Online Payments For General District Courts

Pre-Court Payments (if paying BEFORE your court date)
Payments for certain Virginia traffic tickets and certain other offenses are accepted by the individual Virginia General District Courts. 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 treated as a guilty plea and a waiver of a trial.

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.

Pre-Court and Post-Court Payments For General District Courts

1. The Virginia Courts charge a 4% convenience fee 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.
7. 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.

Refunds
Contact the specific Virginia General District Court to which payment was made for refunds.

Payments By Mail For General District Courts

Pre-Court Payments
Payment should be mailed to the specific Virginia General District 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 Virginia General District Court is available through the following link: General District Courts.

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 reckless driving cases.

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 Virginia police officer, examine the “Brief Description” portion of the Table on the right side of the page for a charge description that best 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. Virginia General District courts accept personal checks, money orders, certified checks, and credit cards.
   • Make your check payable to the applicable district court.
     Example: “Emporia 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 Virginia police officer, complete the “Credit Card Authorization” section on the back of the sheet.
5. Mail your payment to the Virginia General District Court named on the top of your summons.

Instructions for Post-Court Payments by Mail

1. Call the Virginia 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.