Surety bonds • Texas
Texas Surety Bonds: Requirements and Costs by Bond Type
Texas requires surety bonds for motor vehicle dealers, notaries, owners applying for a bonded vehicle title, and contractors on many public works projects. Required amounts range from $10,000 for a notary bond to the full contract price on public works. This guide lists the most common Texas bonds, who requires them, and what they cost.
Each bond links to a detailed guide with official sources where one is available. Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency licensed in Texas, and a licensed agent can help you find and file the bond you need.
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Common Texas surety bonds
| Bond | Who requires it | Required amount |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle dealer (GDN) bond | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | $50,000 |
| Notary bond | Texas Secretary of State | $10,000 |
| Bonded title (certificate of title) bond | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | 1½ times the vehicle’s value |
| Performance bond | Governmental entities | Full contract price, on contracts over $100,000 |
| Payment bond | Governmental entities | Full contract price, on contracts over $25,000 ($50,000 for municipalities) |
Public works thresholds from Tex. Gov’t Code § 2253.021. Other amounts are sourced in each linked guide.
Texas public works bonds
Under Tex. Gov’t Code § 2253.021, a governmental entity that contracts for public work must require a performance bond for the full contract price if the contract is over $100,000, and a payment bond for the full contract price if the contract is over $25,000, or over $50,000 for municipalities and certain joint boards. Bonds on state contracts must be payable to the state and approved by the attorney general. See our performance bond and payment bond guides.
Contractor bonds in Texas
Texas does not issue a statewide general contractor license, so there is no statewide contractor license bond like Arizona’s. Some Texas cities and counties require permit, right-of-way, or registration bonds; check with the city where you work. Federal and public projects use bid bonds and performance and payment bonds.
Federal bonds Texas businesses often need
- Freight broker bond (BMC-84): $75,000, filed with FMCSA.
- ERISA bond: at least 10% of plan funds handled.
- Court and appeal bonds, set by the court.
What Texas bonds cost
Notary bonds start around $50 for four years, and many bonded title bonds start around $100. Dealer bonds and contract bonds are priced as a percentage of the bond amount based on credit and finances. See our surety bond cost guide or use the surety bond cost calculator.
Texas surety bond FAQs
What surety bonds are required in Texas?
Common ones include the motor vehicle dealer (GDN) bond, the notary bond, bonded title bonds, and performance and payment bonds on public works.
Do Texas contractors need a license bond?
Texas has no statewide general contractor license or license bond, though some cities and counties require their own bonds, and public projects require performance and payment bonds.
When is a payment bond required on Texas public work?
On contracts over $25,000, or over $50,000 for municipalities and certain joint boards, for the full contract price.
Related guides
- Texas auto dealer bond
- Texas notary bond
- Texas bonded title
- Performance bonds
- Payment bonds
- Surety bonds
- Surety bond cost
- Surety bond cost calculator
- Buy a surety bond online
- License and permit bonds
- Texas landscaping contractor insurance
- South Dakota surety bonds
- West Virginia surety bonds
- New Mexico surety bonds
- Nebraska surety bonds
- Kansas surety bonds
- Iowa surety bonds
- Oklahoma surety bonds
- South Carolina surety bonds
- Alabama surety bonds
- Tennessee surety bonds
- Washington surety bonds
- Michigan surety bonds
- Pennsylvania surety bonds
- New Jersey surety bonds
- Illinois surety bonds
- Georgia surety bonds
- Virginia surety bonds
- North Carolina surety bonds
- Ohio surety bonds
- New York surety bonds
- Florida surety bonds
- California surety bonds
Important information
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Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state. Mentioning a company on this page does not mean we represent it.
Cost figures. Published averages and ranges are cited from the sources named, as of the dates shown. They are not quotes and may not reflect your price, which depends on the insurer, the surety, your credit, the bond type, and underwriting.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.
Your next step
Tell us the Texas bond you need, and a licensed agent will help you compare options, or start a bond quote online with our partner.
