Where to pay your NYC parking ticket
You can pay a parking ticket issued in New York City through the Department of Finance's Parking Violations Bureau (PVB) website, by mail, by phone, or in person at a PVB office. The fastest route is the website at nycparkingtickets.com, where you can pay when ready with a credit or debit card using your ticket number and license plate.
If you prefer not to use the website, you can call 311 from within New York City or (212) 639-9675 from outside the city to pay by phone with a credit card. Payment by mail requires sending a check or money order to the address printed on the back of your ticket, along with the ticket itself or a copy of it. In-person payment is available at PVB offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx during business hours, though this method takes longer than online or phone payment.
Payment is due within 30 days of the ticket date. If you pay within 30 days, you pay the full fine amount. After 30 days, penalties and interest begin to accumulate, and the city may place a boot on your vehicle or report the debt to a collection agency.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest way to pay is through nycparkingtickets.com using your ticket number and license plate, which takes minutes and processes when ready.
- You can also pay by phone at 311 or (212) 639-9675, by mail with a check, or in person at a PVB office in your borough.
- Payment is due within 30 days of the ticket date; after 30 days, penalties and collection action begin.
- If you dispute the ticket, you must request a hearing before paying, or you forfeit your right to contest it.
What information you need to pay online
To pay through nycparkingtickets.com, you will need your ticket number and your license plate number. The ticket number appears at the top of the ticket itself. If you have lost the physical ticket, you can still look up the violation using your license plate number on the same website.
The website will display the fine amount, the violation code and description, the date and location of the violation, and the vehicle information on file. Review this information to make sure it matches your vehicle and the ticket you received. Once you confirm the details, you can proceed to payment with a credit or debit card.
Requesting a hearing before you pay
If you believe the ticket was issued in error or you have a reason to contest it, you can request a hearing with the Parking Violations Bureau before paying. You must request the hearing within 30 days of the ticket date. Once you pay the ticket, you lose the right to request a hearing.
To request a hearing, visit nycparkingtickets.com, enter your ticket number and license plate, and select the option to request a hearing. You can also request a hearing by mail by sending a letter to the address on the back of your ticket, or by phone at 311. The hearing will be conducted by a hearing officer who will review your evidence and the officer's notes. You can present documents, photos, or witness statements to support your case.
If the hearing officer finds in your favor, the ticket will be dismissed and you will owe nothing. If the officer upholds the ticket, you will be required to pay the fine. Requesting a hearing does not stop the 30-day payment important date; if you do not pay or request a hearing within 30 days, penalties begin to accumulate.
Payment methods and processing time
Online payment through nycparkingtickets.com is processed when ready when you submit it. Credit and debit card payments are accepted, and you will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email. Phone payments through 311 or (212) 639-9675 are also processed when ready and take about 10 minutes to complete.
Mail payments take longer because the Department of Finance must receive and process your check or money order. Mail payment should be sent to the address printed on the back of your ticket. Allow at least two weeks for mail payment to be received and recorded in the system. In-person payment at a PVB office is processed on the day you pay, but you may wait in line depending on how busy the office is.
Credit and debit card payments incur a convenience fee of 2.75 percent of the fine amount. Check and money order payments have no additional fee. If you pay in person with cash, there is no fee.
What happens if you do not pay within 30 days
If you do not pay or request a hearing within 30 days of the ticket date, the Department of Finance will add penalties and interest to your debt. The city may also place a boot (a metal device) on your vehicle, preventing you from driving it until you pay. Booting can happen at any time after 30 days have passed.
The city can also report the unpaid ticket to a collection agency, which will attempt to collect the debt from you. An unpaid parking ticket can affect your credit score and may prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration or obtaining a new registration in New York State. If you owe multiple unpaid tickets, the city may suspend your vehicle registration entirely.
If your vehicle has been booted, you must pay the original fine plus a boot fee (currently $165) to have it removed. You can pay the boot fee and original fine through nycparkingtickets.com or by calling 311.
Paying a ticket for a rental or borrowed vehicle
If you received a ticket while driving a rental car or a vehicle borrowed from someone else, you are responsible for paying the ticket, not the vehicle's owner. The ticket was issued to the driver, not the registered owner. You should pay the ticket in your name using the license plate number of the vehicle you were driving.
If you do not pay and the ticket goes to collection, it will appear on your driving record and credit report, not the owner's. If the vehicle owner receives a notice about the unpaid ticket, they can provide your information to the Department of Finance, but the debt remains your responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a parking ticket in person at a police precinct?
No. Parking tickets are handled by the Department of Finance's Parking Violations Bureau, not by the NYPD. You must pay through nycparkingtickets.com, by phone at 311, by mail, or at a PVB office. Police precincts do not accept parking ticket payments.
What if I lost my ticket and do not have the ticket number?
You can look up your ticket using your license plate number on nycparkingtickets.com. Enter your plate number and the website will display all outstanding violations on that vehicle. You can then pay directly from the search results without needing the physical ticket.
Can I pay a parking ticket with a check by mail if I do not have the ticket?
Yes. Include a copy of your check or a note with your license plate number and the date and location of the violation. Mail it to the address on the back of your ticket, or call 311 to confirm the correct mailing address. Allow at least two weeks for processing.
Will paying a parking ticket affect my driving record or insurance?
Parking tickets do not appear on your driving record and do not affect your auto insurance rates. However, unpaid parking tickets can be reported to collection agencies and may affect your credit score. They can also prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration in New York State.
Can I pay someone else's parking ticket?
Yes. You can pay another person's ticket online using their ticket number and license plate, by phone, by mail, or in person. The person who pays does not need to be the registered owner or the driver who received the ticket.