Grand Theft Bail in California: Amounts and How to Post

Family posts bail at a courthouse counter

Grand theft bail in California depends on the county. Many county schedules put it around $20,000 for a basic charge, and higher for theft from a person, a car or a firearm. A bail bond usually costs 10% of that figure, so a $20,000 bail means a $2,000 premium. This guide explains where the number comes from, what can change it, and what to do in the first hours after an arrest.

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TL;DR

Each county sets its own bail schedule. Kings County’s 2026 schedule lists basic grand theft at $20,000 or the amount of the theft, whichever is higher. Your county may differ.
Grand theft is usually theft of property over $950, or of a car, a firearm or property taken from a person, whatever its value.
A judge can raise, lower or waive the scheduled amount at the first court appearance.
A bail bond premium is most commonly 10% of the bail, according to the California Department of Insurance. We charge 10%.
Call a licensed agent as soon as you have the person’s full name and the jail holding them.

What counts as grand theft in California
How much is grand theft bail in California
What moves the number up or down
Cash bail or a bail bond
What the family signing the bond takes on
Our perspective: what families get wrong about grand theft bail
What to do in the first hours after an arrest
Getting help with a grand theft bond from us
FAQ
Sources

What counts as grand theft in California

The line between petty and grand theft is set by Penal Code 487. Theft is generally grand theft in these situations:

The property is worth more than $950.
The property is an automobile or a firearm, whatever it is worth.
The property is taken directly from another person.
Certain farm crops or aquacultural products are worth more than $250.
An employee’s thefts from an employer add up to $950 or more within 12 months.

The last rule catches people who never took anything large at once. Small amounts taken over months can be added together into a single felony-level charge. We explain how the $950 line works, and how it relates to petty theft, in our guide to California’s $950 theft threshold.

A grand theft arrest is not a conviction. The booking charge is the arresting agency’s starting point, and prosecutors can file something different. Bail is set on the booking charge, so the number you see at the jail can look worse than the final case.

How much is grand theft bail in California

There is no single statewide figure. Under Penal Code 1269b, the superior court judges in each county must prepare, adopt and revise a countywide bail schedule every year. The schedule covers bailable felonies, misdemeanors and most infractions. The amount that applies to your family member is the one in the schedule of the county where the arrest happened.

The Kings County 2026 felony schedule shows how one county breaks it down:

Grand theft type (Kings County, 2026)	Scheduled bail	Premium at 10%
Grand theft	$20,000, or the amount of the theft if higher	$2,000 or more
Theft from a person	$25,000	$2,500
Automobile theft	$30,000	$3,000
Firearm theft	$50,000	$5,000

The premium column is our arithmetic using the 10% rate. It is an illustration, not a quote for any particular case. If the theft is worth more than $20,000, the amount of the theft takes over, so bail rises with the loss alleged.

Other counties use different numbers and different category names. Los Angeles and San Diego both publish their own schedules. San Diego’s is on the San Diego Superior Court’s 2026 bail schedule, which lists grand theft by type of property and victim. Look up the exact penal code section on the booking sheet, then match it to the schedule.

If you are in Los Angeles or San Diego County, our agents can read the schedule with you. Our San Diego County bail bonds page covers that county.

How much is grand theft bail in California — overview diagram

What moves the number up or down

The schedule is a starting point, and several things can change it.

Before the first court date

Before a court appearance, bail follows either the warrant or the county schedule, per Penal Code 1269b. Schedules can add bail for aggravating or enhancing factors that are actually charged. Examples are prior convictions and a loss above a certain size.

San Diego’s schedule has an anti-stacking rule. Where lesser offenses are charged along with a greater one, only the greater one drives bail. The same applies when one act is charged under several statutes, or when a course of conduct is a single transaction. If you see a very large total on a booking sheet, ask whether stacking has crept in.

After the first appearance

After a court appearance, the judge fixes bail. The San Joaquin County uniform bail schedule says a judicial officer may set bail above or below the schedule. The judge looks at the facts of the case, the likelihood the person will appear, victim safety, how serious the offense is and the person’s record. The judge must state the reasons on the record.

Release without bail

Some people never need a bond. The San Bernardino Superior Court’s felony and misdemeanor bail schedule says people charged with low-level offenses may be released without posting bail, in line with In re Humphrey (2021). The same document says schedules are guidelines and that a magistrate must make an individualized decision. A first-time, low-value grand theft charge may get that kind of review. A felony with a firearm or a car, or a long record, is less likely to.

Note that for listed serious or violent felonies and some other offenses, Penal Code 1270.1 requires a hearing in open court before scheduled bail is changed or the person is released on their own recognizance. For a bailable felony, a judge can also raise bail without a hearing on a sworn peace officer’s declaration. Plan for the amount to change, and ask your agent or the defense attorney what to expect.

For more on how these decisions interact, see our pages on how bail is set and how bail is calculated. Our post on the 10% premium and 2% option after Humphrey covers the premium side.

Cash bail or a bail bond

You have two ways to pay once bail is set.

Cash bail. You pay the full amount to the court. At $20,000, that is $20,000 tied up until the case ends. The court returns it afterward if the person made every appearance, subject to any fines or fees. For most families that is out of reach, or it drains savings they need for an attorney.

A bail bond. A bail bond is a surety bond that guarantees the arrestee’s court appearances, according to the California Department of Insurance. The consumer cost is most commonly 10% of the bond, plus actual, necessary and reasonable expenses. The department also says agents may negotiate a lower fee by rebating. The premium is the price of the service and is not refunded.

Here is the same $20,000 grand theft bail both ways:

	Cash bail	Bail bond
Paid up front	$20,000	$2,000 premium at 10%
Returned later	Yes, after the case, with possible deductions	No, the premium is the fee
Who is liable	The person who posted	The person who signs the bond agreement

Our guide to what a bail bond is goes through the mechanics. If you are weighing both options, read why some people get a bond even when they can pay.

What the family signing the bond takes on

The person who signs is called the indemnitor, and they are responsible for the bond and its payment. That means three things in practice:

The person must make every court date. Missing one can lead to forfeiture of the bond, and the indemnitor can be held responsible.
The premium is owed whether or not the case ends in conviction. It pays for the service of the bond.
Agents must be asked, not the other way around. Under the Department of Insurance’s rules, California bail agents may not solicit business. They must be contacted directly by the arrestee, the arrestee’s attorney of record, or an adult friend or family member. Be wary of anyone who approaches you first.

If a bond is forfeited, the County Counsel’s office in each county is responsible for collecting the forfeiture debt, according to the same Department of Insurance page. Talk through court dates, reminders and transportation before anyone is released. Our page on what a bondsman can legally do in California sets out what agents can and cannot do. If you ever need to withdraw from a bond, see whether you can pull someone’s bond.

Our perspective: what families get wrong about grand theft bail

We have been writing bonds since 1926, and four generations of our family have worked in California courts. Grand theft calls have a pattern.

First, families panic about the label. “Grand theft” sounds like a major crime, but the charge can start at a few thousand dollars of property, or a single phone taken from a person. The bail figure on the schedule is a starting number and not a prediction of the outcome.

Second, families wait too long. They spend a day calling relatives, hunting for cash and hoping a judge will lower bail. Meanwhile the person is in custody, missing work and possibly losing a job. If bail is within reach with a bond, early action matters. When you call us you speak with a licensed agent, not a call center, at any hour.

Our perspective: what families get wrong about grand theft bail — overview diagram

Third, families skip the question of cost. Bond pricing in California is regulated, and we publish ours: a 10% premium. We also offer payment plans for qualifying clients, and you can read our pages on 2% bail bonds and 1% bail bonds to see how those options work. Ask about every cost before you sign, including the expenses the Department of Insurance says may be added.

Finally, do not treat the bond as the whole plan. Bail gets someone home so they can work with a defense attorney, gather records and hold their job. The bond does not resolve the case.

— Jake

What to do in the first hours after an arrest

Confirm where the person is held and the charge. Most California county jails and sheriff’s departments have an inmate locator. Ours is free. Note the booking number, full legal name and date of birth.
Find the penal code section. Is it 487 and which subsection? Is it a car, a firearm or theft from a person?
Check the county schedule. Match the section to the amount. Remember a judge may later set a different figure.
Decide who will sign. The signer needs to be an adult with a steady income or other ability to meet the payment terms and understand the obligations above.
Call a licensed agent. Ask for the exact premium, the payment terms and any additional costs in writing.
Plan for court. Write down the arraignment date, location and time, and arrange a ride.
Contact a defense attorney. A lawyer can ask for a bail review, which sometimes lowers the amount. If the person can’t afford an attorney, they have a right to a public defender.

Our no collateral bail bonds page explains when a bond may not require you to pledge property. If cost is the main worry, see what happens if you can’t afford to pay your bond.

Getting help with a grand theft bond from us

We write bail bonds across Southern California, including Los Angeles and San Diego counties. We are family-owned, have been in business since 1926, and have bilingual English and Spanish staff. Our agents answer 24/7, and you can start an application online or in person. The premium is 10% of the bail, and payment plans are available to qualifying customers.

If your family member was arrested for theft, start with our theft bail bonds page. When you are ready, you can apply online or call us. Our 24-hour bail bonds page covers nights and weekends.

FAQ

What is the typical bail for grand theft in California?

It varies by county. Kings County’s 2026 schedule lists $20,000 or the amount of the theft, whichever is higher, for basic grand theft. It lists higher amounts for theft from a person, automobiles and firearms. Check the schedule for the county where the arrest happened.

How much is a theft a felony in California in 2026?

Theft of property worth more than $950 is generally grand theft under Penal Code 487. Cars, firearms and property taken from a person count regardless of value. Prosecutors can sometimes charge grand theft as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the case, so ask the defense attorney how your case was filed.

Can a judge lower grand theft bail or release someone without bail?

Yes. At the first appearance a judge may set bail above or below the schedule, based on the case facts, the likelihood of appearing, victim safety and the person’s record. Some low-level cases are released without bail. Listed serious or violent felonies require an open-court hearing before the scheduled amount changes.

How much does a grand theft bail bond cost?

The California Department of Insurance says the most common consumer cost is 10% of the bond, plus necessary and reasonable expenses. On a $20,000 bail, that is $2,000. Our premium is 10%, and you should get all costs and payment terms in writing before signing.