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Even the most conscientious drivers often find themselves with parking tickets in New York City. The City’s parking laws are complicated, and it’s easy to get tripped up by the minutiae of the parking regulations.

While you don’t have time to study every last regulation, New York Parking Enforcement officers do. They are aware of all potential violations. 

The multitude of parking rules can often feel frustrating and make it feel like driving ticket-free in New York City is an impossible task. The good news, however, is that there are things you can do about these parking issues. While you might not be able to avoid tickets by learning every detail of the city’s parking laws, there are actions that you can take to dispute parking tickets. What’s even better, there’s a good chance that you can win this dispute or at the very least get your parking fine lowered. 

How Do I Dispute a NYC Parking Ticket? 

Disputing a parking ticket in NYC is an easy 3 step process. Here’s how you can get started: 

1. Download the WinIt app for free for iPhones or Androids. You can also use WinIt to dispute your ticket by accessing our system directly from your web browser.
2. Submit your ticket. You can do this by taking a picture of your ticket and sending it to the app or by using the app to search New York City’s servers for tickets associated with your license plate. 
3. Answer a few questions about your ticket. This will take just a moment and gives you a chance to submit any relevant evidence. 

That’s all you have to do. WinIt will then come up with a plan for the dispute and can guide you through every step of the process. Additionally, we will keep you updated throughout every step of the process. Since every disputed ticket is covered by a risk-free guarantee, you won’t be charged unless your ticket is dismissed. 

Is it Really Worth my Time to Dispute a Parking Ticket?

The short answer is YES! The important thing to remember when considering disputing a parking ticket is that any error, no matter how small, by a parking police officer can lead to a win for you. 

There are certain required elements for a parking ticket to be valid. If any of those elements are missing, illegible or not properly described, the ticket becomes defective. Pursuant to section 39-02(a) of the Official Compilation of the Rules of the City of New York, the required elements of a parking ticket include: 

• An accurate license plate number
• The state of registration
• The date that the registration expires
• A description of the vehicle
• A general statement of the alleged violation including a reference to Title 34 Section 4-08 of the official compilation of the Rules of the CIty of New York or another applicable law or rule
• For laws only in effect for certain days or hours, information about the days and times the rule is in effect
• The date, time and place of the violation
• For meter violations, the meter number

If one or more of these required elements are inaccurate, missing or illegible, then the violation is defective. In many cases, all of these requirements are not met, so it can be well worth your time to dispute a parking ticket. Review all required elements and applicable rules in the Official Compilation of the Rules of the City of New York. 

Additionally, even when all the required elements are present, accurate and legible, there are other ways to successfully dispute a ticket. Other factors to consider that can help you successfully win a dispute include: 

• Being unable to read the relevant parking signs because they were blocked, illegible or for some other reason not visible
• Not being the driver at the time of the citation
• Poorly displayed parking restrictions
• Conflicting restrictions at the location of the infraction

What are my Rights When Disputing a Parking Ticket? 

When determining whether to challenge your ticket, it’s helpful to understand some of the applicable laws and what rights are available to you.

In New York City, you can request a hearing for your parking ticket. This right is always available to you, even if you were guilty and all required elements of the ticket are present. You can avail yourself of this right to dispute your ticket by requesting a hearing online, by mail or in-person. Learn more about your right to request a hearing from these New York City Department of Finance resources.

Disputing your ticket online provides a quick and easy way to challenge it. When doing so, you’ll want to send any and all relevant evidence. Any documentation that you have will help support your case, so it’s important to submit any helpful maps, photos or statements. 

You may also request a hearing by mail. If you choose to do this option, make sure that it’s done timely so that it is received within 30 days of issuance. When challenging your ticket by mail, submit any evidence you have along with the ticket and mail it in the original envelope that the ticket came in. Mail the ticket and evidence to: 

NYC Department of Finance Hearings by Mail Unit

P.O. Box 29021

Brooklyn, NY 11202-9021

A third way to request a hearing is in-person. To do this, go to the Department of Finance Business Center. You’ll need to bring your driver’s license, car registration and any evidence that you have. If you choose this option, it’s important to go as early as possible because hearings are done on a first-come, first-served basis. 

It’s important to remember that whatever type of hearing you’d like, you must request a hearing before your ticket enters in judgment. It’s also helpful to remember that WinIt can handle any type of hearing for you. This means that in just a minute or two, you can exercise your right to dispute your parking ticket. 

How do I Pay a New York City Parking Ticket?

Many people mistakenly think that paying a parking ticket is the easiest way to deal with it. These people opt to pay the ticket rather than take the time to dispute it. The reality is that paying parking tickets is not particularly easy and certainly involves more effort than using WinIt to fight the ticket. Given the number of steps involved in simply paying a parking ticket, it’s always a good idea to try a dispute before just paying it. 

That said, if you don’t win your dispute and have to pay your ticket, you have three options: paying online, paying by mail or paying in person. Additionally, you can easily pay your ticket through the WinIt app. There is a “Pay” button located to the right of your guilty ticket on your WinIt dashboard. Once you click this button, the customer support team will process payment of your ticket using the credit card associated with your account. There is a service charge, but if you’re using the WinIt app, paying a ticket simply involves one easy click. 

Here are your options for paying tickets when you’re not using the WinIt app: 

Paying online

Here is the step-by-step process to pay your ticket online: 

1. Visit the NYC311 website
2. Click on the yellow “Make Payments” button
3. Click on “Parking Ticket or Camera Violation Payment” 
4. From that page, click on the “CityPay” link 
5. Search for your ticket using either the violation number OR your license plate number, the state of registration and the type of vehicle. 
6. Select a payment method and enter your payment information
7. Review and submit your payment

When paying online, there are a few important things to keep in mind: 

• You may use a credit card, a debit card, pre-paid or gift cards or an electronic check. However, a 2% service fee will be added to payments from credit, debit and pre-paid or gift cards. There is no fee for electronic checks. 
• After your payment goes through, you will receive a payment receipt screen and a copy of your receipt via email. It’s important to print copies of each for your records. Each receipt will show: your receipt number, the ticket or tickets paid and the amount paid. 
• Online payments are processed every day at midnight. The payment date will be the day that you paid the ticket online, but it usually takes two to four days for this payment to be reflected in the system.
• Online payments cannot be canceled, changed or delayed.

Paying by mail 

You can also pay all parking tickets by mail. To pay by mail: 

1. Write a check or money order for the amount due made payable to “NYC Department of Finance”
2. On the front of your check or money order, write either the ticket or Notice of Liability number, the license plate number and the state where the vehicle is registered
3. Mail your payment in the envelope that came with the ticket to: 

NYC Department of Finance

Church Street Station

P.O. Box 3640

New York, NY 10008-3640

It’s important to note that you should not include any correspondence in the envelope and remember that cash is not accepted. It can take up to two weeks for your payment to be processed, so it’s important to mail your payment early so that the Department of Finance receives it within 30 days of its issuance. 

Paying in person

While it will likely involve some waiting in line, you can also pay your parking tickets in person. You can pay your ticket in person by going to a Department of Finance Business Center. The centers are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. While no appointment is necessary, it’s a good idea to go early to minimize waiting time. When paying in person, you may pay using: 

• Cash 
• Personal or certified check made out to the “NYC Department of Finance” 
• Money order payable to the “NYC Department of Finance”
• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or foreign cards with CVVs)
• Debit card (with Visa, MasterCard or American Express logo)
• Pre-paid or gift card (with Visa, MasterCard or American Express logo)

There is no fee for payments by cash, check or money order. However, a 2% service fee is added for credit, debit and prepaid or gift cards. Payments are processed every day at midnight. Your payment date will be the date of your transaction, but it could take two or more days for the payment to be reflected in the system. 

Use WinIt to Successfully Challenge Your New York City Parking Tickets

Featured in The New York Times, ABC News, The New York Post, Bloomberg Business and PIX, WinIt has an impressive success rate and has already helped users save over $10 million in parking fines. This service can help you save time and money while also eliminating the hassle and stress often associated with the process. They can help you with parking tickets issued by the government and by private companies, and they can also help you beat speeding tickets and other traffic citations. 

The next time that you receive a New York City parking ticket, remember that these tickets are easy to beat. While the average parking ticket in New York is between $45 and $125, the city makes over $500 million from parking violations. Rather than adding to that number, take 30 seconds to download the WinIt app on iPhone or Android. Being informed about the process will help make it easier to deal with parking tickets and to successfully fight them.

Download WinIt now to learn more. 

In addition to the three primary payment systems, there are also alternative ways to pay your ticket including visiting a 7-Eleven or CVS, through a payment plan or through accepted external payment systems like the WinIt app. Learn more about additional payment options from the Official Website of New York City. 

What happens if you don’t pay a NYC parking ticket? 

It can be tempting to simply ignore parking tickets, especially those that seem unfounded or defective. Unfortunately, this is a bad strategy that can lead to a variety of problems. You have 30 days to either request a hearing or pay your ticket. If you do not do so within 30 days, you will begin incurring penalties. 

This graph displays of much penalties your tickets will accrue if you pay it late.

• After 30 days, a penalty of $10 will be added to your fine
• After 60 days, an additional $20 will be added
• After 90 days, an additional $30 will be added
• After 100 days, the violation is entered into judgment and 9% interest per year is added to the total amount due

In addition to accruing fines and interest, your car could be towed or booted if there are unpaid tickets associated with your license plate. Additionally, your case could be sent to a collection agency. Unpaid fines can be damaging to your credit rating and money owed can be taken directly out of your upcoming tax refund. Learn more about the penalties of not paying a parking ticket in the NYC311 resources.

Further, unpaid fines can be reported to the DMV which can result in a hold on or suspension of your driver’s license. The DMV can also prevent renewal of your car’s registration or issue a suspension of your car’s registration. 

Ignoring a parking ticket or choosing not to pay it is a bad option that is expensive and can lead to lots of headaches. Avoid these issues by using WinIt to appeal your ticket. Taking just a few minutes to download the app or to go to the WinIt site will help you avoid the expensive and hassle of unpaid parking tickets. 

FAQs About Disputing Parking Tickets

If you recently received a parking ticket, you likely have a number of questions. Addressing these questions can help guide you through the process of dealing with the ticket and can inform your next steps. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding New York City Parking Tickets:  

Will parking tickets appear on my driving record? 

The good news is that parking tickets will not show up on your driving record. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that unpaid tickets can be reported to the DMV. If this happens, the DMV could suspend your driver’s license or even reject your renewal of your car’s registration. The important takeaway here is that if you handle your parking ticket – either by disputing it or paying it – it will not be on your record or create any issues at the DMV. 

Do I need to hire a lawyer? If so, how do I do that and how much will it cost?

It’s not necessary to hire a lawyer to dispute your parking ticket. Doing so can be expensive and time consuming. That said, if you do want to hire a lawyer, there are some things that you’ll want to keep in mind when doing so: 

• Take some time to find the right lawyer for you. Before hiring a lawyer, make sure that you have researched potential options and are familiar with the lawyer’s credentials and experience. It’s also a good idea to read online reviews of the attorney and to make sure that their experience includes references to dealing with parking tickets. An inexperienced lawyer can end up hurting rather than helping you, so take the time to review the lawyer’s experience, resume and areas of expertise before making a decision. 
• Unfortunately, there are both fraudsters and crooked lawyers out there, especially in New York City. Beware of and avoid any such scammers. If you notice things that seem a little “off,” like 100% guarantees or the lack of a physical address, trust your judgment and keep researching for other attorneys. 
• Evaluate the costs. For the most part, when it comes to this type of lawyer, you get what you pay for. More experienced lawyers are more expensive, yet they have higher success rates. In contrast, a more affordable lawyer often has a lower success rate. When deciding which lawyer to hire, it’s important to evaluate whether you’re willing to pay more for a lawyer with a long track-record of success. 

Cost is one of the key factors to consider when deciding whether or not to hire a lawyer. 

Regardless of whether or not your lawyer is successful, using a lawyer takes time and money. You can keep things simple and avoid these hassles by having WinIt handle all aspects of your parking ticket dispute. 

Do parking tickets affect my insurance?  

No. Your car insurance company cannot see the parking tickets that you receive. As a result, there is no correlation between parking tickets and insurance rates. 

Can I get my ticket price reduced? 

Yes. According to the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, individuals who dispute their parking ticket within 30 days will be offered a settlement by the NYC Department of Finance. In order to receive this discount, you must timely dispute the ticket and plead not guilty. 

Nevertheless, there are some important caveats to keep in mind when pursuing a discount. For example, you will not get a discount if your car was blocking an intersection, and certain vehicles – like commercial vehicles or tow trucks – are not eligible for discounts. It’s also important to remember that if you accept a discount, you waive the right to later appeal the ticket. 

Given the available discounts, it’s always a good idea to dispute a parking ticket rather than simply paying it. 

What if a citation was left on my car but I didn’t receive it?

It can be unsettling to receive a notice about a parking ticket that you were not previously aware of, but unfortunately sometimes this happens. Whether the ticket blows away or someone takes it, there are times that you simply did not receive the original citation. Nevertheless, the registered owner of the vehicle will be mailed at least two notices before the ticket is due. It’s important to make sure that your registered address is accurate so that you receive any such notices. 

If the address of your tickets isn’t accurate, the ticket can be turned over to a collection agency. They will attempt to find the vehicle’s owner. If they can’t, it will be noted in a report to major credit agencies. This report damages the owner’s credit and can even prevent them from obtaining a loan or entering into a lease. 

Do I have to pay a parking ticket if I’m not from New York? 

New York’s parking regulations can be particularly daunting for those from other areas, making out-of-state visitors even more prone to parking tickets. Nevertheless, these individuals are responsible for paying the parking ticket. You are required to pay a parking ticket even when you’re out of the state where your car is registered. 

When this happens, appealing can be particularly challenging and logistically difficult. To make this process easier, use the WinIt app to walk you through it and to enable you to fight a NYC parking ticket no matter where you are located. 

If I was in my car at the time of the ticket, is it valid? 

It doesn’t happen very often, but occasionally individuals are issued parking citations while they are sitting behind the wheel of their vehicle. While it might be surprising to hear, you can get a parking ticket while sitting in or standing next to your car. Your presence in or around the vehicle isn’t relevant to the legality of where your car is parked. 

With that in mind, it you need to park momentarily for any reason, be aware of where you are stopping and parking. 

Do I have to pay parking tickets I received while driving a rental car? 

You are responsible for any tickets received while driving a rental car. Most rental car contracts specify that you are responsible for paying any fines incurred while in the rental car and that you’ll be charged a fine for any unpaid parking tickets. 

If you do not pay the ticket within 30 days, the rental company will be notified. When this happens, you will generally be charged both the amount of the ticket and an administrative fee. The amount of the fee varies, and while it is usually around $30-$45, it can be as much as $100. . As a result, it’s important to timely dispute or pay any parking tickets incurred while driving a rental car to avoid this additional cost.