Iowa — Private Investigative Agency Bond
An Iowa agency licensed only for private investigation needs at least $5,000 in surety security before its license can issue. The agency name must match the DPS application. Prepare that identity and PD6 form before applying through The Southern Agency.
Continue to our secure checkout partner, Propeller (opens in a new tab).
- Recorded state
- Iowa
- Bond type
- Private Investigator / Detective Bond
- Category
- Professional & occupational licenses
What this bond does
Iowa Code 80A.10 sets the agency security by license types: $5,000 for one type, $10,000 for more than one. This is not a separate $5,000 purchase for every investigator employed.
- Who needs it
- Private investigative agencies matching their business, qualified licensee representative and actual licensed services to Iowa DPS records. If security or bail-enforcement licensing is also involved, confirm the higher multiple-type requirement.
- Who it protects
- The statute covers faithful, lawful and honest conduct of the applicant and its employees in the licensed business. PD6 binds the surety to a person injured by breach; damages remain subject to the aggregate bond amount. DPS receives the filing, but is not simply a replacement for the form’s injured-person wording.
Your bond option
This is the option on record for this bond.
- Bond optionPurchase Now (opens in a new tab)Continue to our secure checkout partner, Propeller (opens in a new tab).
The bond amount describes the limit of the bond obligation, not the price. A listed amount does not establish what the requesting party requires. The premium is what you pay and must be confirmed for the actual option. An E&O limit, where listed, is separate errors and omissions insurance.
Sources
- Iowa Code2026 §80A.10: licensee bond (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
- Iowa DPS: PD6 license surety bond (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
- Iowa DPS: obtaining an agency license (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
Have these ready
- Agency name matching DPS and entity/trade-name records as applicable.
- Qualified licensee representative and exact license type(s).
- PD6, requested $5,000 single-type or $10,000 multiple-type minimum and dates.
- Executed bond/PD6 for joint upload, with separate liability evidence and employee-ID steps.
Questions about this bond
Does hiring another investigator increase the bond minimum?
Section 80A.10 bases the amount on business license types, not employee headcount. It also addresses employees’ conduct; their ID requirements remain separate.
Is the form simply payable to DPS?
DPS receives the filing, but PD6 says the surety is bound to a person injured by breach of the conditions. Preserve the accepted form’s wording rather than replacing it with the filing office’s name.
Can I upload only the issued surety document?
The current DPS instructions say the surety bond and completed PD6 must be submitted together with the application. Buying the instrument does not complete that upload or grant the agency license.