WA surety bonds, issued fast
Without a bond on file, your L&I license isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
Contractor license bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, and commercial surety.
Quoted in minutes. Filed with L&I same day.
Every bond a WA contractor needs
WA L&I License Bonds
Required to maintain your active WA contractor registration. We file directly with L&I, often same day.
- $12K general contractor
- $6K specialty contractor
- Continuous bond form
- Direct L&I filing
- Same-day issuance
Performance & Payment
Required on most public works projects in Washington. Guarantees project completion and payment to subs.
- Performance bonds
- Payment bonds
- Bid bonds
- Maintenance bonds
- Public & private contracts
Commercial Surety
License and permit bonds for non-contractor businesses. If a state or city is asking for a bond, we can write it.
- Auto dealer bonds
- Freight broker bonds
- Mortgage broker bonds
- Notary bonds
- Collection agency bonds
WA contractor bond requirements
Washington State requires every registered contractor to file a continuous surety bond with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) before performing any contracted work. Here's what you need to know:
License Bond Amounts
WA L&I requires a $12,000 bond for general contractors and a $6,000 bond for specialty contractors. The bond must be on a continuous form filed directly with L&I and remain active for as long as your registration is active. If your bond lapses, your registration is suspended.
Public Works Bonds
Public works contracts in Washington (RCW 39.08) require both a performance bond AND a payment bond, each typically equal to 100% of the contract value. These are separate from your L&I license bond and are project-specific. We can write them for projects of nearly any size.
Bid Bonds
Many public works bids require a bid bond — usually 5% of the bid amount — guaranteeing that if you win the bid, you'll execute the contract and post the performance and payment bonds. Bid bonds are typically issued at no cost when bundled with the eventual performance bond.
Maintenance / Warranty Bonds
Some contracts require a maintenance or warranty bond after project completion, guaranteeing your work for a defined period (often 1–2 years). Common on public infrastructure and large commercial work.
Need a bond yesterday? Get a quote — most license bonds are issued same day.
How much do surety bonds cost in Washington?
License bonds are credit-driven. Larger contract bonds depend on credit, financials, and project size. Here are typical ranges:
| Bond Type | Bond Amount | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Contractor (L&I) | $6,000 | $75–$175/yr |
| General Contractor (L&I) | $12,000 | $100–$250/yr |
| Auto Dealer | $30,000 | $300–$900/yr |
| Freight Broker | $75,000 | $900–$3,000/yr |
| Performance Bond | Project-based | 0.5%–3% of contract |
| Payment Bond | Project-based | Bundled w/ performance |
Premiums vary by credit, business financials, and project size. License bonds are usually approved regardless of credit. Larger contract bonds require underwriting.
Bond vs. Insurance — What's the Difference?
People mix these up constantly. Insurance protects YOU — you pay premiums and the carrier pays claims on your behalf. A surety bond protects the people you work for — if you fail to deliver, the surety pays the claim and you reimburse the surety. Bonds are guarantees, not protection. You still need insurance (GL, BOP, Workers Comp) on top of any bond.
Get your bond quote — it takes about 2 minutes.
What you won't deal with here
No Endless Paperwork
Tell us the bond type and amount. License bonds are usually issued same day.
No Hold Music
We respond instantly. No waiting on hold for a callback that never comes.
Direct L&I Filing
We file your bond directly with WA L&I — no scanning, mailing, or chasing receipts.
“Had my $12K L&I bond filed before lunch. Renewal next year is on autopilot.”
— James P., GC, Spokane“Bid on a public job that needed performance and payment bonds. Got both in 2 days.”
— Andrea L., Concrete, Yakima“My credit's not great. Still got my bond approved. Other agencies wouldn't even quote me.”
— Ricardo S., Specialty, KennewickTell us about your bond
Fill out the form below and we'll have a quote ready in minutes.
WA L&I license bonds from ~$75/year — final rate depends on credit and bond type.
Prefer to talk? Call (360) 886-4781
Common questions
A surety bond is a three-party agreement: you (the principal), a customer or government agency (the obligee), and the surety company that backs the bond. If you fail to meet your obligations, the bond pays out a claim — and you reimburse the surety. It's not insurance for you; it's a guarantee for the people you work with.
All registered WA contractors must file a continuous L&I bond: $12,000 for general contractors and $6,000 for specialty contractors. This is a license bond required to maintain your active L&I registration. Public works projects often require additional performance and payment bonds.
L&I license bonds are extremely affordable. A $12,000 general contractor bond typically costs $100–$250/year depending on credit. A $6,000 specialty bond runs $75–$175/year. We file directly with L&I — usually same day.
A performance bond guarantees you'll complete the project per the contract. A payment bond guarantees you'll pay your subs and suppliers. Public works projects in WA require both — usually 100% of the contract value each. Private GCs sometimes require them on larger jobs.
Yes. License bonds are usually approved regardless of credit. Larger contract bonds (performance / payment) are credit-driven, but we work with multiple sureties including programs designed for credit-challenged or new contractors.
License bonds are often issued same day. Larger contract bonds typically take 1–3 business days depending on underwriting. We move fast.
Yes. We write license and permit bonds for auto dealers, freight brokers, mortgage brokers, notaries, collection agencies, and many other business types. If a state agency or city is asking for a bond, we can probably write it.
Yes. NationGuard is a licensed independent insurance agency in Washington State. Our agent, Keaton Flanigan (NPN #21747002), personally reviews every bond. We file directly with WA L&I and our surety partners.