Stick to the Filed Rate: Making Sense of Florida Statute 648.33 on Bail-Bond Premiums

Florida treats a bail-bond premium the same way it treats any other line of insurance: the price is filed with the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and everyone must charge exactly that price—no more, no less, and never for free. Violating the rule is a first-degree misdemeanor, and the state doesn’t hesitate to pull licenses. Below, we unpack § 648.33 in four bite-sized sections, peppered with helpful reads like Florida’s 120-Hour Bail Bonding Course and our explainer on How to Be a Bail Bondsman in Florida.

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Filed Rates—Not Suggestions, but Law

  • Part I of Chapter 627 forces insurers to file a single schedule of bail-bond rates with OIR. Once approved, every appointed agent must charge that exact premium—usually 10 % of the bond or a $100 minimum. No coupon codes, no “friends-and-family” discounts, and absolutely no mark-ups.
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    The “No Free Bond” Clause

    Subsection (2) makes it illegal to execute a bond without collecting the premium. Waiving payment for a friend, accepting gift cards, or promising “pay me later” counts as an unlawful discount—all roads that lead straight to DFS disciplinary hearings.

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    Penalties: First-Degree Misdemeanor

  • A premium violation triggers up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine under § 775.082–.083, plus likely license suspension or revocation. Repeat offenses? Expect carriers to cancel your appointments, leaving you legally unable to write bonds.

    • Statute 648.33 couldn’t be clearer: collect the approved premium, every time, or face criminal charges. Build the fee into your workflow, document each payment, and audit your books monthly. That diligence not only keeps DFS off your back but also preserves your reputation in a competitive market. Still ramping up your compliance know-how? Enroll in the next session of the Florida 120-Hour Bail Bonding Course and explore our article Become a True Professional in the Bail Bond Industry for career-long best practices.