Always pay your legal fee through OTR
When you book a case on OTR, your legal fee is collected through the platform. This is the fee your attorney charges to represent you.
This payment should always happen through OTR — never directly to the attorney or law firm. Here is why:
- Your payment is tracked
OTR has a record of exactly what you paid and when.
- Your payment is protected
Only fees paid through the platform are eligible for OTR's money-back guarantee and cancellation policy.
- OTR can help if something goes wrong
If there is ever a dispute about your payment, OTR's support team can investigate and intervene — but only if the payment was made through the platform.
If you pay an attorney directly, outside the OTR platform, those protections do not apply.
Got another ticket? Book a new case through OTR
If you get a second traffic ticket or have another legal matter to deal with, book a new case through OTR rather than going back to your previous attorney to pay them directly. Even if you had a great experience with that attorney, paying them outside the platform means your new case is not tracked, not protected by the money-back guarantee, and not supported by OTR's team.
If you want to work with the same attorney again, you can. Use the "Book another case with this law firm" button on your existing case, and we will match you with the same firm while keeping all of OTR's protections in place.
What about counter offers?
Sometimes, after reviewing your case, an attorney may request an additional fee before accepting it. This is called a counter offer, and it is normal. It usually happens when:
- There is an aggravating factor in your case (for example, an accident or a prior offense)
- The information you entered at booking needs to be corrected
Counter offers are always handled within the OTR platform. You will see the request in the app, and you must accept it before any additional charge is made. We will never charge you additional funds without your express consent.
If a counter offer comes through the platform, it is legitimate and protected.
Court costs and fines are different
Your legal fee and your court costs are two separate things.
Your legal fee is what you pay your attorney to represent you. It is paid through OTR.
Court costs are fees and fines imposed by the court or the state. These are separate from your legal fee and are not collected through the OTR platform. Examples include:
- Court fines
- State or court fees
- License reinstatement fees
- Traffic school or deferral program fees
- Other charges ordered by the court
You may need to pay these directly to the court or the appropriate government agency. In some cases, your attorney may offer to handle court-related payments on your behalf if you send them the funds ahead of time. This is acceptable and common — it is not the same as paying legal fees off-platform.
What to do if your attorney asks for payment outside OTR
If your attorney or their staff asks you to pay legal fees directly to the law firm — outside the OTR platform — do not make the payment. Contact OTR's support team first.
Our team will look into the request and help you determine whether the payment is appropriate. In most cases, any legitimate fee adjustment should come through the platform as a counter offer.
Quick reference
✅ Pay through OTR (protected):
• Your initial legal fee at booking
• Counter offers and additional legal fees requested through the platform
• Legal fees for any future tickets or cases — always book a new case through OTR rather than paying a previous attorney directly
✅ Pay directly to the court or via your attorney (normal and expected):
• Court fines
• State fees
• License reinstatement fees
• Traffic school or deferral program fees
• Other court-ordered costs
🚩 Do not pay — contact OTR support first:
• Any request from an attorney to pay legal fees directly to the law firm, outside the OTR platform
If you receive a request like this, contact OTR support before paying anything.
