You can pay an SFMTA ticket online, by mail, or in person at their office

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) handles parking citations in the city. You have three main ways to pay: through their website at sfmta.com, by mailing a check or money order, or by going to their office in person. The fastest route is usually online, since you can pay when ready and get a receipt the same day.

Before you pay, you will need your citation number — the ticket number printed on the parking citation itself. This number is how SFMTA finds your case in their system. If you have lost the physical ticket, you can still look up the citation using your license plate number on the SFMTA website.

The amount you owe depends on the violation type and whether you have already missed any payment important date. Parking meter violations typically cost between $65 and $100, while other violations like blocking a fire hydrant or parking in a red zone can be higher. If you pay within 30 days of the citation date, you may be may be able to access for a reduced amount on some violation types — check the ticket itself or the SFMTA website to see if a discount applies to yours.

Key Takeaways

  • You can pay online at sfmta.com using your citation number, by mail with a check or money order, or in person at the SFMTA office at 25 Van Ness Avenue.
  • Online payment is the fastest option and gives you an when ready receipt showing the payment went through.
  • If you have lost your ticket, you can look up the citation using your license plate number on the SFMTA website.
  • Paying within 30 days of the citation date may reduce the fine amount for certain violation types.

Paying online through the SFMTA website

Go to sfmta.com and look for the "Pay a Citation" or "Pay Your Ticket" link on the homepage. You will enter your citation number and the license plate number from the ticket. The system will pull up your case and show you the violation, the amount due, and the important date.

Once you confirm the details are correct, you can pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. The website accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. There is a small processing fee added to credit and debit card payments — usually around 2.5% of the total — but electronic check payments have no additional fee. After you submit payment, you will receive a confirmation number and a receipt on screen that you should save or print.

Online payment is processed when ready, so your account will show as paid the same day. If you need to dispute the ticket or request a hearing, you must do that before paying, since payment is considered an admission of the violation.

Paying by mail

Write a check or money order for the amount shown on your citation. Do not send cash. On the back of the check or money order, write your citation number so SFMTA can match the payment to your case.

Mail it to the address printed on the back of your ticket. This is typically the SFMTA Parking Citations office, though the exact address may vary. Include a copy of the citation itself if you have it, though it is not required. Mail payments take longer to process — usually 7 to 14 business days after SFMTA receives it — so if you are close to a important date, online payment is safer.

Paying in person at the SFMTA office

The SFMTA Parking Citations office is located at 25 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. You can walk in during business hours and pay at the counter with cash, check, debit card, or credit card. Bring your citation with you so staff can look up your case and confirm the amount.

Hours vary, so check the SFMTA website or call 311 before you go to make sure the office is open. Paying in person gives you an when ready receipt and confirmation that your payment went through, which can be useful if you need proof of payment for insurance or other reasons.

What happens if you miss the payment important date

The payment important date is usually 30 days from the citation date. If you do not pay by that date, the fine amount increases — typically by 50% or more, depending on the violation type. After 90 days without payment, SFMTA may report the debt to a collection agency, which can affect your credit and result in additional fees.

If you cannot pay by the important date, contact SFMTA before the date passes. You may be able to request a payment plan, ask for more time, or dispute the ticket if you believe it was issued in error. Waiting until after the important date makes these options harder to pursue.

Disputing or contesting a ticket before you pay

If you believe the ticket was issued incorrectly, you can request a hearing or submit a written statement before paying. You must do this within 30 days of the citation date. After you pay, SFMTA treats the case as closed and will not reopen it to hear a dispute.

To contest the ticket, go to sfmta.com and look for the "Request a Hearing" or "Contest a Citation" option. You will need your citation number and can submit your explanation online or by mail. SFMTA will review your case and either dismiss the ticket, uphold it, or reduce the fine. This process takes several weeks, so if you are close to the payment important date and want to contest, start the process when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay a ticket if I do not have the physical citation?

Yes. Go to sfmta.com and use the lookup tool to find your citation using your license plate number and the date you received the ticket. Once you find it, you can pay online using the citation number the system provides.

What if I paid the ticket but my account still shows as unpaid?

Online payments process when ready, but mail payments take 7 to 14 business days. If you paid online and it still shows unpaid after one business day, contact SFMTA at 311 or through their website with your confirmation number. If you mailed a check, wait at least two weeks before contacting them.

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

Contact SFMTA directly through their website or by calling 311 to ask about payment plan options. They may be willing to work with you if you reach out before the important date, but waiting until after the important date passes makes this much less likely.

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

Parking tickets do not go on your driving record and do not affect your car insurance rates. They are civil violations, not moving violations. However, unpaid tickets can be reported to collection agencies and may affect your credit score.