How to pay your Boston parking ticket
You can pay a Boston parking ticket online through the city's Parking Clerk's Office website, by mail, or in person at their office on the first floor of City Hall. The online system accepts the ticket number printed on your citation and takes credit or debit card payments. If you pay by mail, send a check or money order to the Parking Clerk's Office with your ticket number and the amount due written on the check.
The payment important date is 21 days from the date on your ticket. If you miss that date, the city adds a late fee and can report the violation to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, which may prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration. Paying online is the fastest route because you get when ready confirmation and the payment posts the same day.
Before you pay, check the ticket itself for errors—wrong plate number, wrong location, or a date you were not in the city. If something is wrong, you can contest the ticket instead of paying it. The ticket will have instructions for how to request a hearing with the Parking Clerk.
Key Takeaways
- Boston parking tickets must be paid within 21 days of the ticket date, or late fees are added and your vehicle registration renewal can be blocked.
- You can pay online through the Parking Clerk's Office website using your ticket number and a credit or debit card, which is the fastest method.
- If the ticket has an error—wrong plate, wrong address, or a date you were out of town—you can request a hearing instead of paying.
- Unpaid tickets can result in a lien on your vehicle and may prevent you from selling or trading it in.
What the ticket amount covers and how it is set
Boston parking fines range from $40 to $100 depending on the violation. Expired meter violations are typically $40 to $50, while no-parking-zone violations are usually $65 to $100. The exact amount is printed on your ticket. The city sets these amounts by regulation, and they do not change based on your driving record or how many tickets you have received.
The fine covers only the violation itself. If you also received a boot (a wheel lock) or your car was towed, those are separate charges. A boot removal fee is typically $100 to $150, and a tow plus storage can run several hundred dollars depending on how long the car sits in the lot.
Contesting a ticket instead of paying
If you believe the ticket was issued in error, you can request a hearing with the Parking Clerk instead of paying. The ticket itself will have a box to check or instructions for requesting a hearing. You must request the hearing before the 21-day payment important date passes, or you lose the right to contest it.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the violation did not occur—photos showing a sign was missing, proof you were not in the city on that date, or documentation that you had a valid permit. The Parking Clerk will review your evidence and either dismiss the ticket or uphold it. If upheld, you then have to pay the fine plus any late fees that have accumulated.
Requesting a hearing does not stop the clock on the 21-day important date. If your hearing is scheduled after day 21 and you lose, late fees will already have been added to your bill.
What happens if you do not pay
If you do not pay within 21 days, the city adds a late fee—typically $25 to $50 depending on how far past the important date you are. After 60 days unpaid, the violation is reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. At that point, you cannot renew your vehicle registration until the ticket is paid.
If the ticket remains unpaid for several months, the city can place a lien on your vehicle. A lien means the city has a legal claim against the car, and you cannot sell it, trade it in, or transfer the title without paying the debt first. The city can also refer the debt to a collection agency, which will contact you and may pursue legal action.
In rare cases, the city may boot your car or tow it if multiple parking violations are unpaid. This happens most often when tickets have gone unpaid for a year or more, but it can happen sooner if you have a pattern of violations in the same area.
Paying online through the Parking Clerk's Office
Go to the City of Boston's official Parking Clerk website and look for the "Pay a Parking Ticket" or "Online Payment" option. You will need your ticket number, which is printed at the top of your citation. Enter the ticket number, and the system will pull up the violation details and the amount owed.
The site accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. A processing fee of around 2.5 percent is added to credit card payments. Once you submit payment, you will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email. The payment is processed when ready, and you can print or save the receipt as proof.
If you cannot find your ticket number or the ticket does not appear in the system, call the Parking Clerk's Office at 617-635-4410 to confirm the ticket was issued and to get the correct information for payment.
Paying by mail or in person
To pay by mail, write a check or money order for the amount on your ticket and mail it to: Parking Clerk's Office, City Hall, Boston, MA 02201. Write your ticket number and plate number on the check. Mail takes 5 to 10 business days to arrive, so send it well before the 21-day important date.
To pay in person, go to the Parking Clerk's Office on the first floor of City Hall, One City Hall Square, Boston. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and accepts cash, check, or card. Bring your ticket or ticket number. In-person payment is processed when ready, and you receive a receipt on the spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Boston parking ticket by phone?
The Parking Clerk's Office does not accept phone payments directly. You must pay online, by mail, or in person. If you have questions about your ticket or need help locating it, you can call 617-635-4410, but you will need to complete the actual payment through one of the three methods above.
What if I paid the ticket but my registration is still blocked?
After you pay, it can take 5 to 10 business days for the payment to clear the Registry of Motor Vehicles system. If more than two weeks have passed since you paid and your registration is still blocked, contact the Parking Clerk's Office with your payment confirmation number to verify the payment was received and processed.
Can I get a ticket dismissed if I have a residential parking permit?
If you have a valid residential permit and were parked legally in your zone, you can request a hearing and present your permit as evidence. Bring the permit itself or a photo of it clearly showing the expiration date and zone number. The Parking Clerk will review whether the permit was valid on the date of the violation.
What is the difference between a parking ticket and a boot?
A parking ticket is a fine for a violation like an expired meter or no-parking zone. A boot is a physical lock placed on your wheel, usually when you have multiple unpaid tickets or are parked illegally in a way that blocks traffic. You must pay a boot removal fee (separate from the ticket fine) to have it removed, and the car cannot be driven until the boot is off.
Can I set up a payment plan if I cannot pay the full amount now?
The Parking Clerk's Office does not offer payment plans for parking tickets. The full amount is due within 21 days. If you cannot pay by the important date, contact the office at 617-635-4410 to discuss your situation—in some cases, they may grant a brief extension, though this is not may provide.