Florida Surety Bonds

• Freight Broker Bond: Required for all freight brokers operating in the state of Florida. This $75,000 bond is a federal requirement set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and therefore does not vary by state.
• Auto Dealer Bond: All Florida auto dealers must be licensed by the Florida Department of Safety Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). All licensees must secure a $25,000 auto dealer bond. 
• Contractor License Bond: Contractors getting certain types of Certified Licenses (to work statewide) or Registered Licenses (to work in specific jurisdictions) require a contractor license bond. Bond amount varies. 
• Mortgage Broker Bond: This $10,000 bond is no longer a requirement to get licensed as a Florida mortgage broker by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS). However, getting this bond is still beneficial for instilling trust in clients. 

A Florida surety bond costs a small percentage (generally 1% - 10%) of the total required bond amount. For example, a $10,000 bond would cost anywhere from $100 - $1,000.

This cost is called a bond rate or bond premium. An individual or business’s bond rate is determined using a soft credit check—the better the credit score, the lower the rate. Most people with good credit can secure a bond at a rate of 5% or less.

While credit score is used for an instant quote, other factors may also be considered to lower your cost. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

• Industry experience
• Past bonding history with no claims
• Financial documents prepared by a certified accountant

Lastly, the surety company that you choose can also impact your bond rate. Smaller and less established sureties tend to have higher prices. In contrast, large and established companies, like JW Surety Bonds, offer lower prices. 

Learn more in our guide: How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost? 

1. Determine the Surety Bond You Need

Florida has over 170 different surety bond requirements. The easiest way to figure out the type of bond you need and the bond amount is to contact your obligee. Your obligee is the entity or organization requiring you to get bonded. 

However, if you can’t find the information through your obligee, you may also:

• Use Our Find Your Bond Tool – It’s free, quick, and has the option to get an instant free quote after you find your bond. 
• Contact Our Surety Experts – Our knowledgeable experts can help you determine exactly which bond you need. 

2. Apply For Your Bond

Use our online bond application for an instant quote. It’s available 24/7, can be completed in a few minutes, and sends a quote to your inbox.

Want to speak directly with a surety bond expert? Call us at (888) 592-6631.

With either method, you will need basic information to apply for your bond. This includes:

• Bond Name
• Bond Amount
• Contact Information

3. Get a Quote

Our online applications run a soft credit check and send a quote to your inbox. The email will include further instructions to purchase your bond. 

4. Purchase Your Bond

Log on to our website to purchase your bond. You will be provided with paperwork to fill out and an invoice.

Once complete, a copy of your bond will be sent to your inbox. The original bond will be mailed to you.

• Recently, we had a Florida client that was overwhelmed with starting her own business. To help take a little off her to-do list, we were able to send the original bond directly to her obligee. This saved her the hassle of having to forward the bond once it arrived by mail. Our surety experts are always happy to help when they can, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

• Florida Department of Safety Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
• Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation

JW Surety Bonds is fully licensed to underwrite surety bonds in the state of Florida.

License Number L038267