Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

If you post your own money, if you make all court appearances, you get every penny back.

Of course, if you blow it, you stand to lose your entire bail.

Sometimes, going through a bail bonds company (a reputable one) is worth their fees.

If you post the bail yourself, you don't pay a bail bond premium. But you post the entire amount of the bail, not just 7,8,9 or 10% of the bail... Then, when the case is over, if you've made all the court appearances, you get the bail money back in about 2 months. If you fail to appear at any court appearance, you may lose the entire bail amount. Good luck.