Arkansas does not set a single statutory surety bond amount for title insurance agents. Title insurance agents and agencies are licensed and regulated under the Arkansas Title Insurance Act (Ark. Code Ann. 23-103-401 through 23-103-417) and the state producer licensing law (Ark. Code Ann. 23-64-101 et seq.), and their escrow and closing-fund duties are governed by Arkansas Insurance Rule 87. Neither the Act nor Rule 87 imposes a flat state-mandated bond. In practice, a “title agent bond” is usually a fidelity or surety bond that your title insurance underwriter requires by contract, protecting against mishandling of escrow and closing funds, so the amount and form come from the underwriter rather than the Arkansas Insurance Department.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who requires it | No blanket state surety bond identified. A fidelity or surety bond is typically required by your title insurance underwriter. The Arkansas Insurance Department licenses and regulates the agent. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department: confirm whether AID mandates any title-agent surety bond] |
| Governing law | Arkansas Title Insurance Act, Ark. Code Ann. 23-103-401 to 23-103-417; producer licensing, Ark. Code Ann. 23-64-101 et seq.; Arkansas Insurance Rule 87 (Title Insurance) |
| Official form | No state title-agent surety bond form located in statute or Rule 87. Any bond form is typically supplied by the underwriter. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department] |
| Bond amount | No fixed statutory amount. Set by the underwriter if a bond is required. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department] |
| Premium basis | Percentage of the bond amount, based mainly on credit [CLIENT FLAG: pricing] |
| Coverage term | Typically annual for a bond. Title agent licenses are renewed annually. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department: confirm current license term and expiration date] |
| Obligee | The title insurance underwriter, for a fidelity or surety bond. The Arkansas Insurance Department for licensing. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department] |
How much is the bond and who sets the amount?
There is no single Arkansas statute that fixes a title insurance agent bond amount. That makes this bond different from many license and permit bonds, where the state names an exact figure. Instead, the requirement and the amount usually come from the title insurance underwriter you contract with.
| Requirement | Who sets it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| State-mandated title-agent surety bond | Arkansas Insurance Department | None identified in the Title Insurance Act or Rule 87 [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department] |
| Underwriter fidelity or surety bond | Your title insurance underwriter | Varies by underwriter and volume [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department; CLIENT FLAG if client has a standard amount to quote] |
If your underwriter has given you a required bond amount, we can write the bond to match it. If you are not sure whether a bond is required, confirm with your underwriter and the Arkansas Insurance Department before you apply.
What does the bond cover?
When a title insurance underwriter requires a fidelity or surety bond, it protects against loss caused by a title agent mishandling money that passes through the agent’s hands. That commonly includes escrow and closing funds collected from buyers, sellers, and lenders, and it responds to theft, conversion, or misappropriation of those funds by the agent or the agent’s staff.
The bond does not protect the agent. It protects the parties to the transaction and the underwriter. Under Arkansas Insurance Rule 87, title agents must keep escrow and closing records reasonably ascertainable, maintain records of their escrow operations and accounts for at least seven years, and submit to annual on-site audits of those accounts. A bond backs up those duties by giving the underwriter and the public a source of recovery if funds are mishandled. If a valid claim is paid, the agent is responsible for repaying the surety.
How much does the bond cost?
You do not pay the full bond amount. You pay a premium, which is a percentage of the bond’s face value. That percentage is set mainly by your personal credit and can also reflect the required amount and your business history.
[CLIENT FLAG: insert typical premium ranges by credit tier and one real worked example, for example “a $50,000 bond at X percent costs $Y per year.” We do not publish pricing figures without your confirmation. Because the amount is set by the underwriter rather than the state, please also confirm the bond amount you want us to quote against.]
Is this the same as a bonded (lost) vehicle title?
No. These are two completely different things that share the word “title.”
The Arkansas Title Insurance Agent Bond on this page relates to title insurance, the coverage that protects real estate owners and lenders against defects in the ownership history of land. It is regulated by the Arkansas Insurance Department.
A bonded (lost) vehicle title is a motor vehicle matter. When someone cannot produce a clear paper title for a car, truck, or trailer, they may post a certificate of title surety bond so the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) can issue a bonded title. That bond is required under the DFA’s Bonded Title regulation and its amount is based on the value of the vehicle, not on real estate or title insurance. If you are trying to register a vehicle without a title, that is the DFA bonded title process, not this bond.
How do I get set up and file the right coverage?
- Confirm whether a bond is required. Ask your title insurance underwriter whether it requires a fidelity or surety bond, and confirm with the Arkansas Insurance Department whether any state bond applies to your situation.
- Get licensed as a title insurance agent. Meet the licensing requirements under the Arkansas Title Insurance Act and the producer licensing law, including any required examination and appointment by a title insurer.
- Get the bond amount and form. If a bond is required, get the exact amount and the bond form from your underwriter.
- Apply through All n One with your business details.
- Get a quote based on the bond amount and your credit, then review and sign the bond.
- File the bond where required, with your underwriter or the Arkansas Insurance Department, and keep it active and renewed for as long as you hold the license and appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Does Arkansas require a surety bond to be a title insurance agent?
We did not find a flat, state-mandated surety bond for title insurance agents in the Arkansas Title Insurance Act or in Arkansas Insurance Rule 87. Agents are licensed and regulated, and must follow escrow record and audit rules, but the bond you are asked to post is usually a fidelity or surety bond required by your title insurance underwriter. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department: confirm whether AID mandates any title-agent surety bond.]
Who requires the bond if not the state?
Most often the title insurance underwriter you contract with. Underwriters commonly require a fidelity or surety bond as a condition of appointing an agent to handle escrow and closing funds.
What does the bond protect against?
Loss from mishandling of escrow and closing funds, including theft, conversion, or misappropriation by the agent or the agent’s staff. It protects the parties to the transaction and the underwriter, not the agent.
Is a title agent bond the same as errors and omissions insurance?
No. A fidelity or surety bond covers dishonest handling of funds and gives the underwriter and the public a source of recovery. Errors and omissions insurance covers mistakes and negligence in professional work. Many underwriters ask for both. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department: confirm whether AID requires E&O for title agents.]
How much does the bond cost?
You pay a premium, which is a percentage of the bond amount, not the full amount. The rate depends mainly on your credit. [CLIENT FLAG: pricing.]
Is this the same as a bonded car title in Arkansas?
No. A bonded vehicle title is a motor vehicle matter handled by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, and its amount is based on the value of the vehicle. This page is about title insurance agents regulated by the Arkansas Insurance Department.
How do I become a licensed title insurance agent in Arkansas?
You apply under the Arkansas Title Insurance Act and the producer licensing law, meet the qualification and examination requirements, and get appointed by a title insurer. A licensed agent must countersign Arkansas title commitments and policies and note the license number on them.
How long does the bond and license last?
A bond is typically written for a one-year term and renewed. Title agent licenses are renewed annually. [VERIFY against Arkansas Insurance Department: confirm the current license term and annual expiration date.]
