Statewide bonds are established by a Texas statute or agency rule that names the form and amount—for example, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles general distinguishing number dealer security or Texas Department of Insurance public insurance adjuster financial responsibility. Local ordinances establish city and county bonds, which can change by place and permit type. Texas has no single statewide contractor license bond like California’s CSLB contractor’s bond. Start from the agency packet that asked for the bond, not from a generic product label.
Texas · Surety Bond Resource Center
Texas surety bonds
Texas license and permit bonds come from state agencies or local governments—licensing security, not business insurance. Use this page to open the TxDMV dealer, public adjuster, CSO, or local contractor guide that matches your notice.
Texas at a glance
- Common license bond amounts
- $10K–$50K
- State vs local
- Both apply
- Typical renewal pattern
- Annual premium or multi-year term
- Coverage geography
- Statewide agencies + local governments
Set by statute or local ordinance; always confirm the current form.
Some bonds are statewide; contractor permit bonds are often city or county.
Dealer GDNs commonly align to a 2-year license term.
How it works in this state
How Texas bonding is organized
Texas bond directory
Find your bond requirement
These guides cover license and permit bonds with verified educational content. Your agency notice or application checklist is always the final authority.
BondAgencyCommon amountHow you file
- Motor Vehicle Dealer BondAuto dealerTexas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV)$50,000Upload the bond through TxDMV eLICENSING; align the term to the licenseMust cover the GDN license term (commonly 2 years)
- Public Adjuster BondProfessional licenseTexas Department of Insurance (TDI)$10,000 (minimum)Upload Form FIN509 through Sircon with the TDI applicationMaintain for as long as the license remains active
- Credit Services Organization BondFinancial servicesTexas Secretary of State$10,000 per locationFile Form 2802 with the Secretary of State, or a surety-account notice on Form 2803Coordinate with annual CSO registration renewal
- Contractor License & Permit BondLicense & permitCity or county licensing / permit office (varies)Set by local ordinanceFile the city’s or county’s required bond formOften annual; follow the local registration cycle
Who sets the requirement?
Texas licensing agencies
Each agency below sets its own bond requirement. Open the related guide for amounts and filing steps.
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
Dealer general distinguishing number (GDN) licensing and security.
Open related guide →Texas Department of Insurance
Public insurance adjuster licensing and financial responsibility.
Open related guide →Texas Secretary of State
Credit services organization registration and surety filings.
Open related guide →Cities, counties & local permit offices
Contractor registration, trade, and permit bonds under local rules.
Open related guide →Before you apply
Confirm these details from the agency notice
Bring these five items when you request a bond. For the full checklist, see how to read a bond requirement.
- 1
Who requires it
The exact agency or city named on the requirement.
- 2
Bond title or form
Form number or bond title from the current checklist.
- 3
Required amount
The figure on the statute, rule, or ordinance—not a guessed amount.
- 4
Effective dates or term
License cycle, registration year, or language that keeps the bond in force until canceled.
- 5
Legal name & identifiers
Entity name and license numbers that must match agency records.
Learn more about surety bonds
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas have one statewide contractor license bond?
No. Contractor bonding often shows up as a city or county registration/permit bond, or as a separate project contract bond. Open the contractor license & permit guide when a local packet asks for security.
Start your Texas bond application
Texas will be preselected in the application. Choose the bond type on the next step—we verify the current agency form before anything is issued.
Last verified 2026-08-05. Official sources are retained with this guide and checked before publication.
Agents Ready to Help
Need help matching a Texas agency notice to the correct bond form? Our surety team can review the requirement with you.
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