A California bail bond most commonly costs 10% of the bail amount, according to the California Department of Insurance, plus actual, necessary and reasonable expenses. On $20,000 bail, that is a $2,000 premium.
- Rates are filed with the Department of Insurance and agents must charge the filed rate
- Jane Un Bail Bonds takes 20% off the premium with a private attorney or for a veteran
- Bail Today, Pay Later® spreads the premium into monthly payments
- The premium is a fee and is not refunded when the case ends
Where the 10% comes from
Bail bonds in California are an insurance product. The California Department of Insurance says the cost to consumers is most commonly ten percent of the total amount of the bond, plus actual, necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the transaction.
Each surety company files its rates with the Department, and the Department's Rate Regulation Branch reviews whether those rates are fair. A bail agent writing for that surety must charge the filed rate. That is why a reputable agent will not quote you a random number over the phone. The premium follows the rate.
What it looks like in dollars
| Bail amount | 10% premium | With the 20% discount |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $1,000 | $800 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 | $1,600 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 | $4,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 | $8,000 |
Use the calculator on this page for any amount. The number it shows is the premium only.
The 20% discount
Jane Un Bail Bonds takes 20% off the premium when you or the defendant has retained a private attorney, or when you or the defendant is a veteran. On a 10% premium that works out to 8% of the bail amount. Tell the agent when you call so it is applied from the start.
Paying over time
Jane started the Bail Today, Pay Later® program in 2004 so families do not have to empty a savings account or max out a credit card in one night. The premium can be paid in monthly amounts. The plan can start with 1% down, on approved credit.
To qualify, you or your loved one needs a job. Bring a recent pay stub, your employer's contact information or other proof of employment, plus proof of where you live. The full premium is still owed. It is simply paid over time.
Payments can be made by phone at (800) 351-8911 with a credit card, debit card or electronic check, in person at an office, or by mailed check or money order to the Payment Processing Center at 900 Avila Street Suite 101, Los Angeles CA 90012. Mailed payments are processed within five business days after they arrive. Never mail cash.
What else you might pay
The Department of Insurance allows actual, necessary and reasonable expenses on top of the premium. Ask for any expense to be explained and written on your paperwork before you sign. Some bonds also need Property pledged to secure a bail bond, such as a vehicle, real estate equity or cash.. See our collateral guide.
Check the license before you pay
Every bail agent in California must be licensed by the Department of Insurance. You can look up any license on the Department's Check License Status page or browse active bail licensees by county. Jane Un Bail Bonds operates under California Department of Insurance License #1843448.
Keep every receipt and a copy of every document you sign. If something goes wrong, the Department's Enforcement Branch investigates bail agents, and complaints can be filed through its consumer help page.
Questions
Is 10% the law in California?
The 10% figure is the most common rate, not a number written into a statute. Each surety files its rates with the California Department of Insurance, and agents must charge the filed rate.
Is the premium refundable if charges are dropped?
No. The premium pays for the bond once the person is released. It is not returned when the case ends, even if charges are dropped.
Can I get a lower rate?
Jane Un Bail Bonds gives a 20% discount on the premium when a private attorney is retained or when you or the defendant is a veteran.
Need help tonight? Call or text (800) 351-8911, 24 hours a day.
Sources
- California Department of Insurance, Bail Bonds
- California Department of Insurance, Check License Status
- California Department of Insurance, bail licensees by county
- California Department of Insurance, consumer help and complaints
Sources checked October 27, 2026.
Keep reading
- Bail Bond Collateral in CaliforniaWhat collateral is, when an agent asks for it, and the two things that must happen before you get it back.→
- What a Bail Bond Cosigner Agrees ToSigning for someone you love is a real financial promise. Here is what it covers and how to sign with your eyes open.→
- How Bail Works in CaliforniaWhat happens between an arrest and a release, who sets the bail amount, and the ways a family can post it.→