The core difference in one paragraph
With cash bail you are the guarantor. Under Penal Code §1297, when bail deposited in cash is exonerated, it is returned to the person who deposited it, less any amounts the court is authorized to deduct. With a surety bond, an insurance company stands behind the full penal amount and the premium is the price of that guarantee.
Side-by-side
| Cash bond | Surety bond | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | 100% of bail | 10% premium, often financed |
| Refundable | Yes, if exonerated | No — premium is earned |
| Who is liable if the defendant flees | The depositor loses the cash | The surety pays; indemnitors are pursued |
| Speed | Depends on cashier hours and funds availability | Bond can be posted 24/7 at the jail |
| Source-of-funds scrutiny | High on large deposits | Handled through the agency and 1275 hearing |
For the actual dollar figures on a specific bail amount, use the bail bond calculator rather than a generic table — it carries the current premium and down-payment math.
When cash is genuinely better
- The bail is small — a $1,000 misdemeanor bail may be worth paying outright.
- The family already has liquid, documentable funds and wants the money back at the end.
- The court has ordered a cash-only bond, in which case a standard surety bond is not accepted — see cash-only bonds.
When a surety bond is the practical answer
Most bail in California is set well above what a household can wire in an afternoon. A surety bond converts a $50,000 problem into a $5,000 premium, frequently with a down payment near 1% and the balance financed. The bond also brings an agency that tracks court dates and handles the paperwork with the jail.
Understand the obligation before signing: the indemnitor is responsible for the full bail amount if the bond is forfeited and not reinstated. See 4 obligations after signing a bail bond contract.