Updated September 2026
Driving without a valid license, a valid tag or insurance is one of the charges we write bonds for most often. It nearly always starts as an ordinary traffic stop. Call (407) 254-5554 and we will look up the case and start the paperwork on the phone.
Which of these is actually a crime
These three get lumped together, but Florida treats them very differently. Only some of them lead to an arrest on their own.
- No valid license. Under Florida Statute 322.03, driving without a valid license is a crime. A first conviction is a second degree misdemeanor, a second is a first degree misdemeanor, and a third or later is a first degree misdemeanor with at least 10 days in jail.
- An expired license. Expired six months or less is a traffic infraction under section 322.065, not an arrest. Expired more than six months is treated as driving without a license under section 322.03(6).
- An expired tag. Registration expired six months or less is a noncriminal infraction. More than six months on a second or later offense is a second degree misdemeanor under section 320.07(3).
- A tag that belongs to another vehicle. Knowingly putting a plate or sticker on a vehicle it was not issued to is a second degree misdemeanor under section 320.261.
- No proof of insurance. On its own this is a nonmoving traffic infraction under section 316.646, not a crime. If you cannot later show the insurance was in force, the court orders the license and registration suspended. Driving after that is driving with a suspended license, which is a crime.
So when someone is taken to jail after a stop like this, it is usually for the license charge, a borrowed tag, or a suspension they did not know about, often with a ticket or two for the rest.
What the bond usually is
Orange and Osceola County work from a written bond schedule set by the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Order 2022-03-04, signed in March 2025. Where a charge is not listed by name, the general amounts apply.
- A second degree misdemeanor with no force involved falls under the general amount of $150. That covers a first no valid license charge and the tag charges above.
- A first degree misdemeanor with no force involved falls under the general amount of $500. That covers a second or later no valid license charge.
A judge can set a different amount. Each charge also gets its own bond under Florida Statute 903.02(4), so a stop that produces two or three charges produces two or three bonds. We confirm the real total before you pay anything.
What it costs you
The premium on a Florida bail bond is 10% of the bond with a $100 minimum per charge, set by state law. On a $150 or a $500 bond you pay the $100 minimum. The premium is the fee for writing the bond and it is not refundable, whatever happens with the case.
We take cards, Zelle and Cash App, processed through Square, and we have payment plans. See also how a bond compares to paying the jail in cash.
How fast they get out
These are among the quickest bonds we write. The amount is low, the charge is simple and there is normally no hold. Once the bond is posted, release comes down to the jail. Orange County says the process can take up to 12 hours, and no one is released during headcount and meals, roughly 5:00 to 7:30 morning and evening.
People released from the Orange County Jail walk out of the Booking and Release Center at 3855 S John Young Pkwy, the same building where we post the bond.
Two things worth knowing
Do not drive home from the jail. Posting the bond does not give anyone a license. Arrange a ride, or the same stop can happen again on the way home.
Fix the paperwork before the court date. Getting a license, renewing an expired one, or showing proof that insurance was active can make a real difference to how the case goes. Ask your lawyer or the clerk what the court will want to see.
What we need to get started
- The full name and date of birth of the person in jail.
- Which county they are in.
- A phone number we can reach you on.
That is enough for us to look up the case, confirm every bond and tell you exactly what it costs before you pay anything. Call (407) 254-5554. Our Orlando office is across the street from the Orange County Jail and we answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Rather not call? Start here
Tell us who is in jail and where. Our team calls you straight back, any hour of the day.
Other counties
We write bonds across Central Florida. Orange and Osceola share one bond schedule. Seminole, Brevard and other counties set their own, so the number can be different for the same charge. We have offices in Kissimmee and Sanford, and we post bonds across Brevard County by phone.
Related reading
- Bail bonds for driving with a suspended license
- What bail actually costs in Florida, and the two laws that decide it.
- Bond posted but still in jail?
General information, not legal advice. Bond amounts change and a judge can always set a different amount than the schedule.