How to Pay an SFMTA Parking or Traffic Citation
What an SFMTA citation is and where to pay it
An SFMTA citation is a parking or traffic ticket issued by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. It arrives as a paper notice or can be viewed online through your citation number. You can pay it directly to SFMTA through their website, by mail, by phone, or in person at their office — you do not have to go through the court unless you contest the citation.
The citation notice itself tells you the amount due, the deadline to pay (usually 30 days from the date on the ticket), and your options: pay, request a hearing, or do nothing. Paying within the deadline stops additional penalties from accruing. If you miss the deadline, SFMTA can refer the debt to a collection agency or report it to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which can affect your driving record and registration renewal.
Key Takeaways
- You can pay an SFMTA citation online at sfmta.com using your citation number, or by phone at 311 (or 415-701-2311 from outside San Francisco).
- Payment is due within 30 days of the citation date; paying late triggers additional penalties and potential collection action.
- If you believe the citation was issued in error, you can request a hearing with SFMTA before paying, which pauses the deadline.
- Unpaid citations can be reported to the DMV and may prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration.
- If you cannot pay the full amount, SFMTA offers payment plans that let you split the cost over several months.
How to pay online or by phone
The fastest way to pay is online at sfmta.com. Go to the "Pay a Citation" section, enter your citation number (printed on the ticket), and follow the prompts to enter payment information. You can pay by debit card, credit card, or electronic check. Payment is processed immediately, and you will receive a confirmation number.
If you prefer to pay by phone, call 311 from any phone in San Francisco, or 415-701-2311 from outside the city. Have your citation number and payment method ready. A representative will process the payment and give you a confirmation number. Phone payments also go through immediately.
Both methods charge no additional fee beyond the citation amount itself. Your payment record updates within one business day, and you can check the status anytime by logging into the SFMTA website with your citation number.
Mailing a payment or paying in person
You can mail a check or money order to the address printed on the back of your citation notice. Include your citation number on the check and mail it to the SFMTA Parking Citations office. Payment by mail typically takes 7 to 10 business days to process, so send it well before the 30-day deadline to avoid late fees.
To pay in person, visit the SFMTA office at 25 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring your citation notice and a valid form of payment (cash, check, debit card, or credit card). You will receive a receipt immediately.
What happens if you miss the payment deadline
If you do not pay within 30 days, SFMTA adds a late penalty to your balance. The amount of the late penalty varies but typically ranges from 10 to 25 percent of the original citation amount. The new total is now due within 10 additional days.
If you still do not pay after that second deadline, SFMTA can refer your account to a collection agency. At that point, the debt may appear on your credit report, and collection calls may begin. Additionally, SFMTA reports unpaid citations to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal. You cannot renew your registration until the citation is paid.
Even if you do not renew your registration, driving with an expired registration is a separate violation. Paying the citation as soon as possible stops these consequences from multiplying.
Requesting a hearing if you believe the citation is wrong
If you think the citation was issued in error — for example, you believe you were parked legally, the meter was broken, or the sign was unclear — you can request a hearing with SFMTA before paying. The citation notice includes instructions for requesting a hearing, or you can do so online at sfmta.com.
When you request a hearing, the payment deadline pauses while your case is reviewed. You will receive a hearing date by mail, usually within 4 to 8 weeks. At the hearing, you can present evidence (photos, receipts, witness statements) to support your case. A hearing officer will decide whether to uphold, reduce, or dismiss the citation.
If the citation is upheld, you will be ordered to pay the original amount plus any accrued late fees. If it is reduced or dismissed, you pay nothing or a lower amount. Requesting a hearing does not cost anything, but it does delay payment, so only request one if you genuinely dispute the citation.
Setting up a payment plan if you cannot pay in full
SFMTA offers payment plans for citations you cannot pay all at once. To set up a plan, contact SFMTA at 311 or 415-701-2311 and explain your situation. A representative will work with you to divide the balance into monthly installments, usually over 3 to 6 months depending on the amount owed.
Payment plans do not reduce the citation amount or late fees, but they do prevent additional collection action as long as you make each monthly payment on time. If you miss a payment, the plan can be cancelled and collection proceedings may resume. Set up automatic payments if possible to avoid missing a due date.
How citations affect your driving record and registration
Parking citations do not add points to your driving record or affect your insurance rates — they are civil violations, not traffic violations. However, unpaid parking citations do prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
When you try to renew your registration online or at the DMV, the system will flag any unpaid SFMTA citations and block the renewal. You must pay the citation before the DMV will process your renewal. This applies even if the citation is years old; SFMTA can report it to the DMV at any time.
Traffic citations (such as running a red light or speeding) are different and do add points to your record. If your citation is for a traffic violation rather than parking, the rules about points and insurance may apply. Check the citation notice to see whether it is classified as a parking or traffic violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a citation that someone else received for my car?
Yes. The citation is tied to the vehicle, not the driver. You can pay it online using the citation number, by phone, or in person. You do not need to prove ownership, but you will need the citation number from the ticket.
What if I lost my citation notice and do not have the citation number?
Call 311 or 415-701-2311 with your vehicle license plate number and the approximate date you received the citation. SFMTA can look up the citation and provide the number. You can then pay online or by phone.
Can I dispute a citation after I have already paid it?
No. Once you pay, SFMTA considers the citation resolved. If you paid in error or believe the citation was wrong, contact SFMTA to discuss a refund, but this is rarely granted. It is better to request a hearing before paying if you dispute the citation.
Will paying a parking citation affect my credit score?
Paying on time will not affect your credit. However, if you do not pay and SFMTA refers the debt to a collection agency, it may be reported to credit bureaus and lower your score. Paying as soon as possible prevents this.
What if the citation amount seems too high?
Parking citation amounts are set by San Francisco law and vary by violation type and location. You cannot negotiate the amount, but you can request a hearing to dispute whether the citation should have been issued at all. If the hearing officer upholds the citation, you must pay the full amount.