Where to search for your Los Angeles parking ticket
The City of Los Angeles runs a single online lookup system where you can find any parking ticket issued within city limits. Go to ladot.lacity.gov and look for the "Pay a Parking Citation" or "Parking Citations" section. You will need either your citation number (the ticket number printed on your citation) or your vehicle's license plate number to search.
If you have the physical ticket, the citation number is printed in large text near the top. If you do not have the ticket, your license plate number works just as well — the system will show all unpaid citations tied to that plate. The search takes seconds and shows the violation date, location, amount owed, and whether the ticket is still open or has been paid.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) issues most parking citations. Some citations come from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) or parking enforcement officers in specific areas, but they all feed into the same citywide system, so searching one place finds them all.
Key Takeaways
- Search for your ticket at ladot.lacity.gov using either your citation number or license plate number.
- The system shows the violation date, location, fine amount, and payment status when ready after you search.
- You can pay online through the same system using a credit or debit card, or by mail with a check.
- If you received a ticket for a vehicle you no longer own, you can file a report with LADOT to remove liability.
- Contesting a ticket requires filing a notice of contest within 21 days of the citation date, either online or by mail.
What information appears in the search results
Once you search by citation number or license plate, the system displays the ticket details. You will see the date you received the citation, the street address where the violation occurred, the specific violation code (such as expired meter or no parking zone), and the fine amount. The results also show whether the ticket is unpaid, paid, or in collections.
If the ticket is unpaid, the system tells you the important date to pay or contest it. Los Angeles gives you 21 days from the citation date to either pay the fine or file a notice of contest. If you miss that window, you can still pay the ticket, but you lose the right to contest it in traffic court.
The search results include a link to pay when ready if you decide to settle. You can also see whether any late fees or penalties have been added since the original citation date.
How to pay your parking ticket online
After you find your ticket in the system, click the payment option. The City of Los Angeles accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) and debit cards. You will enter your citation number, the fine amount shown on the ticket, and your payment card details. The payment processes when ready, and you receive a confirmation number by email.
Paying online closes the case when ready — you do not need to mail anything or wait for processing. Keep the confirmation email as your proof of payment. If you prefer not to pay online, you can mail a check to the address listed on your citation, but mail payments take longer to process and may incur late fees if they arrive after the important date.
If you cannot pay the full amount right away, some citations are may be able to access for a payment plan. Contact LADOT directly at 1-844-4LA-LADOT (1-844-452-5236) to ask whether your ticket qualifies and to set up installments.
Contesting a parking ticket in Los Angeles
You have 21 days from the citation date to file a notice of contest if you believe the ticket was issued in error. You can file online through the LADOT website or by mail. Filing does not mean you automatically win — it means you are requesting a hearing where you can present your case to a hearing officer.
Common reasons people contest tickets include: the sign was missing or unclear, the meter was broken, you were parked legally but cited anyway, or the citation was issued to the wrong vehicle. You will need to explain your reason clearly and provide any evidence — photos of the location, receipts showing you paid the meter, or witness statements.
After you file a notice of contest, LADOT schedules a hearing, usually within 30 to 60 days. You can attend in person or submit your evidence in writing. If the hearing officer agrees with you, the ticket is dismissed and you owe nothing. If they uphold the citation, you must pay the fine.
What to do if the ticket belongs to a vehicle you no longer own
If you sold or traded in your vehicle and later discover a parking ticket was issued to it after you no longer owned it, you can file a report with LADOT to remove your liability. Contact LADOT's Parking Violations Bureau and explain that you are no longer the registered owner. You will need to provide proof of the sale or transfer — a bill of sale, title transfer document, or registration showing the new owner.
LADOT will investigate and, if they confirm the ticket was issued after you transferred ownership, they will reassign the citation to the current registered owner. This protects you from collection action and does not affect your driving record.
If you cannot locate proof of the sale, contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to request a copy of your title transfer or registration history. The DMV can provide documentation showing when ownership changed.
Understanding citation codes and violation types
Every parking citation includes a violation code that describes exactly what rule was broken. Common codes include expired meter (you did not pay or ran out of time), no parking zone (parking in a clearly marked restricted area), street cleaning violation (parking during posted street cleaning hours), and disabled parking violation (parking in a handicapped space without proper placard). The code appears on your ticket and in the online search results.
Understanding the code matters if you plan to contest the ticket, because it tells you exactly what the officer cited you for. If the code does not match the violation you believe occurred, that discrepancy can be part of your contest. For example, if you were cited for expired meter but you paid the meter, the code mismatch supports your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up someone else's parking ticket?
The LADOT system requires either the citation number or the license plate number to search. If you have the citation number from a ticket you received, you can look it up. You cannot search by driver name or other personal information. If you need information about a ticket issued to someone else, that person must search their own ticket or provide you with the citation number.
What happens if I ignore a parking ticket?
If you do not pay or contest a ticket within 21 days, LADOT can add late fees and penalties to the original fine. After 90 days of non-payment, the case may be sent to a collection agency. Unpaid tickets can also prevent vehicle registration renewal — the DMV will not issue a new registration sticker until parking violations are resolved.
How long does it take to pay a ticket online?
Online payment is when ready. Your transaction processes when ready, and you receive a confirmation email within minutes. The ticket is marked paid in the system right away, so you do not have to worry about late fees or collection action.
Can I pay a parking ticket at a physical location in Los Angeles?
Yes. LADOT has payment locations throughout the city where you can pay in person with cash, check, or card. You can find the nearest office and hours on the LADOT website. In-person payment is processed when ready, just like online payment.
What if I received a ticket but never got the physical citation?
Search by your license plate number on the LADOT website. The system will show all citations tied to that plate, whether or not you received the physical ticket. You can pay or contest the ticket online without having the paper citation in hand.