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Who is responsible for a parking ticket—the driver, or the owner of the car?

Do I have to pay for this parking ticket? Unbeknownst to me, my daughter took my car downtown last week and received a parking ticket. I only know this because I received a letter from the DMV. Since she was driving, shouldn't she be responsible for paying for this ticket?

avatar
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“In theory, yes, your daughter is the responsible party and should pay for the parking ticket. However, parking tickets are issued under the name of the registered owner of the car, not the driver.
Since
parking tickets
are usually issued when the car is parked and unoccupied, the officer only has the name on the registration to go by. If the ticket does not get paid, any extra fees or penalties will be under your name, not your daughter’s.
Don’t worry; a parking ticket won’t impact the rate of your
car insurance
. That said, unpaid fees, speeding tickets, or running through a red light can affect your rates. In this case, it may be best to handle the ticket yourself and have your daughter reimburse you.
Since you’re thinking about your car insurance rates right now, why don’t you shop around to confirm you’re getting the best rates? Use the
Jerry
app to compare rates and get the best deals delivered to your phone for free.”
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