1% Bail Bonds
In California

No. California law (Cal. Ins. Code §1800) sets the bail bond premium at 10% of the total bail amount. "1% down" is a financing structure — you pay 1% up front and finance the remaining 9% on a signed payment plan. The total premium is still 10%.

1% down is reserved for the strongest financial profiles — typically a cosigner with a 700+ credit score, long-term stable employment, and verifiable assets or homeownership. Most clients qualify for 3% or 5% down; we tell you which tier before you sign anything.

Yes, for the cosigner — a soft check to determine which down-payment tier you qualify for. It does not affect the cosigner's credit score. The defendant is not credit-checked.

Not always. For clients on the 1% and 3% tiers with strong cosigners, we frequently post bonds with no collateral. Higher-tier or very large bonds may require property, a vehicle title, or other collateral.

We call you. Missing one payment does not trigger anything drastic — but ignoring the plan can put the bond at risk. Communicate with us early and we can almost always restructure the plan.

Yes. 1% down applies to the premium structure, not the charge. Qualifying clients can use it for felony bonds, including large amounts — provided the cosigner profile supports the financing.

No. Many California agencies advertise a flat 10% and don't offer tiered financing at all. Others advertise "1% down" but only extend it to a very narrow qualifying profile. We publish our tiers honestly so you know before you call.

"No money down" ads are usually referring to a promotional financing offer with strict qualification — often requiring the same or stronger cosigner profile as 1% down, plus a property collateral pledge. Read the fine print before you sign anywhere. Our agents will explain exactly what any competitor's offer means for your situation.

The financed balance is subject to a standard bail-industry finance charge disclosed on your signed agreement. There are no hidden fees, and the total premium (down payment + financed balance) does not exceed the state-regulated 10% of the bail amount unless you specifically default.

For qualifying clients, 1% of the bail amount is the lowest down payment we approve — $500 on a $50,000 bond. The rest of the state-regulated 10% premium is financed. Most families land on the 3% or 5% tier; we never advertise $0 down because a bail bond premium is set by law and always has to be paid.

The premium itself is the same 10% either way. The only difference is timing: paying the full 10% up front closes the balance immediately, while a low down payment spreads the remaining amount over a signed plan that carries a disclosed finance charge. We show you both totals before you sign so the comparison is on paper, not verbal.

Qualification usually takes 10–20 minutes by phone. After paperwork is signed and the down payment clears, an agent posts at the facility and release processing generally runs 2–8 hours — faster at smaller city jails, longer at high-volume facilities like the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles or Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.