Can You Pay Bail With a Credit Card? (Kern County Guide)

When bail is set late at night and the bank is closed, the card in your wallet looks like the fastest way out. So can bail be paid with a credit card? Whether posting bail with a credit card works comes down to two questions: who you’re paying (the jail or court, or a bail agent) and what you’re paying (the full bail as a deposit, or the premium for a bond). This guide walks through both for Kern County, the real costs of putting bail on a card, and the alternatives.

Cash bail by card

Varies by facility; not confirmed for Kern County jails — call ahead

Taft PD jail

Cash, money orders, certified checks and bonds; no personal checks

Bond premium by card

Many bail agents accept cards — ask about payment options

Card costs

Possible service fees; cash advances usually cost more and accrue interest immediately

Alternatives

Payment plans, cosigners, collateral, or release without bail

Can you pay bail with a credit card at the jail or court?

“Paying bail” usually means posting the full bail amount as a deposit with the court or the jail. California Penal Code 1295 lets the defendant or anyone else deposit that money instead of using a bond. What forms of payment a given facility will take is set locally, not by the statute.

Kern County Sheriff’s facilities

We checked the Kern County Sheriff’s Office website and could not find a published list of accepted payment methods for bail, or any statement that cash bail can be posted by credit or debit card. Rules like this change, and the only reliable answer is from the facility. The Sheriff’s Detentions Bureau lists its main jail number as 661-391-7800; new arrests are booked and released at the Inmate Reception Center at Lerdo, 661-391-3100. Call before you drive out with a card and nothing else. Not sure where your loved one is? Use the Sheriff’s official inmate search.

The Taft city jail

The Taft Police Department runs its own short-term jail at 320 Commerce Way, and bail can be posted there. Under the department’s procedures, bail may be posted by cash, money order, certified check or a bail bond; personal checks are not accepted. Cards aren’t on that list, so plan on one of the accepted forms or a bond. Details: Taft jail guide.

Kern County Superior Court

The court’s Revenue Recovery division accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express for fines and fees, and charges a service fee for card payments. That page covers fines, not bail deposits, so don’t assume the same applies to posting bail — ask the criminal clerk.

Can you bail yourself out of jail with a credit card?

In practice, it’s usually someone on the outside who handles it. Personal property, including a wallet, typically goes into storage at booking, and the person in custody can make calls but can’t walk to a cashier window. If you’re the one arrested, your first call is often to a family member or a bail agent, who can start the process while you wait.

Do bail bondsmen take credit cards?

Some do. Card payments for the premium are common across the bail industry, and some agents also take debit cards. Policies differ from company to company, so ask each agent what they accept — for the premium, any down payment, and any collateral held as cash. At Cowboy Bail Bonds, call us to ask about payment options; we offer payment plans and easy-to-qualify terms. For the full picture, see how do you pay a bail bondsman.

Paying a premium is a much smaller number than paying full bail. The premium is most commonly 10% of the bail amount. It isn’t fixed by statute; each surety files its rates with the California Department of Insurance and its agents charge the filed rate, and many file as low as 8% for qualifying cases. Ask what filed rate applies to your case. On a large bail — say, a $250,000 bail bond — that’s still a big charge, which is why many families split it between a down payment and a plan.

Remember the trade-off: cash bail posted with the court is refundable after the case ends, while the premium is the fee for the bond and is not refunded, even if charges are dropped.

Credit card bail bonds: the real costs

A card can solve tonight’s problem and create next month’s. Before you swipe, check:

• Interest. If you can’t pay the balance in full, a card’s purchase rate applies. On a four- or five-figure charge, that adds up fast.
• Cash advance treatment. How a charge is coded depends on the merchant and your card issuer. If a payment is processed as a cash advance, issuers typically charge a fee (often 2% to 5%), a higher interest rate, and interest that starts right away with no grace period. Call the number on the back of your card if you’re unsure.
• Service fees. Government payment counters and processors may add a fee for card payments.
• Your credit limit and utilization. A large balance can raise your credit utilization, which can affect your score until it’s paid down. See do bail bonds affect your credit score.

Compare that with a bail agent’s payment plan, where the cost and schedule are spelled out in writing before you sign.

Alternatives if a card won’t work

• A payment plan on the premium. Pay part now and the rest over time.
• A cosigner. A relative or friend with steady income can sign for the bond. Learn what a cosigner does.
• Collateral. A vehicle, real estate or other property can secure a bond and is returned after exoneration. See what you can use as collateral.
• Cash alternatives the jail accepts. Money orders or certified checks, where the facility takes them.
• Release without bail. Many people are cited and released, or released on their own recognizance.

Frequently asked questions

Can you pay bail with a credit card in Kern County?

It depends on the facility. We could not find any published statement that Kern County Sheriff’s jails accept cards for cash bail, and the Taft Police Department jail takes cash, money orders, certified checks and bonds. Call the facility before you go.

Can you pay a bond with a credit card?

Many bail agents accept credit cards for the bond premium, but policies vary by company. Ask the agent what payment methods and payment plans they offer.

Do bail bondsmen take credit cards?

Some do, and some also take debit cards; policies vary by company. Call Cowboy Bail Bonds at 661-324-6009 to ask about payment options; we offer payment plans and easy-to-qualify terms.

Is it a bad idea to put bail on a credit card?

It can be expensive. You may pay interest, service fees, or cash advance fees and higher rates if the charge is treated as a cash advance. A written payment plan with a bail agent is often easier to manage.

If I pay cash bail by card, will the refund go back on my card?

Don’t count on it. In Kern County, the court says cash bail refunds are mailed as a check by the County Auditor, typically about 4 to 6 weeks after the court order. Any card service fee likely won’t be refunded.