Boston Ticket Pay is the city's online payment system for parking violations and traffic citations
Boston Ticket Pay is the official portal where you can pay parking tickets, traffic citations, and other moving violations issued in Boston. You can pay online using a credit or debit card, or by mail with a check. The system lets you look up your ticket by citation number or license plate, see the violation details and fine amount, and make a payment without visiting a city office in person.
The site is run by the Boston Police Department's Parking and Traffic Enforcement Unit. Payment through Boston Ticket Pay goes directly to the city and counts as an official payment on your record. If you ignore a ticket or fail to pay, the city can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal and report the debt to a collections agency.
Key Takeaways
- You can pay Boston parking and traffic tickets online at the official Boston Ticket Pay website using your citation number or license plate.
- Credit and debit card payments are processed when ready, while mailed checks take longer to clear and may incur late fees if they arrive after the due date.
- Unpaid tickets can block your vehicle registration renewal and trigger collection action, so paying or contesting before the important date matters for your registration status.
- If you believe the ticket was issued in error, you can request a hearing through the Boston Parking and Traffic Violations Adjudication Board instead of paying.
How to find and pay your ticket online
Go to the Boston Ticket Pay website and enter either your citation number (printed on the ticket itself) or your vehicle's license plate number. The system will display the violation, the fine amount, and the due date. Click through to the payment screen and enter your credit or debit card information. The payment is processed when ready, and you will receive a confirmation number by email.
Keep your confirmation number and the email receipt. If you are paying a ticket that is blocking your registration renewal, the payment may take one to two business days to sync with the Registry of Motor Vehicles system, so do not wait until the last day of your registration window to pay.
Payment important date and late fees
The due date for payment is printed on your ticket. If you pay by credit or debit card through Boston Ticket Pay, the payment must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the due date. If you pay by mail, your check must be postmarked by the due date, though the city recommends mailing at least one week early to account for postal delays.
Payments received after the due date may trigger a late fee, which the city adds to your balance. If your ticket remains unpaid 30 days past the due date, the city can report it to a collections agency and place a hold on your vehicle registration. This hold prevents you from renewing your registration until the ticket is paid in full, including any late fees and collection costs.
Contesting a ticket instead of paying
If you believe the ticket was issued incorrectly—for example, you have a valid permit, the sign was obscured, or the meter was broken—you can request a hearing before paying. The Boston Parking and Traffic Violations Adjudication Board hears these cases. You must request a hearing within 20 days of the ticket date by submitting a form through the Boston Ticket Pay website or by mail to the address on your ticket.
At the hearing, you can present evidence and explain your side. If the hearing officer agrees with you, the ticket is dismissed and you owe nothing. If the officer upholds the ticket, you will be ordered to pay the fine. Requesting a hearing does not waive the important date to pay if you lose, so mark your calendar for the hearing date and be prepared to pay when ready if the ticket is upheld.
What happens if you do not pay
Unpaid Boston tickets create problems beyond the fine itself. After 30 days, the city reports the debt to a collections agency, which can damage your credit score. The city also places a hold on your vehicle registration, which means the Registry of Motor Vehicles will not renew your registration until the ticket is paid.
If you are stopped by police while driving with an expired registration due to an unpaid ticket, you can be cited for the expired registration as well. The original ticket fine may also increase due to late fees and collection costs. Paying the ticket, even months or years later, removes the registration hold and stops further collection action.
Paying by mail instead of online
If you do not have a credit or debit card or prefer to pay by check, you can mail a payment to the address listed on your ticket. Write your citation number on the check and include a copy of the ticket itself. Mail it to the Boston Police Department Parking and Traffic Enforcement Unit at the address on your citation.
Mailed payments take longer to process than online payments. The city must receive your check by the due date to avoid late fees. Because mail delivery is unpredictable, the city recommends paying online if possible, or mailing at least one week before the due date. If your check arrives late, you will be responsible for any late fees added to your balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Boston ticket if I do not have the citation number?
Yes. Go to Boston Ticket Pay and enter your license plate number instead. The system will pull up all outstanding tickets for that vehicle. You can then select the ticket you want to pay and proceed to checkout.
Will paying my ticket online affect my vehicle registration renewal?
Paying removes the registration hold, but it may take one to two business days for the payment to sync with the Registry of Motor Vehicles system. If your registration expires soon, pay as early as possible and allow time for processing before you renew.
What if I lost my ticket and do not know the citation number?
Use your license plate number on Boston Ticket Pay to find all tickets issued to your vehicle. If you still cannot locate the ticket, contact the Boston Police Department Parking and Traffic Enforcement Unit directly for help identifying it.
Can I set up a payment plan if I cannot pay the full amount right now?
Boston Ticket Pay does not offer payment plans through the online system. Contact the Boston Police Department Parking and Traffic Enforcement Unit to ask about payment options or hardship arrangements before the ticket goes to collections.
Do I need to do anything after I pay my ticket online?
Keep your confirmation number and email receipt for your records. You do not need to take any further action. The payment will be recorded on your ticket, and the registration hold will be lifted once the payment processes.