Where to pay your Seattle ticket online, by mail, or in person

The City of Seattle accepts ticket payments through its Municipal Court website, by mail, or at the courthouse in person. You can pay online at seattle.gov/courts using your ticket number and driver's license number — this is the fastest route and takes a few minutes. If you prefer to mail a check or money order, send it to the address printed on the back of your ticket. In-person payments happen at the Seattle Municipal Court, located at 600 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, during business hours Monday through Friday.

The online payment system accepts credit cards, debit cards, and electronic bank transfers. When you pay online, you receive an when ready confirmation number. Mail payments typically take 7 to 10 business days to process, so if your important date is approaching, online or in-person payment is safer. The courthouse also has a drop box outside for after-hours payments, though you won't receive confirmation until staff processes it the next business day.

Key Takeaways

  • Pay online at seattle.gov/courts using your ticket number and driver's license number for the fastest confirmation.
  • Mail payments to the address on the back of your ticket, but allow 7 to 10 business days for processing.
  • The Seattle Municipal Court at 600 5th Avenue accepts in-person payments Monday through Friday during business hours.
  • Your ticket shows a due date — paying after that date may result in additional penalties or a license suspension notice.

What information you need to pay online

To pay through the Seattle Municipal Court website, you need your ticket number and your driver's license number. The ticket number appears at the top of your citation. If you have lost the physical ticket, you can look up your case using your name and date of birth on the court's case search tool, also at seattle.gov/courts, which will show you the ticket number and amount owed.

The online system will show you the fine amount, any penalties that have been added, and the current due date. If you have already made a partial payment, the system will show the remaining balance. Before you submit payment, verify that the ticket information matches what you received — if something looks wrong, contact the court before paying.

Payment important date and what happens if you miss them

Your ticket shows a specific due date, usually 15 to 30 days from the date of the citation. If you do not pay by that date, the court may add a failure-to-pay penalty to your balance. After a certain period of non-payment, the court can suspend your driver's license and report the debt to the Washington State Department of Licensing.

If you cannot pay by the due date, contact the Seattle Municipal Court before the important date to discuss a payment plan or request more time. The court sometimes allows installment arrangements or can reduce fines based on financial hardship, but you must ask before the ticket becomes overdue. Waiting until after the important date makes these options harder to obtain.

Payment methods and fees

Online payments by credit or debit card incur a processing fee, typically 2 to 3 percent of the ticket amount, charged by the payment processor. Electronic bank transfers (ACH) usually have a lower fee or no fee. Payments by mail using check or money order have no additional fee — you pay only the fine amount shown on your ticket. In-person payments at the courthouse accept cash, check, money order, credit card, and debit card, with card payments subject to the same processing fee as online.

If cost is a barrier, the court may reduce or waive the fine if you show financial hardship. This requires a conversation with the court, not an online transaction. Call the Seattle Municipal Court at the number on your ticket to ask about hardship options before your due date.

Paying a parking ticket versus a traffic citation

Seattle issues both parking tickets (for meter violations, permit violations, or parking in restricted zones) and traffic citations (for moving violations like speeding or running a red light). Both are paid through the same Seattle Municipal Court system using the same online portal. The process is identical: enter your ticket number and driver's license number, verify the amount, and submit payment.

The main difference is what happens if you do not pay. Unpaid traffic citations can lead to license suspension and a report to the Department of Licensing. Unpaid parking tickets do not directly suspend your license but can result in collection action and may prevent vehicle registration renewal. Either way, paying promptly avoids additional penalties.

Contesting a ticket instead of paying

If you believe the ticket was issued in error or you have a defense, you can contest it rather than pay. To do this, you must respond to the court in writing or request a hearing within the timeframe shown on your ticket — usually 15 days. You can request a hearing through the same seattle.gov/courts website or by mail to the address on your ticket.

If you request a hearing, you will appear before a judge or hearing officer who will listen to your side and the officer's account. Bring any evidence you have — photos, witness contact information, or documentation of road conditions, for example. If you lose the hearing, you will be ordered to pay the fine, and the clock for payment will restart from the hearing date. Requesting a hearing does not stop the original due date, so if you miss the hearing request important date, you lose the right to contest and must pay.

What to do if you cannot find your ticket number

If you have lost your physical ticket or citation, use the Seattle Municipal Court's case search tool at seattle.gov/courts. Enter your name and date of birth, and the system will display any open cases or tickets in your name. The search results will show your ticket number, the violation, the amount owed, and the due date. Once you have the ticket number, you can proceed with online payment.

If the search tool does not return results, call the Seattle Municipal Court directly. Staff can look up your case by name and provide your ticket number and balance over the phone. This also gives you a chance to ask about payment plans or other options before you pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay a Seattle ticket by phone?

The Seattle Municipal Court does not accept phone payments directly. You must pay online at seattle.gov/courts, by mail, or in person at the courthouse. If you need help navigating the online system, court staff can walk you through it over the phone, but the actual payment must be made through one of those three methods.

What happens if I pay late?

Late payments trigger additional penalties added to your original fine amount. For traffic citations, a late payment can also result in a license suspension notice sent to the Washington State Department of Licensing. For parking tickets, late payment may lead to collection action. Contact the court as soon as you realize you will be late to discuss options.

Do I get a receipt when I pay online?

Yes. When you complete an online payment, the system generates a confirmation number when ready. Save or print this confirmation as your receipt. The court also sends an email confirmation to the address you provide during payment. Keep both for your records in case there is a dispute about whether payment was received.

Can I set up a payment plan if I cannot pay the full amount now?

Yes, but you must contact the Seattle Municipal Court before your due date to request one. Call the number on your ticket or visit the courthouse in person. The court considers payment plans on a case-by-case basis and may reduce the fine if you show financial hardship. Waiting until after the due date makes approval less likely.

Will paying my ticket remove points from my driving record?

No. Paying the fine resolves the ticket with the court but does not remove the violation from your driving record. Points remain on your record for a set period determined by Washington State law. If you want to contest the points, you must contest the ticket itself through a hearing, not straightforward pay it.