Florida Seller of Travel Performance Bond

The Florida Seller of Travel Performance Bond is required by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), in order to register and legally operate as a seller of travel in this state. The bond amount is $25,000 for sellers of travel who do not offer vacation certificates, and $50,000 for sellers of travel who do offer vacation certificates.

A seller of travel is any resident or nonresident person, firm, corporation, or business who sells travel. This includes those who sell directly or indirectly, at wholesale or retail, prearranged travel or tourist-related services. The term also includes any business entity offering membership in a travel club or travel service for an advance fee or payment, even if no travel contracts or certificates or vacation or tour packages are sold by the business entity.

Any seller of travel that has a business location in Florida or that offers to sell travel-related services in Florida for individuals or groups needs a Seller of Travel License from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This includes travel agencies, independent travel agents, travel counselors, and tour operators. There are a few exemptions to the Seller of Travel License requirement. For example, persons who have contracted with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for three years or more under the same ownership and control are not required to register.

To obtain a Seller of Travel License, you must submit an application to the FDACS and pay a filing fee. You must also provide proof of financial assurance, such as a surety bond or trust fund.

Once you have obtained a Seller of Travel License, you must renew it annually. You must also maintain your proof of financial assurance (surety bond). If you are caught selling travel without a Seller of Travel License, you could be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Here are some examples of activities that require a Seller of Travel License in Florida:

• Arranging or booking travel for individuals or groups
• Selling vacation packages, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and activities
• Selling travel certificates or vouchers
• Operating a travel club or membership program
• Promoting or selling travel-related services, such as rental cars, cruises, and tours

If you are unsure whether you need a Seller of Travel License in Florida, you can contact the FDACS for more information.

To become a licensed seller of travel in Florida, you must follow these steps:

1. Complete the Seller of Travel Registration form. This form can be found on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) website.
2. Provide proof of financial assurance. This can be in the form of a Florida Seller of Travel Performance Bond or a trust fund.
3. Pay the required fees. The nonrefundable application fee is $300. If you offer vacation certificates, you must also pay a $100 document submission fee.
4. Submit your application packet to the FDACS. You can mail your application packet to the following address:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Consumer Services 400 South Monroe Street, Room 602 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800

Once you have submitted your application packet, the FDACS will review it and notify you of their decision. If your application is approved, you will receive your Seller of Travel License in the mail.

What is the purpose of a Florida Seller of Travel Performance Bond?

Unlike insurance, this bond is in place to protect the state and the customers of the Seller of Travel, rather than the business itself. If a customer is injured by the fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, financial failure, or violation of any provision of Sections 559.926-559.939 of the Florida Statutes, they can make a claim on their Florida Seller of Travel Performance Bond. If settled, the surety company (the company that issued the bond) will pay out the claim, however, the bond principal (the Seller of Travel in this case) must repay the surety for any losses incurred.

More information about the Florida Seller of Travel registration process can be found on the FDACS website.

How to Obtain a Florida Seller of Travel Performance Bond?

At Surety1.com we make it easy to obtain this surety bond. Our simple, three step process is:

1. Complete the easy to navigate and secure online application. ¹
2. Review the free, no obligation quote from one of Surety1’s professional surety bond agents, usually within one business day.
3. Sign some paperwork and pay the bond premium

Once these steps have been completed, the Florida Seller of Travel Performance Bond will be shipped to the bond applicant.
^{1 -The name of the applicant on the surety bond application must match exactly the full legal business name of applicant for the license.} 

Surety1.com is a service of AssuredPartners one of the largest and fastest growing insurance agencies in the nation. Representing over a dozen surety bond companies, Surety1.com is the premier online provider of surety bonds nationwide since 2003.