How to Pay Your Los Angeles Parking Tickets Online
What www.lacity-parking.org Does
www.lacity-parking.org is the official Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) website where you can pay parking citations, check ticket status, and set up payment plans. You do not have to use this site — you can also pay by mail or in person — but it is the fastest way to resolve a ticket without waiting in line or writing a check.
The site handles parking violations issued by LADOT parking enforcement officers. If your ticket was issued by the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) or another city agency, you will need a different payment method, which the ticket itself will explain.
Key Takeaways
- You can pay your parking ticket online at www.lacity-parking.org using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check, and payment usually posts within one business day.
- You will need your citation number (printed on the ticket) and the license plate number to look up your ticket and pay online.
- If you cannot pay the full amount at once, you can set up a payment plan through the website, which spreads the cost over multiple months.
- Paying online does not waive the ticket or admit fault — it simply settles the debt; if you want to contest the ticket, you must do that before or instead of paying.
- Late payments add penalties and can result in a hold on your vehicle registration, so paying within 21 days of the ticket date is important.
How to Find and Pay Your Ticket Online
Start by going to www.lacity-parking.org and clicking the option to pay a citation. You will be asked for two pieces of information: your citation number (the ticket number printed at the top of your parking ticket) and your license plate number. Enter both exactly as they appear on the ticket.
The system will pull up your ticket details, including the violation, the fine amount, and any penalties that have been added. Review the information to make sure it matches your ticket. Once you confirm, you can choose your payment method: credit card, debit card, or electronic check. The site will charge a processing fee on top of the fine amount — this fee varies and is shown before you complete the payment.
After you submit payment, you will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email. Keep this number for your records. The payment usually posts to your account within one business day, though it can take up to three business days depending on your bank.
Setting Up a Payment Plan If You Cannot Pay in Full
If the full fine is too much to pay at once, www.lacity-parking.org allows you to set up a payment plan. On the same payment page, look for the option to request a payment arrangement or installment plan. You will enter how much you can pay now and how you want to split the remaining balance.
Payment plans typically allow you to spread payments over three to twelve months, depending on the total amount owed. Each payment will be due on the date you agree to, and you can set up automatic payments (called ACH or automatic clearing house transfers) so the money comes out of your bank account on schedule. If you miss a payment, penalties may be added and your registration hold may not be lifted.
If the website does not offer a plan that works for your situation, you can call LADOT's Parking Violations Bureau at the number on your ticket to discuss other options.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay
If you do not pay your parking ticket within 21 days of the ticket date, LADOT adds a failure to pay penalty to your fine. The total amount owed grows, and the city can place a registration hold on your vehicle, which means you will not be able to renew your car registration until the ticket is paid.
After 90 days of non-payment, the debt can be sent to a collection agency, which will report it to credit bureaus and may contact you by phone or mail. The longer you wait, the more expensive the ticket becomes and the more it affects your ability to register your car or renew your license.
Contesting a Ticket Instead of Paying
If you believe the ticket was issued in error or you have a valid reason to contest it, you have the right to request a hearing. You must do this before you pay — paying the fine is considered an admission, and you lose the right to contest it afterward.
On your ticket, there will be instructions for requesting a hearing or contesting the violation. You can usually do this by mail, online, or in person at the Parking Violations Bureau. The hearing can be conducted by mail, by phone, or in person, depending on what you request. If you win, the ticket is dismissed and you owe nothing. If you lose, you will be ordered to pay the fine.
Payment Methods and Fees
www.lacity-parking.org accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, and electronic checks. Each payment method carries a processing fee that the website will show you before you complete the transaction. The fee is added to your total and is non-refundable, even if you later contest the ticket.
If you prefer not to pay online, you can also pay by mail (send a check to the address on your ticket), in person at a LADOT office, or by phone. Paying by mail takes longer to process, so if your 21-day deadline is approaching, online or in-person payment is faster.
Checking Your Ticket Status Without Paying
You can look up your ticket on www.lacity-parking.org without paying. Enter your citation number and license plate number, and the system will show you the violation details, the current amount owed (including any penalties that have been added), and the status of your ticket (whether it is unpaid, paid, or under dispute).
This is useful if you are not sure whether a ticket has been paid, if you want to check how much you owe before you pay, or if you are tracking multiple tickets. The information updates within one business day of any payment or status change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay someone else's parking ticket on this website?
Yes. You will need the citation number and license plate number from their ticket. The website does not require you to prove you own the vehicle, so you can pay for anyone's ticket as long as you have those two pieces of information.
What if I paid my ticket but it still shows as unpaid on the website?
Payment processing can take up to three business days to show on the website, depending on your bank and the payment method you used. Check back in a few days. If it still shows as unpaid after three business days, contact LADOT's Parking Violations Bureau with your confirmation number and they can verify the payment manually.
Does paying my ticket online mean I admit the ticket was fair?
Paying the ticket settles the debt, but it does not mean you agree the violation was correct. However, once you pay, you lose the right to contest it later. If you want to dispute the ticket, request a hearing before you pay.
What if my ticket was issued by the LAPD, not LADOT?
LAPD tickets are handled differently and cannot be paid through www.lacity-parking.org. Your ticket will tell you which agency issued it and where to pay. LAPD tickets usually direct you to a different website or payment address.
Can I get a refund if I paid my ticket by mistake?
Refunds are rare and usually only issued if you paid the wrong ticket or paid twice. Contact LADOT's Parking Violations Bureau with your confirmation number and explain the error. They will review your request, but processing a refund can take several weeks.