Where to pay your Los Angeles parking ticket

You can pay a Los Angeles parking ticket through the Department of Transportation (LADOT) website, by mail, in person, or by phone. The fastest method is online at ladot.lacity.gov/pay-citation, where you can pay with a credit or debit card using your citation number. If you do not have internet access, you can call LADOT at 311 (or 213-485-2057 from outside Los Angeles) to pay by phone with a card, mail a check or money order to the address on your ticket, or visit a payment location in person.

Payment locations include LADOT offices and some Los Angeles Public Library branches. The main LADOT office is at 221 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You will need your citation number to pay at any location. Paying online or by phone typically processes the same day, while mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to reach LADOT.

Key Takeaways

  • The online payment portal at ladot.lacity.gov/pay-citation is the fastest way to pay and processes when ready with a credit or debit card.
  • You can also pay by phone at 311 or 213-485-2057, by mail to the address printed on your ticket, or in person at LADOT offices and some library branches.
  • You will need your citation number to pay through any method, and payment by mail takes 7 to 10 business days to process.
  • If you cannot pay the full amount, you can request a payment plan or a hearing to contest the ticket before paying.

What information you need to pay online

To pay online, you will need your citation number, which appears at the top of your parking ticket. You will also need the license plate number of the vehicle that received the ticket. Have a credit or debit card ready, as LADOT does not accept cash, checks, or PayPal through the online portal.

If you have lost your ticket, you can still look up the citation using your license plate number on the LADOT website. Enter your plate number in the search field, and the system will show any outstanding citations associated with that vehicle. Once you locate your citation number, you can proceed to pay online.

Payment important date and late fees

The important date to pay a Los Angeles parking ticket is typically 21 days from the date the ticket was issued. If you do not pay by this date, a late fee is added to your balance. The late fee amount varies depending on the original fine amount, but it is usually 10 percent of the citation amount or a set dollar amount, whichever is greater.

If your payment is more than 30 days late, the city may report the unpaid ticket to a collection agency, which can affect your credit and result in additional collection fees. You can still pay at any time, but paying before the important date avoids these extra costs. If you believe you have a valid reason for missing the important date, you can request a hearing to explain your situation to a hearing officer.

Setting up a payment plan if you cannot pay in full

If you cannot pay the full amount by the important date, you can request a payment plan from LADOT. To do this, contact LADOT at 311 or 213-485-2057 and explain your situation. You will need to provide your citation number and information about your financial circumstances. LADOT staff can discuss options for spreading the payment over several months.

Payment plans typically require a down payment and then monthly installments. The exact terms depend on the fine amount and your ability to pay. If you set up a payment plan and miss a payment, you may lose the plan and owe the full remaining balance when ready. Make sure you understand the payment schedule before agreeing to it.

Contesting a ticket instead of paying

If you believe the ticket was issued in error or you have a valid defense, you can request a hearing instead of paying when ready. You have 21 days from the ticket date to request a hearing. You can do this online at ladot.lacity.gov, by mail to the address on your ticket, or by phone at 311.

At the hearing, you will have the chance to explain your side to a hearing officer. The officer will review the evidence and decide whether the ticket should be upheld, reduced, or dismissed. If the ticket is upheld, you will still owe the full amount plus any applicable late fees if you do not pay by the original important date. Requesting a hearing does not stop the clock on your payment important date, so you should request one as soon as possible if you plan to contest the ticket.

What happens if you do not pay

If a parking ticket remains unpaid for 30 days or more, LADOT may place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal. This means you will not be able to renew your registration until the ticket is paid. The city may also report the debt to a collection agency, which can damage your credit score and result in collection calls and letters.

In some cases, unpaid parking tickets can lead to a judgment against you in small claims court, and the city can attempt to collect the debt through wage garnishment or bank levies. Paying the ticket, even late, stops these collection actions. If you are facing financial hardship, contact LADOT to discuss a payment plan before the debt goes to collections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay a Los Angeles parking ticket with cash?

You can pay with cash in person at LADOT offices or some library branches, but not online or by phone. The main LADOT office at 221 North Figueroa Street accepts cash payments Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring your citation number and the exact amount if possible.

What if I paid my ticket but still see it as unpaid online?

Online records can take 7 to 10 business days to update after payment. If you paid by mail or in person, wait at least 10 days before checking again. If more than 10 days have passed and the ticket still shows as unpaid, contact LADOT at 311 with your confirmation number or receipt to verify the payment was received.

Can I pay someone else's parking ticket?

Yes, you can pay a parking ticket for another person's vehicle. You will need the citation number and can pay online, by phone, or in person using the same methods as the vehicle owner. The payment will be credited to that citation regardless of who submits it.

Do I have to pay if I was not the one driving the car?

The vehicle owner is responsible for the ticket, not necessarily the driver. If you were not the owner but received the ticket, you can request a hearing to explain that you were not the registered owner. You will need to provide proof of ownership or a statement from the actual owner. The hearing officer can dismiss the ticket if you establish you were not responsible for the vehicle at the time.