Booted Vehicles

BOOT REMOVAL FEE: $505 

If your vehicle is booted, you have 72 hours from the time the boot is affixed (excluding weekends and holidays) to pay the delinquent citations and penalties to prevent your vehicle from being towed.

Community service in lieu of payment and payment plans, for citations and penalties, are not an option after your vehicle has been booted or towed.

Low Income Boot Removal Fee: $75 

The low income boot removal fee must be paid in person at the SFMTA Customer Service Center, 11 South Van Ness Avenue (near Market Street). More information on income requirements available on the reductions page. If you qualify for the low-income boot removal fee, you may be able to enroll your citations in a low-income payment plan.

Complete the low income verification form if you paid the full boot removal fee, but are eligible for the low income discount. You must include your plate number and the date of the boot on the back of the form.

People Experiencing Homelessness One Time Boot Removal Fee: $0

If you are experiencing homelessness and have visited a Coordinated Entry Point in the past 6 months then you may be eligible for a no fee boot removal.

You must visit the SFMTA Customer Service Center, 11 South Van Ness Avenue (near Market Street) or AutoReturn to get the boot removed from your vehicle. 

Steps on how to become eligible for the discount are available on this flyer. 

An updated list of Coordinated Entry Points is available on the City's Homelessness and Supportive Housing website.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

If your vehicle is booted, you have 72 hours from the time the boot is affixed (excluding weekends and holidays) to pay the delinquent citations and penalties to prevent your vehicle from being towed.

ONLINE (ANYTIME)  

You may pay the boot removal fee and delinquent citations online anytime

IN PERSON DURING BUSINESS HOURS (MONDAY TROUGH FRIDAY, 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M.)

Delinquent citation and boot removal payments can be made at the SFMTA Customer Service Center, 11 South Van Ness Avenue (near Market Street).

Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and cash are accepted methods of payment at the SFMTA.  Personal checks are not accepted. After full payment has been received the vehicle boot will be removed, by an SFMTA enforcement officer. 

IN PERSON AFTER HOURS BOOT RELEASE (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 5 P.M. TO 11 P.M. AND SATURDAY 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.)

Boot removal is available after hours if payment is made at the AutoReturn Customer Service Center, 450 Seventh Street.

An SFMTA officer will be dispatched if payment is made during the times above. If your payment is received AFTER 11 p.m., your vehicle will be released the next business day.

AutoReturn accepts cash and most major credit cards.  Personal checks, certified checks, money orders, and AMEX are NOT accepted. 

 

BOOT RELEASE

Based on when payment was received, the boot will be released as follows:

PAYMENT RECEIVED BOOT RELEASED BY SFMTA ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Normally within two hours
Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When available
All other times and Holidays Next business day

 

BOOT HEARING

If you believe your vehicle has been improperly booted, you have the right to a same day hearing.