Booting - Frequently Asked Questions

The boot weighs about 16 pounds. If you are unable to remove the boot yourself, we will send a support officer to assist you within two to four hours.

A boot cannot be removed from your vehicle until you have paid your tickets. Do not attempt to remove the boot from your vehicle unless you have received an unlocking code. If you damage the boot, you will be charged a replacement fee of $500, and you may be prosecuted for the crime of property destruction. You are also likely to damage your tire.

After a vehicle is booted or impounded, you can request a hearing provided that the judgment on the ticket(s) is less than one year old. If you do not pay to retrieve an impounded vehicle prior to your hearing, you must request the hearing before your vehicle is sold. Vehicles are typically sold two weeks after being impounded, but your vehicle could be sold earlier. You can visit a Department of Finance business center or ask to speak to an administrative attorney to prevent the vehicle from being sold.

If your tickets are dismissed and the vehicle has not been sold, you will be able to retrieve it. If your tickets are dismissed and you have already paid to remove the boot or retrieve your vehicle, you can request a refund.

A camera violation will go into judgment if you do not pay or dispute it within approximately 75 days. A parking violation will go into judgment if you do not pay or dispute it within approximately 100 days. This means the City takes the legal step of entering a default judgment against you for the entire amount, plus penalties and interest. The City can also send your debt to a collection agency or seize your assets. If your ticket is in judgment, the total amount you owe will include the fine plus any accrued penalties and interest. If you have more than $350 of tickets in judgment, your vehicle could be booted and towed. You will receive warning notices before your vehicle is booted or towed.

Your vehicle can be booted again if your outstanding judgment debt on any vehicle registered to you reaches a combined amount of more than $350. The NYPD may boot or tow your vehicle at any time that you are parked illegally.

If you do not pay the parking ticket or camera violation judgment debt and related fees within two business days of being booted, your vehicle may be towed. If the vehicle does not have valid registration and insurance, or if there is some other legal issue, it may be towed sooner. The total amount that you will have to pay to get your vehicle back may include the boot fee ($136), the sheriff’s or marshal’s execution fee ($80), a tow fee (which is based on weight) and tow dispatch fee ($70), your judgment amount, and any additional fees. Please refer to the Vehicle Booting page for more information.

To satisfy your judgment or clear your registration, you must pay your ticket in full and have no other outstanding judgment tickets. Once the judgment debt is paid in full, you can visit a Department of Finance business center or contact 311 to request a registration clearance.

You cannot pay your judgment debt at the time of booting. In other words, once the booting process has begun, it cannot be stopped. To pay, you will need to call the customer service number provided with the boot.

To remove a boot, visit www.nycbootpay.com to make an online payment of all outstanding judgment debt, plus additional fees, using a debit or credit card.

To pay by telephone, call the phone number on the boot notice (646-517-1000) and give the customer service representative your debit or credit card number to pay all outstanding judgment debt and additional fees. You can also provide your bank account information to pay by electronic check.

To pay in person with cash, a money order, or a cashier’s check, visit a Department of Finance business center. After you have paid in person, a support officer will come within two to four hours to remove the boot.

There is a $142 booting fee, an $80 sheriff’s or marshal’s execution fee, and a poundage fee in the amount of 5% of all fines, penalties, and interest.

The fee for a boot placed by the NYPD is $185, plus any fines, penalties, and interest for parking and camera violations in judgment. You do not have to pay the violation that caused your vehicle to be booted or towed by the NYPD to retrieve your vehicle. You have 30 days from the date of the violation to pay or dispute it. After 30 days, penalties will be applied.

To pay what you owe, follow the instructions on the notice of violation placed on your vehicle's windshield.

You can enroll in a parking ticket payment plan if your vehicle has been booted or towed. To do so, you must contact Republic Parking Immobilization Services (RIS). You will need to make a 20% down payment to RIS and complete and sign a parking payment plan enrollment form to retrieve your vehicle.

You may also go to a Department of Finance business center and pay all fees and 20% of the judgment debt to enter into a plan.

You must provide proof of registration and insurance to retrieve your booted or towed vehicle. You must pay all outstanding booting, towing, and related fees in full. These fees are not incorporated into the payment plan agreement.

If your vehicle has been booted and the total amount of judgment tickets you owe has been dismissed, the boot fee will be refunded. You must complete a Parking/Camera Violations Refund Form, which is available on our website. If the judgment ticket amount you owe has been reduced, you will not receive a boot fee refund. Additional fees, such as sheriff’s or marshal’s execution fees and poundage fees, will not be refunded unless all judgment tickets have been dismissed.