What You Need to Know About Bail Bonds

1. How long does it take to get out of jail?

The paperwork takes approximately 15-30 minutes. The release time after the jail receives the paperwork is generally one hour or less for local police stations and 2-4 hours for county jails. Generally speaking, the busier the holding facility, the longer it takes.

2. Why don't I get my premium back?

The bond company puts up the full amount of the bond. Bail premiums (a.k.a. the $$$ you pay) are paid to bonding agency for use of their money, like interest on a bank loan.

3. Why can't I do a cash bond myself?

You usually can for traffic and minor violations. While a few jurisdictions do allow cash bail by the citizen's that sign an appearance guarantee and/or post the entire bail, most states now require a licensed bond agent to guarantee it. This way the state knows it can instantly collect the entire bond amount plus it can put the burden of apprehending those who fail to appear on the bond agency. Put another way, most states do not hassle with collateral and property; they collect bail forfeitures in cash.

4. What is and isn't good collateral?

Items that are considered good collateral:

Unencumbered Real Estate is good.

Items of major collateral such as a car, boat, motor home, etc. are deemed good, but must be surrendered to the bail agent who will hold them in secure place. These items are normally valued at their current resale value, not what you originally paid for them.

Personal items of high value such as jewelry, firearms, computers, cameras, stereos, etc. can be used as collateral, but like items of major collateral, must be surrendered to the bail agent who will hold them in a safe or other secure place. These items are normally valued at their current resale value, not what you originally paid for them.

Items that are not considered good collateral:

A house that you are still paying a mortgage on. It can be done, but it takes some time.

Any item (such as a car) that you have purchased on credit in which the lender holds the title and you make payments to.

5. When do I get my collateral back?

Upon completion of the court case. This happens when:

The charges are dropped.