Surety Bonds
From contractors to notaries, we provide the financial backing you need to bid bigger, work faster, and win more contracts.
What is a surety bond in Texas and how much does it cost?
A surety bond is a three-party guarantee in which a surety company promises a state agency or court that a contractor, dealer, notary, or other licensee will perform their duties lawfully. In Texas, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the Secretary of State, and many municipalities require surety bonds as a condition of licensure. Common Texas bond amounts include $50,000 for motor vehicle dealers (Transportation Code §503.033), $10,000 for notaries, and $10,000 to $25,000 for contractors. Annual premium typically runs 1 to 3 percent of the bond amount for applicants with good credit, and 5 to 15 percent for credit-challenged applicants. A-LA Auto Insurance, an independent Texas agency licensed in Texas, places bonds with A-rated surety carriers and issues most license, permit, notary, and dealer bonds the same day. Bilingual English and Spanish agents staff 20+ offices across Texas. Call (866) 252-6116 to start an application.
Source: A-LA Auto Insurance — Texas-licensed agency (May 2026)
How much is a surety bond in Texas? You pay a premium, a share of the bond amount that the surety sets from the bond type and your credit, not the full amount. Texas sets the bond amounts: $10,000 for a notary public (Secretary of State Form 2301-B), $50,000 for a motor vehicle dealer (TxDMV), and 1½ times the vehicle’s value for a bonded title (TxDMV).
Texas Bonded Title Surety Bonds
Same-day issuance
Walk out with the bond the same visit.
No credit check
Bonded title bonds are issued without a credit pull.
20+ offices across Texas
Bilingual agents across Dallas-Fort Worth.
A bonded title in Texas is a vehicle title issued when the owner can prove ownership but cannot produce the original Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO), prior title, or bill of sale. Under Texas Transportation Code §501.053, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) requires the applicant to file a surety bond worth 1.5× the vehicle's appraised value before issuing the bonded title.
Don't confuse a bonded title with a “blue title” — in Texas, “blue title” is everyday shorthand for the regular, unbranded Certificate of Title (TxDMV's own manual says “regular (blue) Texas Certificates of Title”). The bond expires on its third anniversary (§501.053(d)); if no claim is made, the bonded title converts to a standard title.
Typical bonded-title bond cost in Texas: $100-$300 one-time premium for vehicles appraised at $5,000-$15,000. A-LA Auto Insurance issues TxDMV-compliant Texas bonded title surety bonds at 20+ offices across Texas, same-day, no credit check. Call (866) 252-6116 — Texas-licensed agency. A-LA issues Texas surety and bonded-title bonds for Texas residents and Texas-titled vehicles.
Texas bonded title cost: bond amount and premium
Two different numbers get called “the cost of a bonded title,” and confusing them is the most common mistake. The bond amount is the face value TxDMV requires — 1.5× your vehicle's appraised value. You do not pay that. The premium is what you actually pay A-LA, once, to issue the bond.
| Vehicle appraised value | Bond amount TxDMV requires (1.5×) | A-LA one-time bond premium |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $7,500 | $100–$300 one-time |
| $7,500 | $11,250 | |
| $10,000 | $15,000 | |
| $12,500 | $18,750 | |
| $15,000 | $22,500 |
Bond amounts are the TxDMV 1.5× formula applied to the appraised value. Vehicles appraised above or below this band use the same formula; premium is quoted at the office. TxDMV's $15 administrative fee and your county's standard title and registration fees are separate from the bond premium.
How to get a bonded title in Texas: the 5-step TxDMV process
- 1
File the bonded title application with TxDMV
Take Form VTR-130-SOF (Bonded Title Application or Tax Collector Hearing Statement of Fact) to a TxDMV Regional Service Center, with your evidence of ownership, any original lien release, and acceptable photo ID. TxDMV charges a $15 administrative fee at this step.
- 2
Receive the Notice of Determination
If TxDMV approves, it issues Form VTR-130-ND (Notice of Determination for a Bonded Title or Tax Assessor-Collector Hearing), which states the exact bond amount you must buy — 1.5× the vehicle's value. Value is set by Standard Presumptive Value, an NADA guide, or a licensed appraiser using Form VTR-125 (Motor Vehicle Appraisal for Tax Collector Hearing / Bonded Title).
- 3
Buy the surety bond — this is the step A-LA handles
Bring the Notice of Determination to any A-LA office and we issue the bond in the amount shown, same-day, with no credit check. You have one year from the date on the notice to purchase the bond, or TxDMV requires a new notice and a new bond.
- 4
Apply at your county tax office within 30 days
Within 30 days of buying the bond, take the original Form VTR-130-ND, the surety bond, and Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) to your county tax office.
- 5
Receive the bonded title
The county tax office issues the bonded title. It is fully legal and transferable, and once the bond period passes without a claim the bonded title converts to a standard Texas title.
A bonded title fixes a missing paperwork problem, not a damage problem — it has nothing to do with a salvage or rebuilt title, which records that an insurer declared the vehicle a total loss. If your vehicle was totaled and rebuilt, see our guide to salvage and rebuilt title insurance in Texas. Both of those are types of branded title, and the brand stays on the vehicle record permanently.
Other bonds we can place
Beyond bonded titles, A-LA places the other Texas bond types below with A-rated surety carriers. Call (866) 252-6116 to check availability and pricing for your bond.
Contractor bonds
Bid, performance, and payment bonds for construction projects.
License & permit bonds
Bonds required to obtain and maintain business licenses.
Court bonds
Appeal, fiduciary, and other court-required bonds.
Notary bonds
Required bonds for notaries public in the state of Texas.
Understanding Surety Bonds
A surety bond is a three-party agreement that guarantees a specific obligation will be fulfilled. The three parties are: the principal (you or your business), the obligee (the party requiring the bond), and the surety (the insurance company backing the bond).
In Texas, many professions and businesses are required to obtain surety bonds as a condition of licensing or as proof of financial stability. Contractors need them to bid on public projects, notaries require them by law, and various businesses need them for licenses and permits.
A-LA Auto Insurance works with A+ rated surety carriers to provide you with the best rates and fast approval. Our bilingual agents guide you through the entire process step by step.
Whether you need a contractor bond for a construction project or a notary bond to start your practice, we have the expertise and connections to get you bonded quickly at a fair price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Win YourNext Bid?
Get bonded quickly with competitive rates and zero red tape. Your business doesn't wait, and neither do we.