Where to pay your San Diego parking ticket

The City of San Diego gives you three main ways to pay a parking ticket: online through their official website, by phone, or in person at a payment location. Online is the fastest — you can do it from home at any hour, and the city processes payment when ready. By phone, you call the Parking Violations Bureau and speak to someone who can take your payment over the phone. In person, you can pay at the Parking Violations Bureau office or at certain city payment centers.

Each method requires your citation number, which appears on the ticket itself. The citation number is a unique identifier that ties the ticket to your vehicle and the violation. Without it, the payment system cannot match your payment to the correct ticket.

Key Takeaways

  • You can pay online at the City of San Diego's parking violations website using your citation number and a credit or debit card.
  • Phone payment goes through the Parking Violations Bureau, and you will need your citation number and a payment card ready when you call.
  • In-person payment at the Parking Violations Bureau office accepts cash, check, credit card, and debit card.
  • Payment important date vary depending on the violation type, so check your ticket for the specific due date.
  • If you miss the important date, late fees and additional penalties will be added to your balance.

Paying online through the City of San Diego website

Go to the City of San Diego's official parking violations payment page. You will see a field asking for your citation number — this is the number printed on your parking ticket. Enter it exactly as it appears. The system will pull up your ticket details, including the violation amount and any applicable fees.

Once your ticket appears, review the amount owed. Then select your payment method: credit card or debit card. Enter your card information, billing address, and confirm the payment. The city accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. After you submit, you will receive a confirmation number on screen and via email. Keep this confirmation for your records.

Paying by phone with the Parking Violations Bureau

Call the Parking Violations Bureau at the phone number listed on your ticket. A representative will ask for your citation number and will look up your ticket. They will tell you the amount due and any late fees that may have been added since the ticket was issued.

Have a credit or debit card ready. The representative will walk you through entering your card information securely over the phone. Once the payment processes, they will give you a confirmation number. Ask them to email or mail you a receipt if you want written proof of payment.

Paying in person at the Parking Violations Bureau

The Parking Violations Bureau office is located at 1275 Imperial Avenue, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., though you should confirm current hours before you go. Bring your parking ticket and your citation number.

The office accepts cash, personal check, money order, credit card, and debit card. If you pay by check or money order, make it out to the City of San Diego. If you pay by card, bring your card and a valid ID. You will receive a receipt on the spot confirming your payment.

What happens if you miss the payment important date

Your parking ticket has a specific due date printed on it. If you do not pay by that date, the city adds late fees to your balance. The amount of the late fee depends on how long the ticket remains unpaid. After a certain period of non-payment, the city may report the debt to a collection agency or place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal.

If you cannot pay by the important date, contact the Parking Violations Bureau before the due date to discuss a payment plan or extension. Some situations may allow you to request additional time, though this is not may provide. Waiting until after the important date makes it much harder to negotiate.

Disputing a parking ticket instead of paying

If you believe the ticket was issued in error — for example, the sign was missing, you were parked legally, or the meter was broken — you have the right to contest it. You do this by requesting a hearing with the Parking Violations Bureau. The request must be made within a certain number of days of the ticket date, so check your ticket for the important date.

Submit your dispute request in writing to the address on your ticket, or ask the Parking Violations Bureau office whether you can submit it online. Include your citation number, a clear explanation of why you believe the ticket is wrong, and any photos or evidence you have. If the bureau agrees with you, the ticket is dismissed and you owe nothing. If they disagree, you will be notified and can then decide whether to pay or request a formal hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay a San Diego parking ticket with a check by mail?

Yes. Make the check out to the City of San Diego, write your citation number on the back, and mail it to the address printed on your ticket. Mail payment takes longer to process than online or phone payment, so send it well before your due date to avoid late fees.

What if I lost my parking ticket and don't have the citation number?

Call the Parking Violations Bureau with your license plate number and the approximate date and location of the violation. They can look up the ticket in their system and provide you with the citation number. Once you have it, you can pay online, by phone, or in person.

Does paying a parking ticket affect my driving record or insurance?

Parking tickets are civil violations, not moving violations, so they do not appear on your driving record or affect your car insurance rates. However, unpaid parking tickets can lead to registration holds and collection action, which is why it is important to pay or dispute them.

Can I set up a payment plan if I can't pay the full amount right now?

Contact the Parking Violations Bureau directly to ask about payment plan options. They may be able to work with you depending on the amount owed and your circumstances, but this is not may provide. It is better to call before the due date than after.