond, and Pennsylvania law mandates a $25,000 bond. Virginia notaries may purchase errors and omissions insurance voluntarily.
What happened to Virginia money transmitter bonds on July 1, 2026?
Virginia repealed its old money transmitter chapter (Va. Code Chapter 19 of Title 6.2) and replaced it with the Money Transmission Modernization Act, now Chapter 19.1, effective July 1, 2026 (2025 HB 1942). Money transmitters are still licensed by the SCC and still need security. Under Va. Code § 6.2-1951 the security is generally the greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily Virginia money transmission liability, capped at $1 million. Confirm your required amount with the SCC Bureau of Financial Institutions.
How much does a Virginia auto dealer bond cost?
The initial Virginia auto dealer bond is $50,000 (VA Code Section 46.2-1527.2, filed on MVDB-2 form). Upon renewal, dealers may qualify for a reduced $100,000 alternative bond amount depending on their sales volume and history. Premium costs range from $500 to $2,500 per year for applicants with good credit. Dealers with credit challenges typically pay 5-10% of the bond amount annually.
What Virginia agencies require surety bonds?
Three main agencies administer Virginia surety bond requirements. DPOR (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) handles contractor bonds, auctioneer bonds, and trade-specific license bonds. The SCC (State Corporation Commission) oversees mortgage broker bonds, mortgage lender bonds, consumer finance bonds, and money transmitter bonds (under Chapter 19.1 since July 1, 2026). VDACS (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) administers health club bonds, credit services business bonds, and professional solicitor bonds. Each agency has its own forms, filing procedures, and renewal schedules.
What is Virginia's public works bond requirement?
Under VA Code Section 2.2-4337, contractors on Virginia public works projects must furnish performance and payment bonds equal to 100% of the contract price. The threshold is $500,000 for non-transportation projects and $350,000 for transportation projects. This is the Virginia equivalent of the federal Miller Act and protects the Commonwealth, subcontractors, and material suppliers on government construction.
How does Virginia's debt settlement bond work?
Virginia debt settlement providers must post a surety bond ranging from $25,000 to $350,000 depending on the volume of consumer accounts under management, plus a separate $50,000 fidelity bond (VA Code Section 6.2-2029). The sliding scale means larger operations carrying more consumer debt face higher bond requirements. The SCC sets the exact amount based on your most recent filing.
How do I get a Virginia 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.

Official Virginia Resources

Government sources for Virginia bond requirements

DPOR -- Board for Contractors

License classes, net worth thresholds, and form A501-27BOND for the $50,000 contractor bond

14VAC5-395-40 -- Title Settlement Agent Bond

Bureau of Insurance regulation requiring $200,000 surety bond for settlement agents

SCC -- Bureau of Financial Institutions

Mortgage broker, mortgage lender, consumer finance, and debt settlement bond requirements

VA Code Section 54.1-1106 -- Contractor Bond

Statute authorizing the $50,000 surety bond as alternative to net worth for Class A/B contractors

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 Virginia Bonds

Additional surety bonds available in Virginia

Virginia Contractor License Bond

Contractor licensing

Virginia Auto Dealer Bond

DMV dealer licensing

Virginia Mortgage Broker Bond

NMLS mortgage licensing

Virginia Performance Bond

Construction & service contracts

Virginia Probate Bond

Executors, administrators & guardians

Virginia Freight Broker Bond

FMCSA broker authority

Nearby States

Surety bonds in neighboring states

Kentucky Surety Bond

Kentucky requirements, statute, and bond amount

Maryland Surety Bond

Maryland requirements, statute, and bond amount

North Carolina Surety Bond

North Carolina requirements, statute, and bond amount

Tennessee Surety Bond

Tennessee requirements, statute, and bond amount

West Virginia Surety Bond

West Virginia requirements, statute, and bond amount

More Virginia bond requirements

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