Quick Summary:
- Check the meter number, time limits, and street cleaning signs first.
- Try paying by app using the zone or meter ID.
- If payment fails, move to a working meter nearby promptly.
- Photograph the broken meter, your car position, and app errors.
In San Francisco, a broken parking meter can become a headache fast, especially if you are driving on car hire and want to avoid a ticket on your windscreen or arriving later by post. The key is to act quickly, try the accepted payment channels, and collect clear evidence that you made a good faith effort to pay. This guide walks through exactly what to do when a meter will not take coins or cards, which app options are realistic in the city, when you should move, and what documentation tends to matter if you need to dispute a citation.
If you picked up your car at the airport, it helps to get familiar with city parking habits early. Drivers collecting vehicles through car hire at San Francisco Airport often go straight into metered areas in SoMa, the Embarcadero, or near Fisherman’s Wharf, where enforcement is regular.
Step 1, confirm you are in a metered space and read every sign
Before assuming the meter is broken, confirm you are actually required to pay at that point in time. In San Francisco, a single pole can show multiple rules, and the most restrictive one applies.
Do a quick scan for:
Metered hours and maximum stay. Many meters run 9am to 6pm or later, but it varies by corridor. If the meter is outside paid hours, you may not need to pay, but time limits may still apply.
Street cleaning and tow away. A broken meter does not override street cleaning rules. If street cleaning is imminent, moving is safer than trying to document your way out of it.
Residential permit zones. Some areas allow short stays without permits, others do not. If you are not eligible for the permit, you should not park there, broken meter or not.
No stopping zones and loading zones. A meter nearby does not make a loading zone legal for private parking.
Take a clear photo of the nearest sign cluster. If you end up contesting a ticket, showing you checked the rules helps demonstrate you acted responsibly.
Step 2, try to pay in the most accepted way, using an app
When a meter will not accept coins or a card, the most defensible next step is to attempt payment through a mobile parking app, if the location supports it. In San Francisco, app payment is common, but not universal, and it depends on the specific meter or zone.
Start by looking for a zone number, meter number, or location code printed on the meter head, a nearby pay station, or on a posted placard. Then:
Attempt payment in the primary app shown on signage. If the sign indicates a specific app, use that first. If the app requires location services, confirm your phone has a signal and that permissions are enabled.
Enter the exact zone or meter ID. Typos are a major cause of “payment failed” or “location not found”. Double check the digits against the meter label.
Confirm your vehicle registration is correct. If you are on car hire, you must enter the licence plate exactly as it appears on the vehicle. Some hire vehicles have plates from outside San Francisco, which is fine, but you must type it correctly.
Check the time purchased and the end time. Screenshot the confirmation page showing the zone, plate, time, and transaction ID.
If the app accepts payment, you are typically covered even if the physical meter looks out of order, as long as you are in the correct space and within the maximum stay rules. Keep the in app receipt.
Step 3, if the app also fails, decide whether to move immediately
If you cannot pay by coin, card, or app, you are in the danger zone for a citation. Some cities treat a broken meter as free parking, but you should not assume that in San Francisco. Your safest approach is to move to a different legal space where payment works, unless moving would create a greater violation such as blocking traffic or entering a tow away window.
Use this decision checklist:
Can you find another space on the same block with a working meter? Walk 20 to 40 metres and check another meter or pay station. If you can move, do it promptly and pay there.
Is your current space limited to short stays or near high enforcement? Tourist areas and downtown blocks are checked frequently. The higher the enforcement risk, the more you should prioritise moving.
Are you about to leave the car unattended for more than a few minutes? If you are stepping away for a meal or meeting, it is not worth gambling on “broken meter” logic. Move.
Is there a nearby garage with straightforward payment? In busy neighbourhoods, a garage may be more expensive but reduces ticket risk and saves time.
When you are travelling on car hire, tickets can become complicated later, because the hire company may process the citation and charge an admin fee. Avoiding that scenario is usually worth a couple of extra minutes finding a working bay.
If you also expect to drive beyond San Francisco, for example you collected a vehicle through car hire in San Jose, be aware that the easiest day is the one with no parking paperwork at all. The best practical move is still to relocate and pay properly.
Step 4, document the broken meter properly, photos that actually help
If you cannot pay and you must leave the vehicle briefly, or you paid by app but the meter looks broken, document everything. The goal is to prove three things: you were in a legal space, the meter or pay station was not functioning, and you attempted to pay using available methods.
Take these photos in this order:
1) Wide shot showing your car in the space and the meter. Stand back so the number on the meter pole is visible and the car is clearly positioned in that bay.
2) Close up of the meter face. Capture any error message, blank screen, taped notice, jammed coin slot, or “out of service” text. If the screen is dark, photograph it anyway.
3) The meter ID or zone code. Get the number sharply in focus. This is crucial if you later argue you were at that specific device.
4) Nearby signs with rules. Photograph time restrictions, maximum stay, street cleaning, and permit information. Include the day and time in your phone metadata if possible.
5) Your app attempts. Screenshot the app error, location not available, or payment failure screen. If you were able to pay, screenshot the confirmation with transaction ID and time purchased.
6) A timestamp reference. If your phone camera does not embed visible time, take a screenshot of your lock screen showing the time, then another photo of the meter. This creates a clear timeline.
Do not rely on a single photo. A complete set makes it harder for an enforcement reviewer to dismiss your claim.
Step 5, try a second payment path before you leave the car
Some payment failures are caused by the phone, not the meter. Before giving up, run through quick fixes:
Switch between mobile data and Wi Fi. Poor reception near tall buildings can cause app timeouts.
Restart the app and re enter the zone. Cached location data can glitch.
Check your bank approval. Some cards block small online transactions while travelling. If you have a second card or a digital wallet, try it.
Try a nearby pay station. In some areas, a single pay station covers multiple spaces. If you can legally stand there without leaving the car exposed, it is worth checking.
If you ultimately cannot pay anywhere for that space, moving is typically the most defensible choice.
Step 6, if you get a ticket anyway, how to keep the dispute clean
If you return to your car and see a citation, keep calm and focus on evidence. Do not throw away your documentation and do not pay immediately if you believe you have a strong case and want to contest.
First, photograph the ticket on the windscreen where it was placed. Then:
Save your evidence in one folder. Include meter photos, signs, app screenshots, and any receipts.
Write a short timeline while it is fresh. Note the time you arrived, what failed, what you tried, and when you left.
Check that the ticket location matches the meter ID. Mistakes happen, and mismatched details support your dispute.
Keep your hire paperwork handy. If you are on car hire, you may need your rental agreement details to match plate and dates if a notice is mailed later.
Dispute processes vary, but clear, chronological evidence is usually what matters most.
Neighbourhood tips, where to move when you need a working payment option
Sometimes you have to make a quick relocation decision. These practical patterns help:
Move one block uphill or away from main arterials. High demand streets have more meter issues and more enforcement. One block can change availability dramatically.
Look for garages near major destinations. Around Union Square, SoMa venues, and waterfront attractions, garages are common and payment systems are consistent.
Avoid stopping in red, bus, or loading zones while troubleshooting. Even a short stop can trigger a more serious ticket than a parking violation.
Consider public transport for the final leg. If parking feels too risky, it may be easier to park in a garage farther out and use transit for the last stretch.
If you are planning trips across the Bay Area, compare pick up points that match your itinerary. Some travellers flying into SFO prefer San Francisco SFO car rental options, while others start farther south and drive in for the day.
Car hire specifics, why documentation matters more in a rental
With your own vehicle, a ticket is a direct problem between you and the city. With car hire, the hire company may receive the notice, pay it, and then recharge you with an additional administration fee, depending on their terms. That is why prevention and proof are so important.
To protect yourself:
Record the licence plate and state when you collect the car. Do this at pick up so you do not scramble later.
Keep digital receipts for every paid parking session. App confirmations and garage receipts should be stored until after your trip.
Use one consistent phone account for parking. Mixing multiple phones and plates can cause mistaken entries and weak evidence.
Also, if you switch vehicle types during your trip, for example from a standard car to something larger like an SUV for longer drives, remember to update the plate in your parking app each time. Travellers comparing regional vehicle options, such as Alamo car hire at San Francisco SFO, often keep the same app profile through the trip, which makes plate accuracy essential.
Common mistakes that lead to tickets even when the meter is genuinely broken
Most disputes fail for predictable reasons. Avoid these:
Parking beyond the posted maximum stay. A broken payment device does not extend time limits.
Assuming “out of order” means free parking. Policies are not consistent block to block, and enforcement may still cite.
Only photographing the dark screen. Without a photo of the meter ID and the car in the bay, the evidence is weak.
Entering the wrong zone in the app. Paying in the app does not help if you paid for a different block.
Ignoring street cleaning windows. That ticket is hard to contest, broken meter or not.
FAQ
Do I get free parking in San Francisco if the meter is broken? Not reliably. Treat a broken meter as a problem to solve, not permission to park. Try app payment first, then move to a working space if needed.
What proof should I keep if a meter will not take coins or cards? Take a wide photo of your car and the meter, a close up of any error or blank screen, a clear shot of the meter or zone ID, photos of the restriction signs, and screenshots of app payment attempts or confirmations.
If I paid by app but the meter still looks broken, can I be ticketed? You can still be cited if you entered the wrong zone, exceeded the maximum stay, or violated signage. A confirmation screenshot showing the correct zone, plate, and time is your best defence.
Should I report the broken meter to the city? Yes, if you can do so quickly, it helps other drivers and supports your good faith effort. Do not spend so long reporting that you miss a street cleaning window or leave the car in a risky spot.
What happens if I get a ticket while on car hire? The notice may go to the hire company first, and they may pass the cost to you, sometimes with an admin fee. Keeping strong evidence and resolving issues promptly reduces the chance of extra charges.
