Washington Administrative Code

(1) What ownership documents are required to title and license a vehicle not currently titled or licensed in the state of Washington?(a) If a vehicle is titled in another state, the application for certificate of ownership must be accompanied by the current ownership documents.(b…

(1) What is a department temporary license plate?(a) The department temporary license plate is a system-generated license plate printed on durable paper material which may be issued in lieu of a registration certificate and license plates when:(i) The vehicle is not currently lic…

(1) When is a certificate of vehicle inspection required? A certificate of vehicle inspection, completed by the Washington state patrol or other authorized inspector, must accompany the application for certificate of ownership and include the applicable statutory inspection fee w…

(1) How is a model year assigned to a vehicle? The model year for a vehicle is the model year assigned by the manufacturer. If an original manufacturer has not assigned a model year, or your vehicle is rebuilt, homemade, a street rod, or assembled vehicle, the following criteria …

For the purposes of RCW 82.08.809 and 82.12.809:(1) The lowest manufacturer's retail price for a base model vehicle is the one provided by a vendor selected by the department;(2) The department publishes and periodically updates a list of all vehicle models qualifying for the sal…

(1) What is a replacement certificate of ownership? A replacement certificate of ownership replaces certificates of ownership that are:(a) Lost;(b) Mutilated;(c) Stolen; or(d) Destroyed.(2) What documents and information do I need to provide to the department to obtain a replacem…

(1) What is ownership in doubt? Ownership in doubt is when a vehicle owner(s) is unable to obtain satisfactory evidence of ownership or releases of interest as described in WAC 308-56A-265.(2) What options are available in an ownership in doubt situation? When in an ownership in …

(1) Will the department accept an application for certificate of ownership or supporting documents if they have been altered? The department may refuse to accept any application for certificate of ownership or supporting documents when ownership or vehicle information has been al…

(1) When is the signature of a registered owner(s) required? Each registered owner is required to sign the application for certificate of ownership except when:(a) The application is for the sole purpose of removing a secured party of record from the certificate of ownership;(b) …

(1) How does a registered or legal owner release interest in a vehicle? To release interest in a vehicle a registered or legal owner must:(a) Sign the release of interest section provided on the certificate of ownership; or(b) Provide a release of interest document or form approv…

(1) What forms of signature are acceptable to the department? The department will accept any memorandum, signature stamp, mark, or sign made with intent to authenticate any instrument or writing.(2) What form of signature is required for business owned vehicles? Signatures for bu…

Who may certify signatures?(1) Signatures must be notarized by a notary public or certified by an agent or subagent appointed by the director to conduct vehicle title and registration activities on behalf of the department. The certification must include the signature, county, an…

Who is responsible for removal, storage, and disposal fees if a vehicle has been reported stolen after it was reported sold, and is subsequently abandoned?If a report of sale has been properly filed with the department prior to the date the vehicle was reported stolen, the purcha…

What proof of ownership do I need to submit for a vehicle I purchased at a Washington abandoned vehicle auction as authorized under chapter 46.55 RCW? You must submit:(1) A Washington Abandoned Vehicle Report - Affidavit of Sale form as provided for in WAC 308-61-026(1); and(2) C…

(1) What documents must I submit to obtain a certificate of ownership for a vehicle that has been purchased at a law enforcement sale? You must submit:(a) Documents required by chapters 46.01 and 46.12 RCW;(b) A bill of sale from law enforcement to the purchaser stating that the …

(1) What is a chattel lien? For the purposes of this section a chattel lien is a process by which a person may sell or take ownership of a vehicle when:(a) They provide services or materials for a vehicle at the request of the registered owner; and(b) The person who provided the …

(1) What is a landlord's lien for rent? For the purposes of this chapter, a landlord's lien for rent is a process by which a landlord may sell or take ownership of a tenant's vehicle as security for rent due.(2) What documents are required to issue a certificate of ownership for …

(1) What is a self-service storage facilities lien? For the purposes of this chapter, a self-storage facilities lien is a process by which the owner of a self-storage facility may sell a vehicle stored at the facility as security for rent or other charges due.(2) What documents a…

What document must I submit to change my name shown on the certificate of ownership? You must submit:(1) Documents required by chapters 46.01 and 46.12 RCW; and(2) If the name was changed by a court order, a copy of that order; or(3) A notarized/certified affidavit signed by you …

(1) What documents must I submit if ownership of a vehicle is awarded by court order? In addition to ownership documents required by chapter 46.12 RCW and registration documents required by chapter 46.16 RCW, you must submit:(a) A copy of the Washington state court order, or cert…

(1) What documentation does the department require to show a guardian has been appointed for a person who has been declared incompetent? The department requires a copy of the order issued from any district or superior court of competent jurisdiction.(2) How is the interest of a p…

Who releases interest in a vehicle when an owner has been declared bankrupt? The owner or the trustee appointed by the bankruptcy court has the authority to release interest in a vehicle. A copy of the court order appointing the trustee must accompany the release of interest.[Sta…

(1) What titling options are available when a vehicle owner is deceased?(a) The vehicle can be titled in the name of the estate; or(b) The vehicle ownership may be released by a personal representative and transferred into the name of a new owner; or(c) The surviving owner may tr…

Do I need to title those vehicles? A licensed vehicle dealer who acquires vehicles from an agency of the United States government may title the vehicles under "title purpose only" procedures and need attach only the original or one certified copy of the bill of sale if each appli…

When do I not need to apply for a certificate of ownership? A Washington vehicle dealer need not apply for certificate of ownership in his own name when:(1) A vehicle is acquired that is titled and the title is properly released; or(2) One vehicle dealer transfers a particular ve…

When do I need to apply for a certificate of ownership? Except as referenced in WAC 308-56A-410, a Washington dealer must apply for title in his/her own name by following all procedures set forth in these rules whenever the dealer does not have a valid certificate of ownership pr…

How does a Washington licensed vehicle dealer deliver a vehicle using a dealer temporary license plate?(1) Washington licensed vehicle dealers may deliver a vehicle that is not currently registered, or that does not have valid Washington license plates, tabs, decals, or gross wei…

(1) What is a dealer temporary license plate? For the purposes of vehicles, a dealer temporary license plate is a combination title application and temporary registration used by Washington licensed vehicle dealers when delivering a vehicle that is not currently registered, or do…

(1) What is a glider kit? A glider kit consists of a new cab, chassis, front axle, fenders and air-hose equipment designed for assembly with an existing truck or truck-tractor's rear axle(s), and power train.(2) How are glider kits described on a certificate of ownership? The fol…

(1) What constitutes an assembled vehicle? An assembled vehicle is a vehicle that has been constructed using a cab, body, or frame from two or more vehicles and has the same appearance as a vehicle that was manufactured under a specific year, make, and model by a manufacturer but…

(1) What are total loss, destroyed, salvage, and wrecked vehicles? For the purposes of this section:(a) A total loss vehicle is one whose destruction has been reported to the department as described in RCW 46.12.600 by an insurer (insurance companies and self-insurers as describe…

The following definitions apply to terms used in chapters 46.12 and 46.16A RCW and chapter 308-56A WAC:(1) "Affidavit in lieu of title" is a written declaration confirming the certificate of title is unavailable, lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated. The affidavit in lieu of titl…

(1) May I eliminate the certificate of ownership (title) on my manufactured home? You may eliminate the certificate of ownership (title) on your manufactured home provided you own or are purchasing the manufactured home and the land to which it is affixed as defined in RCW 65.20.…

(1) Who must file a vehicle seller's report of sale? With the exception of certain vehicle transfers by registered Washington vehicle dealers, and vehicles disposed of by licensed vehicle wreckers, Washington law (RCW 46.12.101) requires filing a vehicle seller's report of sale b…

(1) What is a brand? For the purposes of this section a brand is a notation on the certificate of ownership or vehicle registration certificate that records a special circumstance or condition involving a vehicle.(2) What brands are assigned to vehicles by the department? Brands …

(1) When is an odometer disclosure statement required? An odometer disclosure statement is required on all transfers of ownership as required by RCW 46.12.124 and Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), unless specifically exempted.(2) What odometer disclosure state…

The following definitions apply to the terminology used in this chapter:(1) "RTA excise tax schedule" means the value depreciation table described in RCW 82.44.041(1) for use in the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority area.(2) "Fleet" means any person with five or more…

All trailers and all vehicles where MSRP is not available are taxed according to the most recent purchase price and purchase year and the depreciation rates in the RTA excise tax fee schedule. All other vehicles as noted on the first MSRP, the year of service or value year are ta…

All new or unused vehicles modified by a licensed manufacturer, shall be taxed according to the MSRP provided by the modifying manufacturer plus the cost involved in converting the vehicle. Modified vehicles include, but are not limited to, vans, pickups, utility vehicles and lim…

If there is no value code for a model year 1985 or older model vehicle and there is no MSRP information available for a model year 1986 or newer model vehicle, the owner may be required to provide a certified declaration of original value and supporting documentation to be used a…

Vehicles with the following use classes are assessed RTA excise tax as defined in RCW 81.104.160:CAB (taxicab)COM (commercial) (if powered and the scale weight is six thousand pounds or less)CYC (motorcycle)F/H (for hire) (if six or fewer seats or if more than six seats and the s…

The following vehicles are exempt from RTA excise taxes imposed in chapter 81.104 RCW:(1) Vehicles with tax code 95 (vehicles taxed as personal property, such as mobile homes);(2) Vehicles with the following use classes:C/G (converter gear),CMB (combination),CMP (campers),COM (co…

RTA excise taxes are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110. WSR 01-12-099, § 308-57-210, filed 6/6/01, effective 7/7/01; WSR 97-12-015, § 308-57-210, filed 5/28/97, effective 6/28/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110 and 43.17.060. WSR 91-04-02…

A fleet vehicle, which is required to have a December registration expiration date, will be charged RTA excise tax based on the current depreciation rate for the number of months required to license through December 31 of the current year. If the number of months to December 31 i…

With department approval, the owner of a nonfleet vehicle may change the vehicle's registration expiration date. The owner will be assessed RTA excise tax based on the current depreciation rate for the number of months from the current expiration to the requested expiration date.…

All owners of qualified vehicles may be charged a transportation benefit district vehicle fee in accordance with RCW 82.80.140 with reference to vehicles registered under RCW 46.16.0621 and 46.16.070.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110. WSR 09-24-039, § 308-59-505, filed 11/24/09…

The following vehicles are exempt from transportation benefit district vehicle fees imposed under chapter 82.80 RCW:(1) Vehicles with tax code 95 (vehicles taxed as personal property, such as mobile homes);(2) Vehicles with the following use classes:(a) C/G (converter gear);(b) C…

(1) "Affidavit of sale" - that document prescribed by the department and given to the successful bidder by the operator. The affidavit must state that the sale was conducted properly pursuant to chapter 46.55 RCW and must be notarized. The affidavit may be submitted to the depart…

What information must be included in an application for registration of a tow truck operator? The application for registration of a tow truck operator must include:(1) A statement as to whether the applicant has previously been registered as such, and if so, the previous registra…

(1) Staggered licensing - the annual registration issued to tow truck operators shall expire on the date indicated by the director.(2) Additional secure areas for vehicle storage - additional storage locations may be operated under one registration. No additional bond or insuranc…