How to Pay Traffic Tickets and Other Offenses – General District Court

If you have lost your traffic ticket (summons) or do not know the jurisdiction in which the summons was issued, you may use the Online Case Information System-Statewide Search to search statewide using your name; however, payments cannot be made using this system. 
Note: This system will not work if using Internet Explorer. Other browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, etc. should be used.

  • Pre-Court Payments (if paying BEFORE your court date) 
    Payments for certain traffic tickets and certain other offenses are accepted by the general district court. Payments made after 3:30 pm (Eastern Time) will not be processed until the following business day. Payment must be made prior to 3:30 pm on the business day before the trial date to ensure the payment will be processed before the court date. Eligible offenses will display “Mark for Payment’ in the online system as explained below. 
    Note: Pre-court payments are deemed a waiver of a court hearing and entry of a guilty plea. 

    Post-Court Payments (if paying AFTER your court date)
    If you have not entered into a “time to pay” or deferred payment agreement and the court has not received your payment within 90 days following your court date, your account will be sent to collection. Interest will accrue 181 days following your court date. Payments made in accordance with “time to pay” or deferred payment agreements are due on the agreed upon date.
    Note: Post-court payments cannot be made on the trial date. The system is updated nightly and payments can be made as of 6:00 a.m. the day after the trial date.

    1. There is a 4% convenience fee assessed per transaction when payment is made by credit/debit card.
    2. Payments are made using the General District Court Online Case Information System.
    3. Once you access the General District Court Online Case Information System, click the down arrow under the Court tab on the left to view a listing of courts. Click on the name of the court, which corresponds to the name of the court on the top of your summons.
    4. You can search for cases using your name, the case number, or the hearing date. Use the links under the tabs below the court drop-down menu to select the search method. When searching by name, enter your last name, first name and middle name (if any), and then click the “Search” button. For best results, enter the name as it appears on your court summons or warrant.
    5. Upon locating your case, a "Mark For Payment" link will be displayed in the "Action" column if the case is eligible to be paid online. When you wish to pay more than one case, select the additional cases, up to five cases, and select Mark For Payment on each case before selecting “Process Payment”
    6. Click on “Mark for Payment” and the case will display “Unmark for Payment” in the "Action" column. After all cases to be paid have been selected, click the “Process Payment” button at the bottom of the screen.
      Note: A maximum of five cases may be paid on one receipt.
    7. Verify that only your cases have been marked for payment, and then click the “Continue Payment Process” button.
    8. The next screen will ask for your credit card and contact information. All fields, except e-mail address, are required. Once completed, click the “Submit Payment” button at the bottom of the screen.
    9. Print a copy of the screen as your receipt confirming your payment. If you provided an e-mail address, a receipt will be e-mailed to you as confirmation of payment.

    Receipt Reprint
    You may reprint a copy of your on-line payment receipt. You will be required to enter select information from the original payment. A copy of the receipt can also be received via e-mail if an e-mail address is provided.

    Refunds
    For assistance with the processing of a refund, please contact the general district court to which payment was made.

  • Pre-Court Payments
    Payment should be mailed to the court that is named on the top of your summons at least 7 days before your court date to ensure timely delivery. The address for each general district court is available through the following link: General District Court.
    Note: Do NOT mail your payment to the Office of the Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia. 

    Prepayment of the fine(s) and fee(s) is effective only upon receipt by the applicable general district court, not on the date that you mail it. An additional fee will be added if payment is received after the court date. 
    Note: YOU MAY NOT PREPAY if the charge is for reckless driving.

    Instructions for Pre-Court Payments by Mail

    1. Read the “NOTICE” on the back of your summons and the description of your alleged violation, which follows “DESCRIBE CHARGE” on the front of your summons.
    2. If you were given a “VIRGINIA PREPAYABLE OFFENSES INFORMATION SHEET” by the arresting officer, examine the “Brief Description” portion of the Table on the right side of the page for a charge description that matches, or very closely matches, the charge description on your summons.
      • If your violation is described in the Table, calculate the total fine(s) and fee(s) by adding all applicable fines, inserting the total in the “TOTAL FINES” blank, and then adding the applicable fees to determine the total prepayment due. You must also follow all the instructions on the summons in the “PRETRIAL WAIVER AND PREPAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS” section.
    3. If your violation is not described in the Table, or you were NOT given a “VIRGINIA PREPAYABLE OFFENSES INFORMATION SHEET” by the arresting officer, please call the telephone number of the court listed on your summons for instructions.
    4. District courts accept personal checks, money orders, certified checks, and credit cards.
      • Make your check payable to the applicable district court. 
        Example: “Chesterfield County General District Court.”
      • Credit Card Payments: Confirm with the court which credit cards are accepted. If you were given the “VIRGINIA PREPAYABLE OFFENSES INFORMATION SHEET” by the arresting officer, complete the “Credit Card Authorization” section on the back of the sheet. 
    5. Mail your payment to the general district court named on the top of your summons. The address for each general district court is available through the following link: General District Court.
      Note: Do NOT mail your payment to the Office of the Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia.

    Instructions for Post-Court Payments by Mail

    1. Call the general district court where your case was heard. Ask the clerk to provide you with the amount you owe and your “reference case number.”
    2. Courts accept personal checks, money orders, and certified checks.
      • Make your check payable to the applicable court.
        Example: “Chesterfield County General District Court.” 
    3. Write the reference case number on your check and send your payment to the general district court where your case was heard. The address for each general district court is available through the following link: General District Court.
      Note: Do NOT mail your payment to the Office of the Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia. 

    Refunds
    For assistance with the processing of a refund, please contact the general district court to which payment was made.