Why credit is not the gate
The premium is 10% of the bail, filed under Insurance Code §1800. An agency cannot charge a higher rate to a cosigner with weaker credit — the rate is fixed. What an agency evaluates is whether the cosigner can perform on the indemnity agreement and keep the defendant appearing in court.
What underwriting actually looks at
- Length of employment and verifiable income.
- How long you have lived at your address and in the county.
- Your relationship to the defendant and your ability to keep them accountable.
- The charge, the court, and the defendant's appearance history.
- Whether collateral is available if the bail is large — see common possessions used as bail collateral.
When credit does come up
If you want to pay the premium over time, the agency is extending credit to you and may pull a report or ask for references. Even then, thin or damaged credit is regularly offset by a second cosigner, a larger down payment, or collateral.