RLI Surety Insurance Through an Independent Agency: Coverage and States

RLI Surety coverage and states available through our agency

The table shows each RLI Surety coverage type our agency can currently quote and the states, out of the 24 where we are licensed, in which we can quote it.

If your state or coverage type is not listed, send a request anyway. We can check other insurers we have access to.

How to request a RLI Surety quote

• Send the request form on this page or call 888-387-3687.
• Tell us the coverage you need and the state where the business operates.
• A licensed agent reviews whether RLI Surety is available for your situation and what information the insurer needs.
• You review the quote and decide. Coverage starts only after the insurer accepts your application and confirms it.

Ways to compare your options

You can go whichever direction suits you. None of these commits you to buying.

• Ask a licensed agent. Send a request or call 888-387-3687.

Who RLI Surety is

RLI Surety is RLI's bond unit. RLI is a specialty insurer headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. Its parent, RLI Corp., trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

RLI Group's rated insurers are RLI Insurance Company, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company (CBIC). CBIC is a group member, according to AM Best. But we couldn't verify which RLI company issues any specific bond. No page we reviewed tied particular bonds to CBIC or another member.

The company named on your bond is the surety that stands behind it. Check that name on the bond form itself.

RLI Surety's financial strength

AM Best upgraded RLI Group's insurers to A++ (Superior) on February 20, 2026. The long-term issuer credit rating rose to "aa+". The outlook is stable.

A++ is in AM Best's "Superior" category. An obligee may look at a surety's financial strength when it accepts a bond. RLI's rating applies to each of its group members, so check that the company on your bond is one of them.

The upgrade followed a positive outlook that AM Best assigned on January 30, 2025.

What RLI Surety offers

According to the First Connect carrier directory, RLI Surety offers two kinds of bonds:

• Commercial bonds, written online.
• Contract bonds, with applications submitted electronically.

Commercial bonds generally cover things like licenses and permits, while contract bonds generally support construction and other project work.

The directory lists all 50 states plus DC.

For a commercial bond, you'll usually need the exact bond form from the agency or party that requires it. For contract bonds, you may be asked to share more about your business.

How RLI Surety sells

RLI Surety sells through agents. Agents on the First Connect platform reach RLI Surety's online system through their First Connect account.

That means you'll likely work with an agent to get an RLI bond.

If you need several bonds, or a bond tied to a contract, ask your agent whether RLI can handle all of them.

How a surety bond differs from insurance

A surety bond involves three parties. You're the principal. The party that requires the bond is the obligee. RLI, as the surety, guarantees your obligation to the obligee.

If you don't meet that obligation, the obligee can make a claim. The surety may pay it. Then it generally expects you to repay it under your indemnity agreement. That's a key difference from most insurance.

So read the indemnity terms before you sign. They spell out what you owe the surety if it pays a claim.

What to check before you get an RLI bond

• The exact bond form. Get the wording and amount from the obligee.
• The surety's name. Confirm which RLI company is on the bond.
• Acceptance. Ask the obligee whether it accepts that surety.
• Indemnity terms. Read them before you sign.
• Renewal. Know the bond's term and renewal date so it doesn't lapse.
• Bond amount. Confirm the required amount before you apply. The wrong amount can mean a rejected bond.
• Your agent's access. Ask whether your agent can reach RLI Surety's online system.

How to verify an insurer or agency

Before buying through any website or app, confirm who is selling you the policy and who will issue it:

1. Find the licensed agency or insurer named in the site's footer, terms, or license page.
2. Look up the agency or producer on your state insurance department's license search, or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
3. Look up the insurer on your state insurance department's company search to confirm it is authorized in your state.
4. Save the insurer's name and policy number once issued, since that is who handles claims.

A legitimate service will make this information easy to find. Be cautious if you cannot identify the licensed entity.

What an independent agency does

An independent insurance agency is licensed to sell policies from several insurance companies. Instead of quoting one company's products, an independent agent can compare options from the insurers the agency represents, explain the differences in coverage, and help you re-shop at renewal. The insurance company, not the agent, makes underwriting and claim decisions.

Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency. We work with clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed, and we will tell you which insurers we can quote for your situation.

Questions to ask before you buy

• Which insurer issues the policy, and is it licensed in my state?
• What are the limits and deductibles, and what’s excluded?
• Which discounts were applied, and which ones weren’t?
• How do I report a claim, and is there a 24-hour line?
• What happens if I miss a payment, and is there a grace period?
• Can I get the full quote, including all fees, in writing before I pay?

RLI Surety FAQs

Your next step

Send a request and a licensed agent will check RLI Surety and other options available to you.