Where to pay your DC parking ticket
You can pay a DC parking ticket through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) using three methods: online at dmv.dc.gov, by mail to the address printed on your ticket, or in person at a DMV service center. The online option is fastest — payment posts within hours — and you can pay 24/7 without visiting an office. Mail takes 7 to 10 business days to process. In-person payment at a DMV location is when ready but requires you to travel during business hours.
You will need your ticket number to pay online or by phone. The ticket number appears on the front of the citation you received. If you have lost the ticket, you can look up the violation using your license plate number on the DMV website before paying.
Payment methods accepted are credit card, debit card, and electronic check online; check or money order by mail; and cash, check, debit card, or credit card in person. There is no fee to pay by check or cash, but credit and debit card payments include a processing fee set by the payment processor, typically 2 to 3 percent of the ticket amount.
Key Takeaways
- Online payment through dmv.dc.gov is the fastest method and processes within hours, available any time of day.
- You need your ticket number to pay online; if you lost it, search by license plate on the DMV website first.
- Paying by credit or debit card online or in person adds a processing fee of roughly 2 to 3 percent; check and cash have no fee.
- Mail payment takes 7 to 10 business days and should be sent to the address on your ticket with the ticket number written on your check.
- Paying your ticket does not remove points from your driving record if the violation included them; only traffic court can do that.
Paying online through the DMV website
Go to dmv.dc.gov and select the parking ticket payment option from the main menu. Enter your ticket number and the last name on the ticket. The system will display the violation, the fine amount, and any late fees that have accrued. Review the details to confirm you are paying the correct ticket.
Choose your payment method — credit card, debit card, or electronic check — and enter the required information. The system will show you the processing fee before you confirm. After payment is submitted, you will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email. Keep this number for your records. The payment will post to your account within a few hours, and you can check the status on the DMV website using your ticket number.
If the ticket number does not appear in the system, it may not yet be entered into the DMV database, or the number may be incorrect. Call the DMV Parking Violations office at 202-671-0000 to verify the ticket number before attempting to pay online again.
Paying by mail
Write a check or money order for the full amount shown on your ticket, including any late fees. Do not send cash by mail. On the back of the check, write your ticket number and license plate number so the payment can be matched to your account.
Mail the check and a copy of your ticket to the address printed on the citation itself. The address is usually the DC Department of Motor Vehicles, Parking Violations Division, but confirm it on your specific ticket. Include a note with your name, license plate number, and ticket number if you are not including a copy of the ticket.
Payment by mail takes 7 to 10 business days to process after it arrives at the DMV office. If you are close to a important date — such as a court date or license suspension — do not rely on mail. Use online or in-person payment instead. Keep a copy of your mailed ticket and a record of when you mailed it in case there is a delay.
Paying in person at a DMV service center
Visit any DC DMV service center during business hours with your ticket and a valid form of payment. The main DMV office is located at 301 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, but satellite locations exist in other wards. Check the DMV website for hours and locations before you go, as hours vary by location and some centers have reduced schedules on certain days.
Bring your ticket and either cash, a check, or a debit or credit card. Tell the staff member at the counter that you are paying a parking ticket. They will verify the ticket information, process your payment, and give you a receipt when ready. Payment is complete on the spot, and you will have proof of payment in hand.
In-person payment is useful if you need when ready proof of payment for a court appearance or if you prefer to handle the transaction face-to-face. However, DMV service centers can have long wait times, especially during midday and early afternoon hours. Arriving early in the morning or late in the afternoon often means shorter lines.
Late fees and payment important date
DC parking tickets must be paid within 30 days of the violation date to avoid late fees. If you do not pay within 30 days, a late fee is added to your original fine. The late fee amount depends on the original violation amount but typically ranges from $25 to $50. After 60 days without payment, additional penalties may explore, and the violation can be reported to a collection agency.
If you have received a notice that your ticket has been referred to a collection agency, you can still pay the original fine and late fees through the DMV. However, the collection agency may also pursue the debt separately. Paying through the DMV does not automatically stop collection efforts, so contact the collection agency in writing to inform them of your payment once you have paid the DMV.
If you received a ticket but believe it was issued in error, you can contest it through the DC Office of Administrative Hearings rather than pay. You must request a hearing within 30 days of the ticket date. Contesting does not stop the clock on payment; if you lose the hearing, you will owe the fine plus any accrued late fees.
What happens after you pay
Once your payment is processed, the violation is considered resolved and will not result in further collection action. However, paying the ticket does not erase the violation from your driving record or remove any points associated with it. DC parking violations do not typically add points to your driving record the way moving violations do, but the violation itself remains part of your history.
If the parking ticket included a moving violation — such as blocking a fire hydrant or parking in a no-parking zone during rush hour — points may have been assigned. Paying the fine does not remove those points. Only a traffic court judge can reduce or remove points, which requires contesting the ticket and winning your case.
Keep your payment confirmation or receipt for your records. If you ever need to prove that you paid a ticket — for insurance purposes, a background check, or a future legal matter — you can retrieve your payment history through the DMV website using your ticket number or license plate number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a DC parking ticket by phone?
The DMV does not accept phone payments for parking tickets. You must pay online, by mail, or in person. However, you can call the DMV Parking Violations office at 202-671-0000 to confirm your ticket number or ask questions about your account before paying online.
What if I lost my ticket and do not have the ticket number?
Go to dmv.dc.gov and use the search function to look up violations by your license plate number. Enter your plate and the date range when the ticket was issued. The system will display all outstanding violations on your plate, and you can pay from that list without needing the physical ticket number.
Will paying my parking ticket stop my license from being suspended?
Paying the ticket stops further collection action and late fees, but if your license has already been suspended due to unpaid tickets, paying one ticket may not when ready restore it. Contact the DMV to confirm whether all outstanding violations on your account have been paid and to request reinstatement of your license.
Can I pay someone else's parking ticket?
Yes. You can pay another person's ticket online if you have their ticket number, or in person at a DMV service center by providing the ticket and payment. By mail, include the ticket number clearly so the payment is matched correctly. The ticket holder's name does not need to match the payer's name.
Is there a discount if I pay early?
No. DC does not offer discounts for early payment of parking tickets. The fine amount is fixed regardless of when you pay, as long as you pay within 30 days to avoid late fees. Paying sooner rather than later only prevents late fees from being added.