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Surety Bonds as an Alternative to Auto Insurance? Plus which States give you this Option

There is a common misconception that anyone who drives legally on US roadways must hold an insurance policy that meets a state’s minimum coverage requirements.

Some states mandate proof of coverage when registering a new vehicle, while others simply make car-owners check a box on a brief form."Surety bonds are cheaper upfront, but have long term costs exceeding auto premiums"

The presence of coverage among legal drivers is to protect them, their passengers, and other road users who may come in literal contact with them while driving.

The Insurance Information Institute (III.org) states that an automobile policy transfers the risk of financial loss, up to certain dollar amounts, to an insurer instead of leaving it on the shoulders of the driver.

This makes perfect sense that a policy would be a requirement as a responsible car-owner.

However, car insurance is not the only solution to mitigating financial loss due to accidents or other liabilities that take place on the road.Example of 50,000 surety bond and the premium price with good and bad credit.

Note: For a 50,000 surety bond a person with good credit can pay 1% to 2.5% premium for the costs of the bond or about $1,250. And those with bad credit can pay 10% or more. In this example about $5,000. This is for illustrative purpose only and your bond premium may be higher or lower.

Despite what most drivers think, there are alternatives to traditional coverage, typically in the form of a deposit with the state’s Treasury Department or as a surety bond.

The latter is far more common than most are led to believe.

To help understand if a surety bond is a viable alternative to auto insurance, it is necessary to break down what a surety bond is, how it differs from an auto policy, and what the option means for individual drivers and businesses with several vehicles.

What is a Surety Bond?

A surety bond is a legally binding contract between three parties that ensures certain obligations will be met.

The involved parties include the principal, or the person who is requesting the bond, the obligee, the person or entity requiring the bond, and the surety, which is simply the company guaranteeing certain things.

In essence, if the person who initially purchases a bond is unable to fulfill his or her financial obligations to a person, organization, or company, the surety agency promises to pay up to the amount of the bond on their behalf.

The principal then repays the bond over time should a claim be made against it. 

Many consumers and businesses confuse surety bonds with insurance. While a surety bond does offer protection against some financial loss, it is not a transfer of risk in totality.

Instead, the bond simply covers the full amount of any claim, up to the bond’s limits, and gives the bond holder time to repay if needed.

Surety bonds are priced as a percentage of the bond total which makes them more attractive to some who are unable or unwilling to set aside the full amount of capital for a specific need.

However, when a claim is made, the bond holder is responsible for coming up with payment at some point.

Posting a Surety Bonds in Lieu of Auto Insurance by State

Below I have created a table showing which states you can post a bond or deposit by state.

There are 32 states where you have this option.

Surprisingly most policyholders do not know this.

If you notice, the amount for posting a bond is approximately the same amount or a little more than the minimum liability coverage.

StateBond / Deposit AmountStateBond / Deposit Amount
Alabama$50,000New Mexico$60,000
Arizona$40,000New York$25,000
California$35,000North Carolina$85,000
Idaho$50,000Rhode Island$75,000
Indiana$40,000South Carolina$35,000
Iowa$55,000South Dakota$25,000

The Difference Between Surety Bonds and Auto Insurance

In the realm of individual car owners and businesses that own and operate several vehicles at a time, auto insurance is often the go-to choice for transferring financial risk from accidents and liabilities related to a specific vehicle or driver.

Part of that has to do with the myth that all states require it, but it can also be linked to the fact that many fail to recognize the difference between insurance and surety bond.

The most significant difference revolves around the fact that auto insurance policies pay for damages up to the policy limits, but the individual at fault is only responsible for a small portion of these monetary damages.

Surety Bonds vs Auto Insurance by price for both. Note: As illustrated, the bond amount for Mississippi is $15,000 therefore I figure the premium to be approximately $1,250. The average price for an auto policy for the year in Mississippi is approximately $1,540. Also, you have to pay that for each year. As you can see the bond premiums are much cheaper upfront. However, if you have an accident you will pay the deductible amount if you have an auto policy through an insurer. This amount if $0 to $1,500 depending on your deductible. With a surety bond you will have to pay the full $15,000 back in the event you have to use it from an automobile accident.

That may come in the form of a deductible, or for damages incurred above policy limits.

A surety bond as an alternative to auto insurance means the individual at fault is ultimately responsible for damages due to an accident or liability involving a vehicle.

The surety pays in advance to the damaged party, but the bond owner repays the entire amount over time.

Another significant difference is that surety bonds costs less initially than auto insurance, given they are priced as a percentage of the bond amount.

Auto insurance policies require premiums to be paid every month (or every year) to maintain coverage, and the cost may rise over time.

Finally, surety bond availability is based on an individual or business’s financial track record and ability to repay the bond. Auto insurance availability is mostly dependent on one’s driving record and location of the vehicle.

One can be more cost-effective than the other in some cases because of these determining factors in price and availability.

Individual Surety Bonds

As an individual may opt to get a surety bond instead of car insurance when they are unable to secure traditional insurance for one reason or another.

However, not all states allow individual drivers to purchase a surety bond instead of auto insurance.

When it is available, though, the bond amount is often the same as the minimum insurance policy coverage mandated by the state, just at a potentially lower cost up front.

15K surety bond premium vs auto premium cost for 1, 2, and 3, years. Note: Using the Mississippi example from above the bond premium over three years is going to be approximately $1,250 for a individual with strong financials and good credit. If you bought an auto policy in the same state the cost over three years is $4,620. A significant difference in price, but there is more risk.

How much do Bonds Cost?

How much are going to pay for a surety bond premium? It is going to depend on your credit score.

Below I have created a table to show you the bond amount with the applicant’s credit score.

The better your credit the cheaper the price for the bond.

As you can see a $50,000 bond for a person with good credit is going to cost approximately $350 to $750 or so.

Which can be a lot cheaper than paying for an auto premium which can cost that amount per month in some states.

Below is the surety bond premium for the bond amount.

And it is only for illustrative purposes only.

Your premium may be higher or lower depending on your financial circumstances and risk.

High risk bond premiums can easily exceed 10%.

Most drivers opt to have auto premium through an insurer since it is less risky although the financial burden is higher. 

Bond Amount700+650 - 699600 - 649550 - 599549 and under
$5,000 $100$100$125-$250$250-$375$375-$500

Business Surety Bonds

Surety bonds come into play in a much more prevalent way among businesses that own several vehicles at one time.

Licensed auto dealers, for instance, may be required to have an auto dealer bond in place in order to operate a business legally, but this bond often works in lieu of traditional auto insurance.

The cost difference for dealerships between conventional coverage and surety bonds can be significant, given the price is only a fraction of the total bond required.

The Bottom Line

Obtaining a surety bond as an alternative to traditional auto insurance can be a smart move for individuals who live in a state where it is allowed, and for businesses with a large number of vehicles that must have coverage.

A surety bond is often a less expensive method of protecting others from financial loss when compared to auto insurance policies.

This is particularly true for auto dealers or other businesses with fleets of vehicles, and individuals who are unable to secure auto insurance on their own.

However, it is essential to remember that even though the initial cost is lower, there are long-term costs associated with surety bonds that can be far higher than auto insurance, should an accident or liability take place.

Eric Weisbrot

Eric Weisbrot


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