Need to get someone out of jail? Want to know how much your bail bond will cost? Every situation is different but you can use our simple bail bond cost calculator to get a ballpark estimate of the real cost of your bail bond.
Before we jump to the actual calculator let’s break down some of the factors that will impact your bail bond cost. If you want to skip ahead to the calculator click here.

Factor #1: A Game Of Risk – Will They Show For Court?

The first thing to consider when calculating the bail bond cost has more to do with poker than simple math. When you bail someone out of jail what you are doing is taking responsibility for them showing up to court.

When you post the full bail amount yourself (i.e. you don’t hire a bondsman) you are going “all in” on the defendant showing up for court. If the defendant doesn’t show up to court then you lose the full bond amount. If they do show up you get all of your money back and the whole ordeal didn’t cost you a penny.

If you hire a bail bondsman you are taking a personal gamble with your money. The difference is that instead of having to be responsible for the defendant showing up for court on your own you now have an experienced partner that will help you keep tabs on them and get them to show up for court.

Factor #2: The Bail Amount

Now that we’ve covered the risks you are taking when you help bail someone out of jail we can start talking numbers. After the defendant is arrested the bail amount is set by a judge during the bail hearing. This amount typically follows a standardized bail schedule that assigns bail amounts based on the crime committed. That said, the bail amount is at the discrepancy of the judge.

Factor #3: The Bail Bond Fee (the 10% Rule)

If you are unable to post the full bail amount or choose not to take the risk of doing so then your best option is to hire a bail bondsman. A bondsman works as an intermediary between you, the court, and the defendant. When you hire a bail bond company they are assuming some of the risk we talked about in Factor #1 above. Because of this, a bail bondsman will require a bail bond fee. This fee is non-refundable meaning you will not get this money back even if the defendant shows up for their court date.

Bail bonds fees are regulated by the State Government. In South Carolina, the maximum fee a bondsman can charge is 15% (with a minimum of $25) but because of competition, you should expect to pay about 10% of the total bond amount no matter which bondsman you choose.

Factor #4: The North Charleston Rule

The last factor we need to cover before we get to the bail bond cost calculator is what the team at Sinkler Bail Bonds calls the “North Charleston Rule”.

The “North Charleston Rule” is used when a city goes after bail bonds agencies aggressively the moment the defendant misses their court date. In the case of North Charleston, SC (and potentially other cities in the southeast), the bondsman needs to offset this additional risk.

At Sinkler, we offset this risk by requiring a valid check for the full bond amount before we can post bail for the defendant. We do not cash or deposit this check. When the defendant shows up for court the check goes back to the person who wrote it immediately. Remember, for Sinkler Bail Bonds clients this is only required for North Charleston Magistrate/Municipal cases but if you are unsure you can always give us a call.

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One of the first questions we hear from our customers is how much does a bail bond cost? Bailing someone out of jail isn’t something most people do every day and it isn’t something you plan for.

In this article we’ll break down the costs of a bail bond. We’ll also cover payment methods and any collateral you’ll need to use to secure your bond.

If you aren’t familiar with the bail bond process take a few minutes and read about what you should know before calling a bondsman.

The bail bond fee

So how much does a bail bond cost? Good news, if the person arrested shows up to court the answer is pretty simple. The bail bond fee, also known as the bond premium, is a non-refundable fee you pay to the bail bondsman.

By posting the full bail amount for you the bail agent is taking a financial risk. To compensate for that risk you pay the bondsman a small percentage of the total bail amount. Think of it as interest on a loan that you pay up front.

What percentage do you pay up front? You might think that the bail premium would be different from company to company. This actually isn’t true. While there might be small differences, bail premiums are actually regulated by the government. This leads to most bail premiums being the same no matter which bail agent you choose.

For example in South Carolina the bail premium is almost always 10% of the total bail amount. If your bond is set at $5,000 you can expect to pay a non-refundable bail bond fee of around $500. If the defendant shows up for court that is the end of the transaction.

Using personal property as collateral

In the above example you pay the bail bond premium of 10%. The transaction ends when the defendant shows up for court. The bond court will return the full bail amount to the bail bondsman and there is no longer any risk involved.

But what happens if the defendant doesn’t show up for court? In this situation the bail bondsman would lose the other 90% of the bail amount that they paid for you. That’s a big risk for the bail agent!

To offset this risk a bail bondsman will do a few things. The most famous (but least used method) is to use a bail enforcement agent. The bail enforcement agent – a.k.a. a bounty hunter – makes sure the defendant gets to court on time. This makes a good T.V. show but in reality isn’t the bond agent’s first move.

Instead when you hire a bail agent they will ask you to use some personal property as a guarantee of payment. This property could be a mortgage, car title, or an investment account among other things. How much of a guarantee the agent needs depends on the bail amount.

When calculating how much a bail bond costs it is important to note the risk involved. Once you agree to use your personal property as a guarantee you are then responsible for the defendant showing up for court.

Payment options

There are many different payment options for paying your bail premium. A good bail bondsman is flexible and will work with you to find an option that works for you.

While “zero down” bail bonds are possible they are uncommon. What is more common is for the bail agent to agree to a payment plan. This plan will let you pay some of the bail premium up front and then make further payments over time. Payment plans are always set on a case-by-case basis. They are very common so don’t hesitate to ask you bonding agent.

Conclusion: The premium is set but collateral and payment options can vary

So how much does a bail bond cost? As we covered above the state government regulates the bail bond fee. This means that the actual percentage of the bond you pay doesn’t vary much if at all from agent to agent.

What does change is the amount of personal property used as a guarantee and your payment options. The best bail bond agents are flexible and are happy to work with your individual situation. When shopping for a bail bond ask about collateral and payment options to find the bondsman that is right for you.

If you have any questions about bail bond costs or anything to do with the bail process feel free to call us anytime.

If you need to get someone out of jail but don’t have the cash available to post bail what do you do? Your best option might be to hire a bail bond agent.

Hiring a bondsman allows you to pay a small part of the total bail amount up front instead of the entire bail amount. It also means you are working with someone who has experience in the local bail bonding processes.

How do you know which bail bond agent to choose? In this article we’ll look at some different things to consider when hiring a bail bond agent.

How much do they charge?

The first thing most people think about when they are looking for a bail bondsman is cost. They want to get their friend or family member out of jail with as little out of pocket as possible. This is understandable since no one expects to pay bail. Instead the expense comes out of nowhere.

What you may not realize though is that the state government regulates the amount you pay a bail bond agent. This government-regulated cost is known as a bail premium or a bail fee. The bail premium is a non-refundable fee that you pay to a bail bond agent so that he or she will post the full bail amount for you.

The amount you will pay varies a little bit from state to state but varies very little from agent to agent. For example South Carolina law doesn’t allow a fee of greater than 15%. In practice though most bail bond agents charge about 10%.

What about payment options or payment plans?

Even if you decide to use a bail agent you might have trouble coming up with the cash to pay the bail fee. In this situation you can ask the bail bondsman if they offer any payment plans. More often than not the answer will be ‘yes!’. In order for a bondsman to put you on a payment plan you will need to use some personal property as a guarantee.

While not common there are some bail bond agents who offer zero down bail bonds. In these cases the agent will likely need more collateral than if you put cash down. This is because they are taking a larger risk.

If you need a zero down bail bond or a payment plan make sure you ask up front when you are shopping for the right bail bond agent.

Do I need to use personal property as collateral?

Speaking of collateral a bondsman will almost always need you to use some personal property as a guarantee of payment. This is the case even if you pay the bail premium in full. Things used as collateral are home equity, bank accounts, and automobiles.

The type and amount of collateral you will need to use varies from case to case and agent to agent. This is another reason to meet with more than one bail bond agent to see the differences.

What about customer service?

Everything we’ve covered so far has little variation from agent to agent. This is because all bondsman are working with the same set of laws and financial rules.

So why not work with the first bail bond agent you meet? Because the service and support you receive can vary a lot from one business to another.

Bail bond companies range from “mom and pop” shops to large regional and national networks. The service and personal care you get in each can vary.

There are also huge differences between businesses of the same size. Some bail bond businesses brand themselves as “outlaw” style agents. They market their services to repeat offenders.

Other bail bond agencies take a more professional approach. These bail bond agents understand that not everyone who gets arrested likes the idea of a life of crime. They understand that good people make bad decisions.

In short, shopping around for a bondsman that matches your personal style and understands you is one of the most important things you can do when hiring an agent.

Conclusion: Shop around for a bail bond agent that matches your needs

It might sound a little “touchy-feely” to say that you should look for a bail bond agent that “feels right.” Use your gut. It can go a long way in selecting the right bondsman for you.

Laws and financial constraints make the differences in cost, collateral, and payment options minimal between agents. The big difference is the level of service and professionalism you’ll receive. We recommend contacting a few different agents to see the differences for yourself.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with us we are available 24 hours a day.

The first thing that pops into your mind when you or someone you know is arrested is “how fast can I get them out of jail?” If you are like most people then you are at least a little familiar with the bail process. What you may not know is how the bail amount is set.

In this article we’ll cover how the judge sets bail and why it might be different for every person.

Bail benefits the defendant and the court system

Before we look at how the judge sets the bail amount let’s look at some of the benefits of bail and why the courts use it.

Bail serves a few important purposes in the legal system. First, it is the court system’s way of saying that you are “innocent until proven guilty.” When the judge releases you on bail they are giving you the benefit of the doubt. This follows along with the 14th Amendment and the Presumption of Innocence.

The second major purpose bail serves is to reduce costs. Keeping you in jail until your court date costs the government a significant amount of money. As an example South Carolina wasn’t included in a 2012 survey, but neighboring North Carolina estimated that annual cost per inmate is $29,965.

The real purpose of bail

The benefits listed above are secondary benefits of bail. The actual reason the American legal system uses bail is to ensure that you show up for your court date. The financial incentive of bail – show up to court or lose your money – is the perfect way to keep the court system running smoothly.

How does the judge set your bail amount?

To set your bail the judge at your bond hearing needs to balance two things.

First they need to make the bail amount large enough that the defendant will show up for court. The judge does this on a case-by-case basis.

For example let’s say two people are arrested for the exact same crime. The only difference between the two people is their net worth. A $1,000 bail amount for someone with a net worth of $10,000 is a much bigger incentive to show up for court. For someone with a net worth of ten million dollars a $1,000 bail amount may not be a large enough incentive.

The second thing the judge must do at your arraignment is to make sure that the bail amount isn’t excessive. This comes straight from the 8th Amendment.

Okay but is that how the bail amount is really set?

A typical arraignment only lasts a few minutes. How is the judge able to determine the bail amount and balance “not enough versus too much” so quickly?

In practice the judge uses a bail schedule to set the bail amount. This is a set bail amount for each crime. If there is nothing out of the ordinary in your arrest the judge will use this set bail amount to speed up the process. This means that it’s often possible to prepay the bail amount when you are paying bail for someone.

Conclusion: The bail amount is usually preset

The judge’s legal responsibility is to set a bail amount that balances getting you to show up to court date while not being excessive. In practice most cases are similar and the judge doesn’t need to spend the time evaluating each in detail. This means that the majority of the time the judge will set your bail amount using a bail schedule. This schedule should be posted at the bond hearing court.

If you have any questions about bail amounts or anything else bail related feel free to call us 24 hours/day.

If you’ve done some searching online for bail bond information then you’ve might have come across the terms surety bond and cash bond. While you can use both to post bail and release someone from jail they function in different ways.

What are the differences between a surety bond and a cash bond? How are they similar? We’ll cover both of those questions in this article.

Put your money where your mouth is

When you post bail what you are doing is saying:

“If you release me now I guarantee that I will show up for my court date. If I don’t show up you can keep my money.”

Both surety bonds and cash bonds are used as a guarantee that you will show up for court. This means that both will get you out of jail once your bail amount has been set. The key differences between the two who pays the money and who takes the risk. To illustrate the difference let’s define each and then break down the two main differences.

What is a cash bond?

A cash bond is cash held as a guarantee of payment. When you bail someone out of jail the easiest option is to post the full amount in cash.

If you post bail with cash the bond court holds the full amount to ensure you show up for your court date. Cash is the guarantee of payment and it is very cut and dry. If you don’t show up for court they keep your cash. If you show up – meaning you don’t owe any money – the court returns your cash. You won’t need to worry about any other paperwork or calculations.

What is a surety bond?

A surety bond is a little more complicated. The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a surety bond as the following:

“A surety bond ensures contract completion in the event of contractor default. A project owner (called an obligee) seeks a contractor (called a principal) to fulfill a contract. The contractor obtains a surety bond from a surety company.”

Let’s translate that into something we can work with:

A surety bond is a loan you receive to post bail. In the case of surety bond the contractor is a bail bondsman. The bail bondsman meets with you and agrees to post bail for you. The bail bondsman then contacts the surety company they work with to borrow the cash to post your bail.

Who’s buying?

In the case of a cash bond either the person arrested or a friend or family member pay the full bond amount in cash. If the defendant shows up for their court date the court returns the full cash amount. No one loses any money.

A surety bond has more parties involved and is a little more complicated. When you hire a bail bondsman to post bail you pay the bail bondsman a non-refundable premium. This is typically 10% of the full bail amount.

In exchange for this 10% the bail bondsman posts the full amount of your bail. They don’t post the full amount out of their own pocket though. Instead they borrow the bail amount from a surety company.

Who is at risk?

The risk with bail always starts with the risk that the defendant doesn’t show up for their court date. If they show up for their court date no one loses money. If the defendant doesn’t show up to court parties lose money because the bond court keeps the full bail amount.

With a cash bond the person who posts the full bail amount takes 100% of the risk. If the defendant posts bail on their own then they assume the risk. While that is possible, it is unlikely.

The more common situation is that a friend or family member posts the cash bond for the defendant. In this case the friend or family member takes on 100% of the risk for the defendant. They are now financially responsible for the defendant showing up for court.

A surety bond spreads the risk out between the three parties involved. In exchange for the 10% bail premium the bondsman agrees to be responsible for 100% of the bail amount.

To offset some of this risk a bail bondsman will usually need you to use some form of personal property as collateral as well. By using personal property as collateral you risk losing that personal property.

Where does the surety company come in? The risk for the surety company is lower than for the bail bondsman but there is still risk. The surety company loans the bail bondsman the full bond amount. This means they are risking losing the full amount as well. The risk for the surety company is lower because a bail bondsman’s business is dependent on the surety company. The two have a history of working together.

Conclusion: The difference is who pays and who takes the risk

Posting bail is a financial promise to the bond court that you will show up for you court date if they release you. Both cash bonds and a surety bonds are used to post bail and get the defendant out of jail.

The differences between a cash bond and a surety bond are:

• the person posting the bail
• the person who is at risk to lose the money

If you post the full bail amount in cash (a cash bond) whoever posts bail assumes 100% of the risk. Hiring a bail bondsman to post bail for you (surety bond) spreads the risk out between the client, the bail bondsman, and the surety company.

Both of these bail bond types have their advantages and disadvantages. Inform yourself and make an educated decision when bailing someone out of jail. If you have any questions you can call us 24 hours a day. We will be happy to explain the differences between a surety bond and a cash bond further.

If you’ve just been arrested or are about to be arrested is it possible to post bail without involving a friend or family member? Can you post your own bail?

The short answer is yes but the practicalities of bailing yourself out of jail make it unlikely. In this article we’ll take a look at the how the bail bond process works and in what situations you can post your own bail.

The cash dilemma

The main obstacle determining whether you can post your own bail is cash. Simply put, while there are other options, you have to pay most bail in full with cash.

Because you are more likely to realize you need bail after you’ve already been arrested it is unlikely you’ll have the full bail amount on you in cash. Also remember that when the police place you in jail they take your personal belongings from you.

There are some situations where you may be arrested at home with some prior knowledge of the arrest. In these cases it may be possible to have the cash on hand when you are arrested but this is uncommon.

The best option if you know you are going to be arrested is to prepare the cash beforehand. You can then give this to a friend or family member to post bail for you. This keeps the financial burden of bail off of them and should ease the stress of the bail process.

Speeding up the bail process

Now that we know it’s unlikely that you will be able to post your own bail, let’s look at some ways to speed up the bail process. Each of these options involves communication with a friend or family member who will need to assist you while you are in jail.

Posting bail before it is set

Most bond hearing courts have a set bail amounts for various charges. A typical bail hearing will follow this fee schedule to save time in bond hearing court. To take advantage of this you can instruct your friend or family member to go to the bond hearing court before you hearing. They can then post the bail amount before your bail is set. The result is that instead of having to go back to jail you may be released directly from bond hearing court.

Contact a bail bondsman

You can smooth the process of having someone bail you out by having them contact a bail bondsman. A bail bondsman will be familiar with the local bond hearing process as well as the fee schedule. They will be able to walk them through the steps necessary to get you out of jail. This is a crucial benefit, as you will have limited contact with your friend or family member while you are in jail.

To take advantage of a bail bondsman’s expertise first explain to them how the bail process works. Tell them what they should know before contacting a bail bondsman. This will give them the confidence to hire a bail agent on your behalf and get you out of jail.

Contact a lawyer

If you prefer not to use a bail bond agent to post bail for you then you can instruct your friend or family member to contact a lawyer. Like a bail bondsman, a lawyer will have experience with the local bond hearing and arraignment process. The lawyer will also be able to communicate with them while you are in jail. They will explain the different options and the timing for getting you out of jail.

Conclusion: Can you post your own bail? Probably not.

While it is possible to post your own bail after you are arrested it’s unlikely you will be able to. The necessity for cash and the limitations of being in custody make it difficult.

That said there are ways to speed up the bail process and make it easier on the person bailing you out. You can ask them to pre-pay your bail based on a posted bail fee schedule. You can have them contact a bail bondsman on your behalf. Last, you can also have them consult a lawyer for you.

No matter which option you choose you’ll need to communicate with the person helping to bail you out. Explain to them how the bail process works and which steps you want them to take. If you do that then you’ll be out of jail and back with your friends and family before you know it.

If you have any questions about the bail bond process you can contact us 24 hours a day.

If a friend or family member was recently arrested you might be wondering how you can get them out of jail. It’s likely you’ve heard the terms bail and bond before so you might already be making plans to bail them out.

But what does bailing someone out of jail mean? What are your options?

In this article we’ll cover the different options you have for paying bail for someone.

Hurry up and wait: Setting the bail amount

If the person in jail (defendant) was recently arrested you might have to wait for the preliminary bail hearing to take place. This is when the judge officially charges the defendant with a crime and sets a bail amount. This process is also commonly called a bond hearing or an arraignment.

The judge determines this bail amount on a case-by-case basis. The bail amount ensures that the defendant shows up for all of their court dates. Some charges (example: DUI) often have standard bail rates. There are also rare cases where the judge determines that the defendant is not eligible for bail. This means the defendant must stay in jail until their court date.

The preliminary bail hearing normally takes place within 48 to 72 hours of the arrest. In reality it often happens much faster than that though. If the defendant was arrested during the weekend the earliest the judge can set their bail is Monday.

To find out whether bail has been set you can:

• Locate the defendant and call the jail where they are being held
• Contact the defendant’s lawyer

Occasionally you can pre-pay bail based on a pre-determined bail schedule.

Paying bail: What are your options?

Once the bail has been set some needs to pay the bail to release the defendant. This is also known as posting bail. When you are paying bail for someone else you have a few options:

Option 1: Paying the court the full bail amount in cash

If you have the cash available to cover the full bail amount you can pay that amount at the courthouse. Afterwards the defendant will begin the release process.

It is important to note that if the defendant shows up for their court date then the court returns the entire bail amount. If the defendant does NOT show up for their court date then you lose the entire bail amount. By posting the full bail amount you are taking on the risk that the defendant will not show up to court.

Option 2: Posting bail with personal collateral

If you don’t have the cash available to pay the full bail amount then you may be able to post bail by using valuable personal property. The court accepts many types of property as collateral. Some common examples are your house, car, or other valuables like jewelry.

In this situation you are still assuming the risk that the defendant will not show up to court. If you use your car as collateral and they don’t show up for court you will need to give up your car.

The general rule when using personal assets as collateral is that their value should cover 150% of the bail amount.

Option 3: Hiring a bail bondsman

The third option you have is to hire a bail bondsman. A bail bondsman will post the bail amount for you after you pay them a bail premium. This premium is typically 10% of the total bail amount and is non-refundable.

To qualify for a bail bond you may need to post collateral in addition to the bail premium. What’s the difference between using collateral directly with the court and with a bail bondsman? The bonding agent requires much less collateral to issue you the loan.

Besides costing you less out of pocket all bail bondsmen are knowledgeable about the bail process in your area. If you are thinking about calling a bail bondsman it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the bail bonds process before you call.

Conclusion: When paying bail for someone you’ve got options

The first step when you need to take when paying bail for someone is often to check and see if bail has been set. If it has not been set then you’ll have to sit tight until the arraignment takes place.

After bail has been set you have three options. You can pay cash yourself for the full bond amount. You can use personal assets as collateral with the court. You can also hire a bail bondsman to post bail for you.

Each of these options has different costs and levels of risk. Posting bail yourself can save you the 10% bail premium paid to a bail bondsman. It also means you risk losing the entire bail amount. It’s up to you to determine the best option for paying bail for someone and getting them out of jail.

If you have any questions you can contact us 24-hours a day.