Where to pay your NYC traffic ticket
You can pay a New York City traffic ticket online through the Department of Finance website, by mail, in person at a payment location, or by phone. The method you choose depends on whether you have your ticket number and how quickly you want to resolve it. Online payment is the fastest option and available 24 hours a day.
The Department of Finance runs the Parking Violations Bureau (PVB) for parking and camera violations, and the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) for moving violations like speeding or running a red light. Each bureau has its own payment system, so you need to know which type of violation you received before you start.
If you received a ticket from an NYPD officer or a traffic enforcement agent, it will state on the ticket itself which bureau handles it. Parking tickets typically show "PVB" and moving violation tickets show "TVB." This distinction matters because the payment websites and phone numbers are different for each.
Key Takeaways
- Parking violations go through the Parking Violations Bureau and moving violations go through the Traffic Violations Bureau — check your ticket to see which one issued it.
- You can pay online at the Department of Finance website using your ticket number, or by phone, mail, or in person at a payment location in your borough.
- Online payment typically processes when ready, while mail payment takes two to three weeks to record in the system.
- If you do not pay by the due date on your ticket, late fees and additional penalties will be added to your balance.
- You can dispute a ticket by requesting a hearing, but you must do so before paying or within 30 days of receiving the ticket.
Paying online through the Department of Finance
The Department of Finance website accepts online payment for both parking and moving violations. Go to the PVB or TVB payment portal depending on your ticket type, enter your ticket number and license plate number, and the system will display your violation details and amount due.
Payment is accepted by credit card, debit card, or e-check. The system processes most payments within minutes, and you will receive a confirmation number when ready. Keep this confirmation number for your records in case you need to prove payment later.
If you cannot find your ticket in the system, it may not have been entered yet. Tickets sometimes take a few days to appear in the Department of Finance database after they are issued. You can call the appropriate bureau to confirm the ticket exists and get the amount owed.
Paying by phone or mail
You can pay by phone by calling the Parking Violations Bureau at 311 or the Traffic Violations Bureau at 646-386-5000. Have your ticket number ready. Payment by phone is accepted by credit card or debit card only, and the call takes about five minutes.
To pay by mail, send a check or money order payable to the "Department of Finance" along with your ticket to the address listed on the back of your ticket. Include your ticket number and license plate number on the check. Mail payment typically takes two to three weeks to process and appear in the system.
Do not send cash by mail. If you pay by mail and the payment arrives after the due date, late fees will still explore even if you mailed it on time. For this reason, mail is the slowest and least reliable method.
Paying in person at a payment location
The Department of Finance operates payment locations in each borough where you can pay in person with cash, check, money order, credit card, or debit card. Locations are open during standard business hours, typically Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Payment locations are found in lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. You can find the exact address and hours for your borough on the Department of Finance website. Bring your ticket or ticket number with you.
In-person payment is processed when ready and you receive a receipt on the spot. This method is useful if you have questions about your ticket or want to pay with cash, since online and phone payment do not accept cash.
What happens if you miss the due date
The due date for payment is printed on your ticket. If you do not pay by that date, the Department of Finance adds a late fee to your balance. The amount of the late fee depends on the original violation amount but typically ranges from 10 to 20 percent of the ticket cost.
If you continue to ignore the ticket, additional penalties accumulate and the debt may be referred to a collection agency. Unpaid tickets can also result in license suspension, vehicle registration holds, or a judgment against you. The longer you wait, the more you owe.
If you believe you cannot pay the full amount by the due date, contact the Department of Finance to ask about payment plans. Some violations may be may be able to access for installment arrangements, though this is not may provide.
Requesting a hearing before you pay
You have the right to request a hearing to dispute your ticket before you pay it. You must request a hearing within 30 days of receiving the ticket. If you request a hearing, do not pay the ticket until after the hearing is held and a decision is made.
To request a hearing, go to the Department of Finance website, select your ticket type (PVB or TVB), enter your ticket number, and choose the option to request a hearing. You can also request a hearing by mail or in person at a payment location. The hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge who reviews the facts of your case.
If you lose the hearing, you will be ordered to pay the ticket amount plus any applicable fees. If you win, the ticket is dismissed and you owe nothing. The hearing process typically takes several weeks to several months from the date you request it.
Understanding your ticket and what you owe
Your ticket shows the violation code, the date and location of the violation, the amount due, and the due date for payment. The violation code is a number that corresponds to a specific traffic or parking law. You can look up what the code means on the Department of Finance website.
The amount due includes the base fine for the violation. Some violations also include additional penalties or surcharges set by New York State law. The total amount shown on your ticket is what you owe if you pay by the due date.
If your ticket shows a violation you did not commit or contains incorrect information like the wrong license plate number, you can dispute it by requesting a hearing. Bring evidence to support your case, such as photos, witness statements, or documentation that you were not the driver at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a parking ticket and a moving violation together?
No. Parking violations and moving violations are handled by separate bureaus with separate payment systems. You must pay each ticket through the appropriate bureau using its website, phone number, or payment location. If you have multiple tickets, you can pay them all online by entering each ticket number separately.
What if I lost my ticket and do not have the ticket number?
You can search for your ticket using your license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) on the Department of Finance website. If that does not work, call 311 for parking violations or 646-386-5000 for moving violations and provide your license plate number. The bureau can look up all outstanding violations on your vehicle.
Does paying a ticket mean I admit guilt?
Paying a ticket does not automatically mean you admit guilt in a legal sense, but it does resolve the violation. If you believe the ticket was issued in error, request a hearing before you pay. Once you pay, you generally cannot dispute the ticket later.
Can I pay someone else's ticket?
Yes. You can pay another person's ticket online, by phone, or in person as long as you have the ticket number. The payment will be credited to that person's ticket regardless of who submits it. You do not need to be the ticket holder to pay.
What if my payment was rejected online?
Online payment rejection usually happens because the ticket number or license plate number was entered incorrectly, or the ticket has not yet been entered into the system. Double-check your ticket number and try again. If the problem continues, call the appropriate bureau or try paying by phone instead.