Find & Compare Bail Bondsmen in Your Area!

Bail bondsmen post the full bail amount with the court so a defendant can be released while the case is pending, in exchange for a non-refundable premium and often collateral or a cosigner. They also handle the paperwork at the jail, explain release conditions, and track court dates. Most people on this page are trying to get a family member out of custody tonight and have never dealt with bail before.

In most states bail agents are licensed by the state insurance department, and a few states do not allow commercial bail at all, so check the license first. The premium is usually a percentage of the bail set by state law, so ask what it is, whether any part is refundable, what collateral is required, and what a cosigner is on the hook for if the defendant misses court. Ask about payment plans and any fees beyond the premium. The defendant will also need a criminal lawyer, or for an impaired driving arrest, a DUI lawyer.

The bail agencies listed here wrote their own entries, and a person reviewed each before publication. If you write bail bonds, apply to get listed — free, and it takes a few minutes.