A bail bondsman ends a solicitor's appointment. Within how long must written notice be filed with the superintendent?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-12(B)
A defendant presses the bondsman for an attorney referral. What may the bondsman suggest?13.20.2.17(H) NMAC
A solicitor works for a limited surety agent. What may that solicitor not sign?13.20.2.8(C) NMAC
A surety may cancel a property bondsman's bond by written notice to the superintendent at least how long before the cancellation takes effect?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-8(B)
An individual wants to write both surety and property bail bonds. What licensing does the rule require?13.20.2.8(B) NMAC
An individual's bail bondsman or solicitor licenses have been revoked at two separate times. What follows?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-15(C)
By how many bail bondsmen may a solicitor be employed at one time?13.20.2.8(C) NMAC
By what date each year does a bail bondsman file the list of solicitors whose appointments are to continue?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-12(A)
From where must a bail bondsman conduct all bail bond business?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13(F)
How many clock hours of pre-licensing classroom education must each applicant complete?13.20.2.11(B) NMAC
Show all 90 questions (80 more)
Insurance regulation, continued
How many hours of on-the-job training under a licensed bail bondsman must an applicant complete before the examination?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-4.1(A)
In lieu of suspension or revocation, for how long may the superintendent place a licensee on probation?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-17
In lieu of suspension, what administrative penalty may the superintendent impose for wilful misconduct?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-16(A)
In what name must a bail bondsman transact all bail bond business?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13(G)
May a bail bondsman sign or countersign a bond in blank?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13(D)
What examination score does the rule require before an application for a bail bondsman license is submitted?13.20.2.9(F) NMAC
What is the longest period the superintendent's order may suspend a bail bond license?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-15(A)
What is the minimum age for a license as a bail bondsman or solicitor in New Mexico?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-4(A)
What may a bail bondsman or solicitor not do about an attorney for the principal?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13(A)(1)
What total amount of surety bond or deposit must a property bondsman place with the superintendent before licensing?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-8(A)
Where must the licenses of a bail bondsman and the solicitors the bondsman employs be displayed?13.20.2.17(C) NMAC
Which person may not be licensed as a bail bondsman or solicitor?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-4(C)
Who promulgates the premium rates that bail bondsmen charge?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13.1
Within how long must a bail bondsman notify the superintendent of a change of business address?13.20.2.17(A) NMAC
Within how long must a bail bondsman register a solicitor with the superintendent?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-2(E)
The legal framework 25
A bail bond was entered into on a Sunday and omits a recital. What is the effect?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-8
A magistrate or district court may accept a bond from a paid surety only when it is executed on what?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-5
A person released in a felony proceeding willfully fails to appear as required. Of what is the person guilty?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-9(A)
A person released in a misdemeanor proceeding willfully fails to appear as required. Of what is the person guilty?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-9(B)
By entering into a bail bond, whom do the obligors appoint as agent for service of papers affecting their liability?Rule 5-407 NMRA
How does New Mexico's Criminal Procedure Act define a "recognizance"?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(G)
How does the Criminal Procedure Act define a "bail bond"?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(B)
How long is a "clock hour" of pre-licensing or continuing education?13.20.2.7(B) NMAC
In the bail bond rule, who is a "principal"?13.20.2.7(E) NMAC
In the Bail Bondsmen Licensing Law, what is an "insurer"?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-2(B)
In the Bail Bondsmen Licensing Law, who is a "bail bondsman"?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-2(A)
In which courts may a licensed bail bondsman post bail bonds?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-3(C)
What are the "rules of criminal procedure" in Section 31-1-2?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(J)
What does "release on personal recognizance" mean?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(H)
What is "extraterritorial recovery"?13.20.2.7(C) NMAC
What is a "paid surety"?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-4(A)
What is a "petty misdemeanor"?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(L)
What penalty marks a "misdemeanor" under Section 31-1-2?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(K)
Which crime is a "felony" under Section 31-1-2?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(D)
Which officer is a "police officer" or "peace officer" under Section 31-1-2?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(F)
Which task does the definition of "solicitor" include?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-2(E)
Who is a "defendant" under the Criminal Procedure Act?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(C)
Who is a "limited surety agent"?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-2(C)
Who is a "property bondsman"?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-2(D)
Who is an "accused" under the Criminal Procedure Act?NMSA 1978, Section 31-1-2(A)
Bail bond principles and practices 40
A bail bondsman accepts payment by credit card. What may not happen to the card company's fee?13.20.2.17(F) NMAC
A case is dismissed without prejudice. For which bond is automatic exoneration not given by Rule 5-406(A)(5)?Rule 5-406(A) NMRA
A defendant is still in custody after a secured bond order because the bond cannot be posted. After how long is the defendant entitled to a review hearing?Rule 5-401(H) NMRA
A judgment of default on a bond is filed and served. After how long unpaid may execution issue?Rule 5-406(E) NMRA
A paid surety arrests the defendant before a judgment of default is entered on the bond. What may the court do?Rule 5-406(B) NMRA
A percentage bond is secured by a cash deposit of what share of the amount in the release order?Rule 5-401(E)(2) NMRA
After a forfeiture is declared, how long after service of the notice must the court wait to hold the forfeiture hearing?Rule 5-406(C) NMRA
After judgment on a forfeited recognizance, when must the court remit the amount?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-2(F)
The aggregate of all a surety's property bonds may not exceed how many times the amount pledged?Rule 5-401.2(D) NMRA
An obligor lacks property in the state to satisfy a forfeiture judgment. Unless it pays or appeals within how long does it forfeit the right to do business in New Mexico?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-2(H)
Besides the premium on the bond, what may a bail bondsman charge or accept?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13(A)(7)
The conditions of an appearance bond are performed and the case is adjudicated. To whom does the clerk return a cash deposit?Rule 5-401(M) NMRA
How long must records of bail bond transactions be kept after final termination of liability on the bond?13.20.2.21 NMAC
How may a paid surety be released from the obligation of its bond?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-4(D)
How may the amount of a secured bond not be set?Rule 5-401(E)(1) NMRA
In which case shall the court order the discharge of a paid surety?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-4(E)
May a bail bondsman use collateral to pay the expenses of recovering a defendant who fails to appear?13.20.2.20(D) NMAC
On what showing may the court set aside a forfeiture in whole or in part?Rule 5-406(D) NMRA
On what terms is a defendant who is eligible for pretrial release ordered released under Rule 5-401(B)?Rule 5-401(B) NMRA
The premium is in default. What may a bondsman do with tangible property held as collateral?13.20.2.20(C) NMAC
To what is a bail bondsman's interest in real property taken as security limited?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13(A)(7)
Under Rule 5-401.2, collateral in the form of cash or a negotiable security may not exceed what share of the bond?Rule 5-401.2(D) NMRA
Under what law does a bail bondsman keep and dispose of unclaimed collateral?13.20.2.20(E) NMAC
What does a paid surety deliver to the sheriff when it surrenders the accused?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-4(C)
What must a bail bondsman do with cash accepted as collateral?NMSA 1978, Section 59A-51-13(B)
What must a bail bondsman or solicitor show when posting a bail bond?13.20.2.19(A) NMAC
What must a limited surety agent file with a surety bond?Rule 5-401.2(A) NMRA
What must a property bondsman file in each court in which the bondsman posts bonds?Rule 5-401.2(B) NMRA
What must the court make before it may require a secured bond?Rule 5-401(E) NMRA
When a court declares a forfeiture of bail, within how long must it give written notice to the surety?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-2(B)
When does liability on a recognizance secured by a bail bond terminate under Section 31-3-10?NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-10
When the court allows a cash or surety bond, for what share of the full amount is a surety bond executed by licensed sureties?Rule 5-401(E)(2) NMRA
Where must cash and negotiable instruments received as collateral security be deposited?13.20.2.21(C) NMAC
Which bail bondsman may sign a surety bond submitted to the court by a paid surety?Rule 5-401.2(A) NMRA
Who is disqualified from serving as a court designee for pretrial release?Rule 5-401(N) NMRA
Whose signature must a receipt for premium carry to acknowledge delivery of the receipt?13.20.2.17(E) NMAC
With no charges pending in the district court, when is a bond on a felony automatically exonerated?Rule 5-406(A) NMRA
With no charges pending, when is a bond on a misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor automatically exonerated?Rule 5-406(A) NMRA
Within how long after final termination of liability on the bond must collateral not forfeited to a court be returned?13.20.2.20(D) NMAC
Within how long of the superintendent's request must records of bail bond transactions be available at the principal place of business?13.20.2.17(I) NMAC
How this list was compiled: NMSA 1978, Chapter 59A, Article 51, the Bail Bondsmen Licensing Law (Sections 59A-51-2 to 59A-51-19), and Chapter 31 (Sections 31-1-2, 31-3-2 to 31-3-5 and 31-3-8 to 31-3-10), and Rules 5-401, 5-401.2, 5-406 and 5-407 NMRA, read on October 14, 2026 in the New Mexico Compilation Commission's copy (https://nmonesource.com); and 13.20.2 NMAC, Bail Bondsmen and Solicitors, read the same day on the State Records Center and Archives site (https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title13/13.020.0002.html). The three topics and their weights follow the New Mexico Bail Bonds content outline, Series 18-34 (50 items, 1 hour), posted at https://proctor2.psionline.com/media/programs/NMINS/1834.pdf. Each question names its section; statute and rule links open the chapter or rule set that holds it. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the text of the law named under "source". Nothing comes from a state examination, its sample questions, a testing vendor, a prelicensing course or a prep publisher.
How it works
This unofficial New Mexico bail bond agent practice test follows the state's Bail Bonds outline, Series 18-34: 90 questions of our own from the Bail Bondsmen Licensing Law, 13.20.2 NMAC and court rules. Not affiliated with the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance.
Read the full guide
The three parts of the outline
The outline gives insurance regulation 8 of the 50 items, the legal framework 20 and bail bond principles and practices 22. The bank here holds 25, 25 and 40 questions under those three names.
Rule numbers have moved
The outline still cites the bail rule by the numbers it had before July 2017. Each explanation here gives the section as 13.20.2 NMAC is numbered now: the premium receipt is in 13.20.2.17 and collateral in 13.20.2.20.
What is left out
Law only. Court jurisdiction and the outline's dictionary terms that no statute defines, such as acquit, extradition and writ, are not asked, nor is the continuing education rule, 13.4.7 NMAC.
The court gives the surety written notice of a forfeiture within four working days (Section 31-3-2).
Collateral not forfeited goes back within 10 days of final termination of liability (13.20.2.20 NMAC).
Cash or negotiable collateral may not pass fifty percent of the bond (Rule 5-401.2 NMRA).
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the New Mexico bail bond exam?
50 items in one hour, by the Bail Bonds content outline, Series 18-34. The state bail rule requires a score of seventy percent or higher on the examination before a license application is submitted (13.20.2.9 NMAC).
What do I need before I take the New Mexico bail bondsman exam?
10 clock hours of approved pre-licensing classroom education and 30 hours of on-the-job training under a sponsoring bail bondsman, each with a written certificate (13.20.2.11, 13.20.2.12 and 13.20.2.14 NMAC). An applicant must be at least 18.
What can a bail bondsman charge in New Mexico?
Only the premium, at rates the superintendent has promulgated or approved, and extraterritorial recovery expenses for travel outside a 60-mile radius of the office. Reasonable collateral may be taken (Sections 59A-51-13 and 59A-51-13.1; 13.20.2.7 NMAC).
Can a New Mexico bail bondsman recommend a lawyer?
No. A bondsman or solicitor may not suggest or name any particular attorney. If pressed for a referral, the bondsman may suggest contacting the local bar association (Section 59A-51-13; 13.20.2.17 NMAC).