California Auctioneer Bond
Overview
California folded its auctioneer bond into the Civil Code rather than a licensing board: Civil Code section 1812.600 requires every auctioneer and auction company to maintain a $20,000 bond issued by a surety company admitted in California, with a copy filed with the Secretary of State. The bond runs in favor of the people of the State of California and benefits anyone damaged by fraud, dishonesty, misstatement, misrepresentation, deceit, or unlawful acts or omissions in the conduct of an auction. There is no state auctioneer license behind it — the bond itself is the compliance requirement.
Who Needs This Bond?
Auctioneers and auction companies conducting auctions in California — estate sale auctioneers, livestock and equipment auctioneers, gallery and charity auction operators, and online auction companies within the statute's reach — must maintain the section 1812.600 bond. Both the individual conducting the sale and the auction company as a business entity fall within the statute's language, so firms should confirm that their operating structure is covered before the first gavel falls.
What is this Bond For?
The bond compensates people hurt by misconduct in an auction. Section 1812.600(b) makes it payable to the people of the State of California for the benefit of any person damaged by fraud, dishonesty, misstatement, misrepresentation, deceit, or unlawful acts or omissions by the auctioneer or auction company. A consigner whose proceeds are never delivered, or a buyer deceived about what was sold, has a funded remedy up to the bond's $20,000 principal sum.
When is it Required?
Continuously, for as long as the auctioneer or auction company operates. The statute says every auctioneer and auction company 'shall maintain' the bond — it is not a one-time filing tied to an application cycle. A copy must be on file with the Secretary of State, and letting the bond lapse while conducting auctions puts the business out of compliance with the Civil Code.
Where Does it Apply?
Statewide. The requirement comes from Title 2.95 of the California Civil Code, so it applies to auctions conducted anywhere in California, and the filing is made with the Secretary of State rather than a county office. Local business license rules may add their own layers, but the bond is a single state-level obligation.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' to open the secure surety portal in a new tab. The application asks for basic business details, payment happens online, and your executed $20,000 California auctioneer bond arrives ready to file with the Secretary of State.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency, a licensed surety agency, and the exact statutory language behind this bond is linked in the Official Sources section so you can read section 1812.600 yourself. From verification to executed bond, the whole process stays online.
Official Sources
The requirements described on this page are verified against the official sources below.
- Every auctioneer and auction company must maintain a $20,000 bond from an admitted surety; copy filed with the Secretary of State; payable to the people of California for the benefit of persons damaged by fraud, dishonesty, or unlawful acts: California Civil Code §1812.600 (verified July 16, 2026)