A California car wash bond is required of all NEW applicants wishing to operate a car wash in the state. State Labor Law defines “car washing” as washing, cleaning, drying, polishing, detailing, servicing, or otherwise providing cosmetic care to vehicles. “Car washing and polishing” does not include motor vehicle repair, as defined in Section 9880.1 of the Business and Professions Code. The California car wash bond is not designed to be a simple license compliance bond. The obligation is a financial wage and benefit guarantee, much like a surety bond required by trade unions to guarantee the same. The California car wash bond states that the car wash will “pay to employees when due in accordance with the law such portion of earned wages, interest on wages, and fringe benefits as are due to said employees, and such damages as are due an employee damaged by a violation of California Labor Code Section(s) 351 and/or 353”. The California car was bond must be written in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00). The bond must be issued by a surety company licensed to do business in the State of California and must be in favor of, and payable to the people of the State of California. The bond may be on the corporate surety’s form or on the form provided by the Labor Commissioner, Car Wash Bond (form DLSE 668 (01/06)). Another pertinent section of the Code refers to employment records. Although the record keeping duties are not directly written into the bond form, it would be safe to assume that violation of the same might result in a claim against the California car wash bond. The Code states, “Every employer shall keep accurate records for three years, showing: (a) The names and addresses of all employees engaged in rendering actual services for any business of the employer. (b) The hours worked daily by each employee, including the times the employee begins and ends each work period. (c) All gratuities received daily by the employer, whether received directly from the employee or indirectly by deduction from the wages of the employee or otherwise. (d) The wage and wage rate paid each payroll period. (e) The age of all minor employees. (f) Any other conditions of employment. California surety leader, Surety One, Inc. is THE source for license and permit bonds. We offer terms to ALL applicants regardless of his or her credit condition. Visit us at SuretyOne.com, call (787) 333-0222 or (800) 373-2804, or email Underwriting@SuretyOne.com for a California car wash bond application or information about any surety bond product.
