How Much Does A Bail Bond Cost in California?

If you’ve ever been arrested, or have known someone who’s been arrested, you know that the process can be quite challenging. In an attempt to minimize confusion, we over at Synergy Bail Bonds wanted to provide the public with appropriate bail bond knowledge. That way, if you ever come across a situation where you have to bail yourself or a loved one out of jail, you’ll already know what your next steps are!

What is a bail bond?

A bail bond is a contracted bond between the defendant or cosigner and the bail bond company. It specifies that the defendant or cosigner will pay a 10% fee of the total bond to the bail bond company. In return, the bail bond company will post the full bail amount to the court as a guarantee that the defendant will make any and all court appearances for the current trial in question. 

How much is a bail bond in California?

Purchasing a bail bond will always be dependent on the total cost of bail. If you look at the California bail schedule, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what number you’re looking at.

Here’s a thorough example. If you’ve committed a crime that requires a $150,000 bail to be posted before your release, you’re going to pay a bail bonds company $15,000 and they’ll take care of the entire transaction. 

In a sense, purchasing a bail bond saves you money in the short term, meaning you don’t have to come up with $150,000 right away. On the other hand, if you do post the full bail, you won’t be losing funds. It’ll all be returned once the hearing is over. That’s not the case with a bail bonds company; the 10% you pay will never come back to you.

How is bail determined?

As previously, briefly mentioned, California adheres to a strict bail schedule. But some additional factors may come into play, including:

Criminal history

Flight risk

Family obligations

Community connections

Public safety risk

What are the types of bail in California?

When it comes to bail, you always have options. In some cases, one particular bond would be best applied. The judge determines the amount and then you take it from there.

The four most common types of bonds include:

Unsecured bond

Cash bond

Property bond

Bail bond

An unsecured bond requires zero money upfront. Basically, the defendant appears at all court summons. If he or she doesn’t, they are then required to pay the bail amount, in full. This option is very risky for the courts considering there is no collateral to back the promise.

A cash bond is where the defendant, or someone on the defendant’s behalf, pays the entire bond upfront. Some cases may not require cash bail. Each county is different, so be aware and ask questions if need be.

A property bond requires you to hand over your property as collateral instead of cash. This type of bond must be approved by the judge — and the property must be worth significantly more than the sum of bail. In California, the property will specifically have to be at least 150% of the total bail.

A bail bond is the most common way to post bail, and the most affordable in most peoples’ eyes. If you have any bail bond needs, please reach out to our professionals at Synergy Bail Bonds today. Our #1 goal is to secure your freedom until trial begins. We’ll even work with you on the process, administer adequate discounts, and offer payment plans if need be. Let’s start the process today so that you’re not behind bars the length of your trial!