Washington Administrative Code

How must a registered tow truck operator identify its vehicles?(1) All tow vehicles to be used in the operator's business which are operated on the public highways, must display the licensee's operator number plus the truck number, name, city of address and current business telep…

What business hours must a registered tow truck operator maintain?(1) Business hours, for purposes of inspection of business records, place of business or towing equipment, must be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for weekends and holidays. Normal business hours must be posted at th…

(1) The properly executed written authority to tow or other evidence of lawful possession will take the place of current license plates or trip permits for unauthorized or abandoned vehicles.(2) Billing invoices must indicate the time of day when an unauthorized or abandoned vehi…

How is the posting of signs on private and public property handled?(1) Signs must measure at least 15" by 24" and the lettering thereon must be clearly visible to all who park.(2) Signs for publicly owned or controlled parking facilities need to disclose that unauthorized vehicle…

How must the registered tow truck operator handle stored vehicles?(1) Handling and returning vehicles in substantially the same condition means that vehicles are to be handled with care so that their value is not diminished. The operator must not remove parts or equipment which a…

What should the registered tow truck operator do when a court hearing has been requested?(1) Where a timely request has been made for a district or municipal court hearing and where the vehicle owner has failed to redeem the vehicle, the abandoned vehicle procedural requirements …

How should a registered tow truck operator properly identify a vehicle in its custody and prepare for a vehicle auction?(1) For purposes of advertising the sale of abandoned vehicles the vehicle identification number must be used if no license plates are on the vehicle.(2) If a v…

What charges are proper for the registered tow truck operator to include in the towing and storage lien?(1) No operator shall include any charges in the amount of the lien that are not specifically authorized. Subordinate charges such as mechanic fees or prior storage fees claime…

What documentation follows the abandoned vehicle auction and who may claim surplus auction funds?(1) Following the auction of an abandoned vehicle the operator must give to the successful bidder an affidavit of sale, as defined, which must disclose the amount of the lien and the …

(1) What are the criteria for an abandoned recreational vehicle to be eligible for reimbursement? The vehicle must be towed, stored, and/or dismantled according to existing statute.(2) What vehicle information must be provided to the department upon request for reimbursement? All…

(1) What is the application process?(a) All vehicles must first be handled through the abandoned vehicle process with an abandoned vehicle report (AVR) submitted to the department, or through the junk vehicle affidavit process.(b) The requestor will make the request through depar…

(1) When will the reimbursement happen? The abandoned RV program manager will process all reimbursement by the fifth business day of the month following the month that the reimbursement was received on vehicles that have met all criteria for eligibility.(2) How/when will I get no…

What if funds are received through collection efforts after receiving reimbursement from the department? Any funds received by the registered tow truck operator, wrecker, vehicle scrap, or scrap metal business as a result of collection activities shall be turned over to the depar…

At what rates will reimbursements be made?(1) The costs will be reimbursed at a standardized scheduled rate:ItemStandard RateCapTowing and Transport (Increment per Hour - Maximum Four Hours Total for Identified RV Length)Towing up to 29'$150.00/hr.$600.00Towing 30' and Over$220.0…

(1) Department - means the department of licensing of the state of Washington.(2) Director - Means the director of the department of licensing.(3) Destroy - Means the dismantling, disassembling or wrecking of a vehicle with the intent of never again operating such as a vehicle, o…

May I acquire a vehicle on a bill of sale?(1) Bill of sale for acquiring vehicles. A bill of sale must include the names and addresses of the seller and purchaser; a description of the vehicle being purchased, including the make, model and identification or serial number; the dat…

What is a vehicle wrecker place of business? A vehicle wrecker's established place of business is a building or enclosure which the owner occupies either continuously or at regular intervals; and where the business books and records are kept available for inspection during normal…

How must I apply for a vehicle wrecker license? An original or renewal application for a wrecker license must be filed with the director on the form provided by the department for this purpose. The application must be endorsed by the chief of police of any city with a population …

When does my vehicle wrecker license expire? (1) A vehicle wrecker's license will expire twelve consecutive months from the date of issuance.(2) Vehicle wrecker license plates will expire on the same date as the expiration of the license.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.80.140. WSR 0…

How do I use the special vehicle wrecker license plates? All vehicles used for towing or transporting vehicles or vehicle parts by a vehicle wrecker on the highways of this state in the conduct of the business must bear regular license plates and, in addition, special wrecker's p…

Vehicle wreckers must comply with all rules set forth in this chapter and the requirements of chapter 46.80 RCW relative to the handling of vehicle parts or vehicles to be dismantled.(1) Enclosure. The activities of a vehicle wrecker must be conducted entirely within the establis…

What ownership documents may I use to acquire vehicles or vehicle parts? The vehicle wrecker may acquire vehicles and vehicle parts if the seller can furnish ownership documents as follows:(1) Certificate of title, including salvage certificates, properly endorsed in the case of …

What records must I keep and how do I handle the monthly report? (1) Wrecker books and files. The wrecker must maintain books and files that contain the following:(a) A record of each vehicle or part acquired giving:(i) A description of the vehicle or part by make, model, year, a…

What document must I use to sell a vehicle part? No vehicle wrecker may sell a vehicle part unless the vehicle wrecker gives the purchaser a bill of sale for such part. Whenever the vehicle wrecker sells a motor, frame, or other major component part, except for a core part, the b…

Where do I store inoperable vehicles that I acquire for sale under my vehicle dealer license? (1) All vehicles acquired for sale under a vehicle dealer's license which are inoperable at the time of acquisition must be kept inside the wrecking yard and must be segregated from the …

When must I report a change? Any person, firm, association, corporation or trust licensed under chapter 46.80 RCW must, within ten days following any change in its business or ownership structure, file a statement with the department, describing with particularity the change in i…

If I terminate my business, must I surrender my vehicle wrecker license? A vehicle wrecker who terminates business must, within ten days of such termination return the vehicle wrecker license and special license plates to the department for cancellation.[Statutory Authority: RCW …

What must I do if there is a change of ownership in my noncorporate license? Upon the sale, transfer or other disposition of an ownership interest in a noncorporate licensee:(1) A new bond or rider to the bond revealing the change in ownership must be filed with the department.(2…

If my business is not a corporation, what do I do if I incorporate? A licensee which incorporates while licensed:(1) Must file an application for an appropriate license.(2) Must file a new bond with the department.(3) The firm may request the preincorporation license number upon …

Common carrier. Common carrier means any person who undertakes to transport property for the general public by motor vehicle for compensation as outlined in chapter 81.80 RCW. For the purposes of this chapter, common carriers licensed under the provisions of chapter 81.80 RCW are…

(1) Bill of sale for acquiring vehicles. A bill of sale shall include the names and addresses of the seller and purchaser; a description of the vehicle or part being sold, including the make, model and identification or serial number; the date of sale; and the purchase price of t…

What must I do for a place of business? (1) Hulk hauler. A hulk hauler's established place of business is an address at which the hulk hauler receives mail and can normally be reached.(2) Scrap processor. A scrap processor's established place of business is a place where (a) vehi…

How must I apply for the hulk hauler license? The application for a hulk hauler's license shall be made on the form provided by the department and shall include, in addition to any other information the department may require, and in addition to the provisions of RCW 46.79.030:(1…

When will my license expire? (1) A hulk hauler's license shall expire twelve consecutive months from the date of issuance for purposes of staggered licensing.(2) Motor vehicle hulk hauler license plates shall expire on the same date as the expiration of the license.[Statutory Aut…

How must I display the hulk hauler license plates? All vehicles used by hulk haulers on the highways of this state shall bear regular license plates and in addition, special hulk hauler's plates. Each vehicle shall display both special plates assigned to it, provided that when an…

Hulk haulers shall comply with all statutes, rules and regulations relative to the handling of vehicles and vehicle hulks.(1) Change of address. The department shall be notified immediately of any change of mailing address.(2) License certificate. The license certificate shall be…

On what ownership documents may I buy and sell vehicles/hulks? (1) Supporting acquisition for transport, resale. The hulk hauler may acquire vehicles or hulks for transport and resale to a licensed motor vehicle wrecker or scrap processor upon obtaining ownership documents in the…

How must I apply for a scrap processor license? The application for a scrap processor's license shall contain, in addition to any other information the department may require, evidence the application is approved by the local government planning and zoning authorities pursuant to…

When does my license expire? (1) A scrap processor's license shall expire twelve consecutive months from the date of issuance.(2) Any special license plates issued to a scrap processor shall expire on the same date as the expiration of the license.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.79.…

What special license plates are available? Vehicles owned or operated on the highways of this state by a scrap processor and used by the scrap processor in gathering vehicle hulks or salvage shall bear regular license plates and, in addition, hulk hauler plates. Such plates serve…

All scrap processors shall comply with all statutes, rules and regulations relative to the demolition of vehicles and vehicle hulks.(1) Change of address. The department shall be notified immediately of any change of address of any business location or of the addition of any such…

On what ownership documents may I acquire vehicles? Supporting acquisition. A scrap processor may acquire vehicles for demolition if the transferor can furnish ownership documents, in the form of a certificate of title properly endorsed, from a state issuing a title, or a certifi…

How must I file monthly reports to the department? (1) Must maintain books and files.(a) The scrap processor shall maintain the following books and files of all vehicles, acquired other than from a wrecker or out-of-state salvage company, which shall contain the following:(i) A d…

When must I report a change in business structure or ownership? Any person, firm, association, corporation or trust licensed under chapter 46.79 RCW must, within ten days following any change in its business or ownership structure, file a statement describing with particularity t…

A hulk hauler or scrap processor who terminates his business shall return his/her license and special license plates to the department for cancellation within ten business days of such termination.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.79.080. WSR 94-12-052, § 308-65-160, filed 5/27/94, ef…

What if there is a partial change in ownership of the company? Upon the sale, transfer or other disposition of fifty percent or more of the ownership interest in a noncorporate licensee:(1) A new application for an appropriate license by the purchaser or transferee is required an…

What if I incorporate while licensed? A licensee which incorporates while licensed shall file an application for an appropriate license.The firm may request the preincorporation license number.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.79.080. WSR 00-13-020, § 308-65-190, filed 6/12/00, effect…

For the purpose of administering chapter 46.70 RCW, the following terms shall be construed in the following manner:(1) "Offering" the sale of a vehicle shall include the distribution by any means of a list, with or without prices, of vehicles for sale.(2) "Soliciting" the sale of…

What information is needed to apply for a vehicle dealer license? (1) Each application shall contain in addition to the information required by RCW 46.70.041:(a) The names and residential addresses of all owners of ten percent or more of the assets of the business;(b) The name an…

Motor vehicle dealer license plates and vehicle manufacturer license plates shall expire on the same date as the expiration of the license.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.70.160 and 46.70.085. WSR 91-20-057, § 308-66-135, filed 9/24/91, effective 10/25/91. Statutory Authority: 1985 …