Frequently Asked Questions

• What Do Bail Bonds Cost?

  One of the most common questions we are asked is what do bail bonds cost? This is a difficult question to answer, for various reasons. Let me explain. There are many things that determine the bail bondsman's fee. These are:

  1. The Laws Regarding Bail Bond Fees in the State
  2. The Crime the Defendant Has Been Charged With

  These two things have the biggest impact on the bail bond fee. Let's look at the first - the laws in the state. Many states have laws regarding the maximum or minimum amount a bail agent can charge as a fee per bail bond. While not every state has these laws (some states do not even allow bail bonds at all), it does have an impact on the cost. Secondly, the crime the defendant is charged with has an effect on the cost to bail them out of jail. You see, the severity of the offense determines how high bail will be. This is because the judge must weigh the danger to the commmunity with the defendant's to fair bail. The court doesn't want to set a lower bail amount, only to have the defendant post bail, and then commit another offense, harm the alleged victim, or skip town.

  What Do Bail Bonds Cost? Other Factors that Determine Bail

  Other reasons that determine bail amount are the defendant's flight risk, employment status, past criminal history, and other factors considered by the court. The bail amount determines the bail bond fee. Bail agents usually charge a small percentage of the full bail amount as a fee. Often, this fee is 10-15% of the bail amount. So, if bail is set at $3,000, the co-signer of the bail bond could expect to pay from $300 to $450 as a fee in order to get their friend out of jail. As you can see, there are many things to consider as you answer the question what do bail bonds cost? We hope we have answered your question successfully!