Cost & Payment
What a bond costs in California, and what we can do about paying for it.
- How much does a bail bond cost in California?
- The premium is 10% of the bail amount, set under California Insurance Code § 1800 and regulated by the California Department of Insurance. No licensed bail agent in California can legally charge more or discount below the filed rate.
- Is the premium refundable?
- No. The premium is the fee for posting the bond and carrying the financial risk. It is earned once the bond is posted, even if the case is dismissed the next morning.
- Can I start a bond with a small payment?
- Often yes. Approved applicants can start as low as 1% down with a payment plan on the balance. Approval depends on the bond amount, the co-signer, and the case — an agent will tell you exactly what your situation qualifies for before anything is signed.
- Do I need collateral?
- Not always. Many bonds are written on a signature and the premium alone. Larger bonds or higher-risk cases may require collateral such as real estate or a vehicle, which is returned once the bond is exonerated.
- What forms of payment do you take?
- Major credit and debit cards, cash, and common transfer methods. Call and we will confirm what works for your bond before you drive anywhere.
Process & Timing
How a bond actually gets posted, and how long release takes.
- How is bail set?
- For most arrests, bail is set at booking from the county bail schedule — a judge is not involved at that stage. A judge can later raise, lower, or deny bail at arraignment, and can add conditions of release.
- How long does release take after the bond is posted?
- It depends far more on the facility than on the bond. Small city jails and station holds often release within a couple of hours; large county intake facilities can take much longer, especially during shift changes and weekends. The facility pages in our jail directory describe what each building is actually like.
- Where does the bond get posted?
- At the facility holding the defendant at that moment — not the one they were first driven to. Bookings move between station holds and county intake quickly, so we confirm the current location before posting.
- What do you need from me to start?
- The defendant's full legal name and date of birth, and the city or county of the arrest. If you are missing details, call anyway — locating the booking is something we do all day.
- Are you available at 3 a.m.?
- Yes. Arrests do not keep business hours and neither do we. A licensed agent answers the phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Obligations & What Happens Next
What signing a bond commits you to, and what happens if something goes wrong.
- What does a co-signer (indemnitor) agree to?
- The co-signer guarantees the defendant will appear at every court date, and is responsible for the balance of the premium and, if the bond is forfeited and not reinstated, for the bond amount and reasonable costs of returning the defendant to custody.
- What happens if the defendant misses court?
- The court can issue a warrant and order the bond forfeited. California generally allows 180 days from the notice of forfeiture for the defendant to appear or be surrendered before the forfeiture becomes final. Calling us the same day is almost always better than waiting.
- When is the bond exonerated?
- When the case ends — dismissal, plea, verdict, or sentencing — the court exonerates the bond and any collateral is released. The premium stays earned.
- Can the defendant travel or leave California while on bail?
- Only if the court's release conditions allow it and the bail agent agrees in advance. Travel that is not cleared can be treated as a violation and put the bond at risk.
- Can a bond be canceled or the defendant surrendered?
- Yes, in defined circumstances — for example, material misrepresentation on the application or a violation of the bond's terms. It is not something we do lightly, and we will talk with the co-signer first whenever possible.
Coverage & Licensing
Where we post, and who is actually writing your bond.
- What areas do you serve?
- Los Angeles County and San Diego County — every city jail, Sheriff's station, county facility, and courthouse in both. Our LA office is in Glendale; our San Diego office is at 121 Broadway Ste 555, San Diego, CA 92101.
- Are you licensed?
- Yes. Armstrong Bail Bonds is licensed by the California Department of Insurance, license #1214401. Our family has been posting bail in California since 1926.
- Do you handle felonies as well as misdemeanors?
- Yes, both — including DUI, domestic violence, drug charges, theft, weapons charges, and warrants. Some holds (immigration detainers, probation or parole holds, no-bail holds) prevent release regardless of the bond; we will tell you that upfront instead of taking a payment first.
- Is any of this confidential?
- The bond application itself is between you and our agency. Court records and, in many counties, jail booking logs are public — that part is out of anyone's hands.