Tennessee Surety Bonds

• Freight Broker Bond: All freight brokers must hold this $75,000 bond to get licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This bonding requirement is federal; therefore, it is the same across the US.  
• Auto Dealer Bond: This $50,000 bond is a requirement for licensed Tennessee auto dealers. It is needed to maintain a dealer license issued by the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission.
• Contractor License Bond: A $10,000 surety bond needed to get a Home Improvement Contractor License through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.

A Tennessee surety bond costs as little as $100. The price you pay to get bonded is only a small fraction (generally 1% - 10%) of the full bond amount needed. For example, a $10,000 bond costs $100 - $1,000.

A bond’s cost is also referred to as a bond premium or bond rate. For most types of bonds, a bond rate is determined by the applicant’s credit using a soft credit check.

Beyond good credit, other factors that can positively influence your bond rate include: 

• Experience in your industry.
• Past bonding history with no bond claims.
• Business assets.
• Choosing a surety company that is large and established.

For more information, visit our in-depth guide: How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost?

1. Determine Which Surety Bond You Need

The entity or organization requiring you to get bonded (your obligee) is the best place to find which bond you need. Generally, their website should have their bonding requirements (bond name, bond amount, etc.) However, if you have trouble finding this information, you can also:

• Use Our “Find Your Bond Tool": It’s available 24/7, quick, and free. Plus, you can apply for your bond directly from that page. 
• Ask Our Bond Experts: Our knowledgeable bond experts can help you find out which bond you need via phone or email. 

Not long ago, we had a woman named Caroline call in very overwhelmed. She kept finding conflicting information on the bond amount she needed (that bond requirement had been recently updated in legislation). The bonding expert she talked to was able to instantly confirm which amount was correct. Plus, he got her bonded within 24 hours. 

2. Apply For Your Bond

Fill out our online bond application. It only takes a couple of minutes and generates an instant quote for most Tennessee surety bonds.

This application requires basic information, such as:

• Bond Name (ex. Auto Dealer Bond)
• Bond Amount
• Contact Information

Prefer to apply over the phone or have questions? Call us at 888-592-6631.

3. Get a Bond Rate

Your bond quote will be sent directly to your email inbox. For most bonds, this only takes a couple of minutes, but some types of construction bonds and larger bond amounts can take longer. Please check your Spam folder.

4. Purchase Your Bond

To purchase your bond at your quoted rate, log in to our website to sign the forms and pay your invoice.

A copy of your bond will be sent via email. Please double-check that all information is correct. The original bond will be sent to you through mail. 

• Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission
• Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

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

License Number 1405