Where to pay your Los Angeles parking ticket

You can pay a Los Angeles parking ticket through the city's Department of Transportation (LADOT) online system, by mail, by phone, or in person at a payment location. The online system at ladot.lacity.gov is the fastest route — you enter your citation number and pay by credit card or debit card in minutes. If you do not have internet access or prefer to speak with someone, you can call the LADOT Parking Violations Bureau at (323) 529-3700 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time.

Paying by mail means sending a check or money order to the address printed on the back of your citation, along with the ticket itself. This method takes longer because the city must receive and process your payment, so allow at least two weeks before assuming it went through. Paying in person is possible at LADOT payment locations throughout the city, though you will need to find the nearest one and travel there during their operating hours.

The amount you owe depends on the violation type and whether you have unpaid tickets from before. Base fines range from around $63 to $250 for common violations like expired meters or no-parking-zone parking, but penalties and late fees add to that total if your ticket is overdue. Check the citation itself or the online system to see your exact amount before paying.

Key Takeaways

  • The LADOT website at ladot.lacity.gov lets you pay online with a credit or debit card using your citation number, and this is usually the fastest method.
  • You can also pay by phone at (323) 529-3700, by mail with a check or money order, or in person at a city payment location.
  • Your citation number appears on the ticket itself and is required to look up your account and make a payment through any method.
  • Late fees and penalties add to the base fine amount if you do not pay by the important date shown on your ticket.
  • Paying the ticket does not remove points from your driving record, but it stops the city from sending your account to collections.

Finding your citation number and ticket details

Your citation number is printed on the parking ticket itself, usually at the top or in a box labeled "Citation Number" or "Ticket Number." This is the key piece of information you need to pay online or by phone. If you cannot find the physical ticket, you can search for it on the LADOT website by entering your license plate number, vehicle identification number (VIN), or the date and location where you received the ticket.

The back of the ticket shows the violation code, the fine amount, and the important date by which you must pay or contest the ticket. Most parking tickets in Los Angeles must be paid or challenged within 21 days of the citation date. If you miss that important date, the fine increases and the city may report the debt to a collection agency or place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal.

Paying online through LADOT

Go to ladot.lacity.gov and look for the "Pay a Parking Citation" or "Parking Violations" section. You will enter your citation number, then the system will display the violation details and the amount owed. The site accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. A processing fee of around $2.50 is added to your payment, so your total will be slightly higher than the fine amount alone.

After you submit payment, you will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email. Keep this confirmation — it proves you paid. The payment typically posts to your account within one business day, though the city may take longer to update their records. If you do not see the payment reflected online after two business days, call (323) 529-3700 to confirm it was received.

Paying by phone or mail

To pay by phone, call (323) 529-3700 and have your citation number ready. A representative will look up your ticket, tell you the amount owed, and take payment by credit card or debit card over the phone. This method works during business hours only and may involve a wait, but you get when ready confirmation that the payment went through.

To pay by mail, write a check or money order for the exact amount shown on your ticket and send it to the address printed on the back of the citation. Include the ticket itself or a copy of it in the envelope so the city can match your payment to your account. Mail payments take two to three weeks to process, so send yours well before the important date to avoid late fees. Do not send cash through the mail.

What happens after you pay

Once the city receives and processes your payment, the ticket is considered satisfied and the case closes. You will not receive a refund if you overpay, so double-check the amount before sending money. The city will not remove the ticket from your record — it will show that you paid it, but the violation itself remains on file.

Paying the ticket does not affect your driving record or insurance rates. A parking violation is not a moving violation, so it does not add points to your license. However, if you do not pay and the debt goes to collections, it can appear on your credit report and affect your credit score. Paying stops this from happening.

If you want to contest the ticket instead

You have the right to challenge the ticket if you believe it was issued in error. To do this, you must submit a written request for a hearing within 21 days of the citation date. You can request a hearing online through the LADOT website, by mail, or in person. Include your citation number, a brief explanation of why you believe the ticket is wrong, and any evidence you have — such as photos of the parking sign, proof you paid a meter, or documentation that you were parked legally.

If you request a hearing, do not pay the ticket. Paying it may be considered an admission of the violation and could affect your right to contest it. A hearing officer will review your case and the officer's notes, and you may be given the chance to present your side. If the officer finds in your favor, the ticket is dismissed and you owe nothing. If not, you will be ordered to pay the fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay a parking ticket online without a citation number?

No, you need the citation number to pay online. If you do not have the ticket, you can search for it on the LADOT website using your license plate, VIN, or the date and location of the violation. Once you find it, the system will show you the citation number and allow you to pay.

What if I pay late and the fine has gone up?

You must pay the new amount, which includes the base fine plus late fees and penalties. The exact increase depends on how late you are. If the ticket has been sent to collections, contact LADOT to find out the current balance before paying, as collection agencies may have added their own fees.

Does paying a parking ticket affect my car insurance?

No. Parking violations do not appear on your driving record and do not affect your insurance rates. Only moving violations — like speeding or running a red light — impact your insurance. However, unpaid parking tickets can hurt your credit if they go to collections.

Can I pay someone else's parking ticket?

Yes. You can pay online using their citation number, or by mail or phone. You do not need to be the registered owner of the vehicle to pay the fine. The city only cares that the ticket is paid; they do not track who submitted the payment.

What if my payment was rejected or did not go through?

If you paid online and your card was declined, try again with a different card or payment method. If you paid by mail or phone and are unsure whether it was received, call (323) 529-3700 to confirm. The city can tell you whether your payment posted and what your current balance is.