If you are going to contest a ticket, do not pay the fine or penalty. Once a ticket is paid, you are no longer able to contest it.
With DC DMV, you have the following options to pay the ticket:
- Pay on Website
- Pay using the DC DMV Mobile App
- Pay by Mail
- Pay by Phone
- Pay in Person at Adjudication Services Center
- Pay for a Booted or Towed Vehicle
Note: if you pay a ticket by credit card and subsequently reverse your payment, the notice of infraction will be processed as if no payment had been received. This may cause a default judgment to be entered against you and the ticket being sent to collections for all violations. Subsequently, you will not be able to process any future payments with a credit or debit card.
Pay on Website
Have your ticket number and credit card information available when you pay online. For payments, DC government accepts Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.
Pay by Mail
If you decide to pay by mail, do not send cash.
- You must mail a check or money order, payable to the DC Treasurer and write the ticket number in the memo line of your check or money order.
- If you do not have your ticket, write the ticketed vehicle’s state and tag number on your check or money order (for example: MD license tag #123456).
- If you have more than one outstanding ticket, and do not provide the ticket number, the payment will be applied to the oldest ticket first.
- If DC DMV does not receive the ticket payment within 30 calendar days from the date the ticket was issued (or mailed, if a photo ticket), a penalty equal to the fine will be assessed.
Adjudication Services
PO Box 2014
Washington, DC 20013
Pay by Phone
You can call (866) 893-5023 to pay tickets by phone.
Pay In-Person
You can pay your ticket in-person at the Adjudication Service Center. When you visit the service center, please bring your ticket with you.
Adjudication Services
955 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Promenade Level – Suite P100
Washington, DC 20024
For in-person ticket payments, DC Government accepts cash, check, money order, credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express). If you are paying with anything other than cash, you must present a valid driver license, DMV-issued ID, passport, or military ID.
Pay for a Booted or Towed Vehicle
If your car or vehicle has been booted, you must pay your outstanding tickets to get the boot released. DC DMV will not accept a check as payment for the release of booted or towed vehicles.
- Pay ticket and boot fees online.
- Pay ticket, boot, and tow fees in-person at DC DMV's Adjudication Services. You can get a printout of all boot, tow, and tickets fees at the service window and pay at the cashier’s window.
If your car has been towed, you can get more information by calling DC 311.
Note: DC DMV does not boot, tow, or impound vehicles as these are the functions of the DC Department of Public Works (DC DPW). For more information, please visit DC DPW’s website.
