How Much Does a Bail Bond Cost in California?

In California, a bail bond typically costs 10% of the bail amount. That fee is called the premium, it is based on rates filed with the California Department of Insurance, and it is not refunded. So if bail is set at $20,000, you would typically pay about $2,000, and many bail companies offer payment plans for the rest.

That is the short answer. The rest of this article explains where that number comes from, what else you might be asked for, and how to make sure you are dealing with a legitimate, licensed agent.

Bail amount vs. premium: two different numbers

People often mix these up, so it helps to separate them:

• The bail amount is set by the court. It is the full amount that guarantees the person will come back to court.
• The premium is what you pay a bail agent to post a bond for that full amount on your behalf.

When a bail agent posts a bond, the bond is a promise to the court that the full bail amount will be paid if the defendant does not show up. You are not paying the bail itself. You are paying for that guarantee.

Why the premium is usually 10%

According to the California Department of Insurance (CDI), surety companies that write bail bonds must file their rates with the Department, and bail agents must charge those filed rates. CDI says the cost to the consumer is most commonly 10% of the total amount of the bond, plus reasonable expenses tied to the transaction.

Because rates are filed with the state, a licensed agent cannot simply make up a price. If someone quotes a number that seems far off, ask them to explain it in writing and ask for their license number.

A few examples at a 10% premium:

• $5,000 bail: about $500 premium
• $25,000 bail: about $2,500 premium
• $100,000 bail: about $10,000 premium

The premium is not refundable

CDI states plainly that bail bond premiums are nonrefundable, even if charges are dropped or never filed. Once the bond is posted and the person is released, the agent has done the job you paid for.

California also banned renewal premiums starting January 1, 2022 (Penal Code section 1276.1). An agent cannot charge you a second premium just because the case drags on for more than a year.

Payment plans

Very few families have thousands of dollars ready at 2am. Many bail companies, including ours, offer payment plans so you can put part of the premium down and pay the balance over time. Terms depend on the bail amount, the case and the person signing.

Two things to know:

• A payment plan is a contract. Read the schedule and the total before you sign.
• According to CDI, a bail agent cannot have the defendant returned to jail just because the premium has not been paid.

When collateral may be needed

Collateral is something of value pledged to back up the bond, such as a lien on real estate or a vehicle title. It is not required on every bond. It is more likely when the bail amount is high, when the signer's credit or ties to the area are limited, or when there is a higher risk the person might not come back to court.

CDI says collateral and liens are released after the case is over and the bond is exonerated (cleared by the court). Get a written receipt for anything you hand over, with a description of the item and the terms for getting it back.

What the indemnitor is responsible for

The indemnitor, sometimes called the co-signer, is the person who signs the bail agreement and takes financial responsibility for the bond. Before you sign, understand what you are agreeing to:

• Making sure the defendant goes to every court date. This is the core promise.
• Paying the premium, including any payment plan balance.
• Covering the full bail amount if the bond is forfeited. If the defendant misses court without a good excuse, the court declares the bail forfeited. Under Penal Code section 1305, there is generally a 180-day window to get the person back to court and have the forfeiture set aside. If that does not happen, the bail company owes the court, and the indemnitor agreement usually makes you responsible for that loss.
• Keeping the agent informed if the defendant moves, changes phone numbers or may miss a court date.

Only sign for someone you trust to show up. If you have doubts, it is fair to say so before you sign, not after.

Cash bail vs. a bail bond

You do not have to use a bail bond. In California, bail can be paid in cash for the full amount directly to the jail or court, and some counties also accept property bonds.

• Cash bail: You pay 100% of the bail. It is generally returned after the case is over if the defendant made every court appearance. The trade-off is that the money is tied up for as long as the case lasts, which can be months or longer.
• Bail bond: You pay a smaller, non-refundable premium. Your cash is not tied up, but you do not get the premium back.

For a small bail amount and a family with savings, cash can make sense. For larger amounts, most people use a bond. Our page on how bail works walks through both paths.

How bail amounts are set in the first place

Under Penal Code section 1269b, the superior court judges in each California county adopt a uniform countywide bail schedule every year. That schedule lists a standard bail amount for each charge. When someone is booked, the jail usually uses the schedule, or the amount on the warrant if there is one.

That is why bail for the same charge can differ between counties. The Riverside County and Orange County schedules, for example, are set by different courts.

The schedule is not final. A judge can raise, lower or eliminate bail at arraignment, and some people are released on their own recognizance without paying anything. If bail seems too high, a defense attorney can ask the judge to reconsider.

Red flags to watch for

The California Department of Insurance publishes tips for avoiding bail scams. Watch for these warning signs:

• No license number, or a reluctance to give one. Ask for it and check it yourself with CDI's online license lookup at cdicloud.insurance.ca.gov.
• Solicitation inside a jail, courthouse or police station. CDI says agents may not solicit business there.
• Unsolicited calls to family. Agents cannot contact a defendant's relatives unless the defendant asked them to.
• Pressure from another inmate to use a particular agent, which can signal illegal kickbacks.
• Fake jail or government websites. Check the web address before typing in anyone's information.
• A "renewal" fee after a year. That has been illegal since 2022.
• Prices that do not match a filed rate, or a refusal to put the terms in writing.

If something feels wrong, CDI's consumer hotline is 1-800-927-4357.

Questions to ask before you sign

• What is your California bail license number?
• What is the premium, and is it based on a filed rate?
• Is any collateral required? How and when do I get it back?
• If I use a payment plan, what is the total and the schedule?
• What exactly am I responsible for as the indemnitor?
• Can I get copies of everything I sign?

This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your case, talk to a criminal defense attorney.

Need help now?

OnCall Bail Bonds' licensed agents answer 24/7 in English and Spanish, and you can sign from your phone. Call (951) 339-3801 or start bail online.