Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES
54 chapters · 1,673 sections in this title.
RCW 46.01.011 Purpose.
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The legislature finds that the department of licensing administers laws relating to the licensing and regulation of professions, businesses, and other activities in addition to administering laws relating to the licensing and regulation of vehicles and vehicle operators, dealers,…
RCW 46.01.020 Department created.
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A department of the government of this state to be known as the "department of licensing" is hereby created.[ 1979 c 158 s 114; 1977 ex.s. c 334 s 2; 1965 c 156 s 2.]Notes:Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 334: See note following RCW 46.01.011.
RCW 46.01.030 Administration and improvement of certain motor vehicle laws.
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The department is responsible for administering and recommending the improvement of the motor vehicle laws of this state relating to:(1) Driver examining and licensing;(2) Driver improvement;(3) Driver records;(4) Financial responsibility;(5) Certificates of title;(6) Vehicle reg…
RCW 46.01.040 Powers, duties, and functions relating to motor vehicle laws vested in department.
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The department is vested with all powers, functions, and duties with respect to and including the following:(1) The fuel tax and aircraft fuel tax as provided in chapters 82.38 and 82.42 RCW;(2) The motor vehicle excise tax as provided in chapter 82.44 RCW;(3) The travel trailers…
RCW 46.01.070 Functions performed by state patrol as agent for director of licenses transferred to department.
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Functions named in RCW 46.01.030 which have been performed by the state patrol as agent of the director of licenses before June 30, 1965 shall be performed by the department of licensing after June 30, 1965.[ 1979 c 158 s 118; 1965 c 156 s 7.]
RCW 46.01.100 Organization of department.
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Directors shall organize the department in such manner as they may deem necessary to segregate and conduct the work of the department.[ 1990 c 250 s 16; 1965 c 156 s 10.]
RCW 46.01.110 Rule-making authority.
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The director may adopt and enforce rules to carry out provisions related to vehicle registrations, certificates of title, and drivers' licenses. These rules must not be based:(1) Solely on a section of law stating a statute's intent or purpose;(2) On the enabling provisions of th…
RCW 46.01.115 Rules to implement 1998 c 165.
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The department of licensing may adopt rules as necessary to implement chapter 165, Laws of 1998.[ 1998 c 165 s 14.]Notes:Effective date—1998 c 165 ss 8-14: See note following RCW 46.52.070.Short title—1998 c 165: See note following RCW 43.59.010.
RCW 46.01.130 Powers and duties of director—Vehicle registration, appointments, branch offices, personnel screening.
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The director:(1) Shall supervise and control the issuing of vehicle certificates of title, vehicle registrations, and vehicle license plates, and has the full power to do all things necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of the law relating to the registration of vehicl…
RCW 46.01.135 Establishment of investigation unit—Use of criminal history information.
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(1) There is established an investigation unit within the department for the purpose of detection, investigation, and prosecution of any act prohibited or declared to be unlawful in the programs administered by the department. The director will employ qualified supervisory, legal…
RCW 46.01.140 County auditors, agents, and subagents—Powers and duties—Standard contracts—Rules.
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(1) County auditor/agent duties. A county auditor or other agent appointed by the director must:(a) Enter into a standard contract provided by the director;(b) Provide all services authorized by the director for vehicle certificates of title and vehicle registration applications …
RCW 46.01.150 Branch offices.
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The department may maintain such branch offices within the state as the director may deem necessary properly to carry out the powers and duties vested in the department.[ 1965 c 156 s 15.]Notes:Office of department, maintenance at state capital: RCW 43.17.050.
RCW 46.01.160 Forms for applications, certificates of title, registration certificates, etc.
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The director shall prescribe and provide suitable forms of applications, certificates of title and registration certificates, drivers' licenses, and all other forms and licenses requisite or deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this title and any other laws the enforce…
RCW 46.01.170 Seal.
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The department shall have an official seal with the words "Department of Licensing of Washington" engraved thereon.[ 1977 ex.s. c 334 s 4; 1965 c 156 s 17.]Notes:Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 334: See note following RCW 46.01.011.
RCW 46.01.180 Oaths and acknowledgments.
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Officers and employees of the department designated by the director are, for the purpose of administering the motor vehicle laws, authorized to administer oaths and acknowledge signatures and shall do so without fee.[ 1965 c 156 s 18.]Notes:Oath of director: RCW 43.17.030.
RCW 46.01.190 Designation of state patrol as agent for surrender of drivers' licenses.
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The director of licensing may designate the Washington state patrol as an agent to secure the surrender of drivers' licenses which have been suspended, revoked, or canceled pursuant to law.[ 1979 c 158 s 123; 1965 c 156 s 19.]
RCW 46.01.230 Payment by check or money order—Dishonored checks or money orders—Failure to surrender canceled certificate, registration, or permit—Immunity from payment of uncollected fees—Rules.
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(1) The department may accept checks and money orders for the payment of drivers' licenses, certificates of title and vehicle registrations, vehicle excise taxes, gross weight fees, and other fees and taxes collected by the department. Whenever registrations, licenses, or permits…
RCW 46.01.235 Payment by credit or debit card.
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The department may adopt necessary rules and procedures to allow use of credit and debit cards for payment of fees and excise taxes to the department and its agents or subagents related to the licensing of drivers, the issuance of identicards, and vehicle and vessel certificates …
RCW 46.01.240 Internet payment option.
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(1) The department shall provide on its internet payment option website:(a) That a filing fee will be collected on all transactions subject to a filing fee;(b) That a subagent service fee will be collected by a subagent office for mail or pickup licensing services; and(c) The amo…
RCW 46.01.250 Certified copies of records—Fee.
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The director shall have the power and it shall be his or her duty upon request and payment of the fee as provided herein to furnish under seal of the director certified copies of any records of the department, except those for confidential use only. The director shall charge and …
RCW 46.01.260 Destruction of records by director.
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(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the director may destroy applications for vehicle registrations, copies of vehicle registrations issued, applications for drivers' licenses, copies of issued drivers' licenses, certificates of title and registration or oth…
RCW 46.01.270 Destruction of records by county auditor or other agent.
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A county auditor or other agent appointed by the director may destroy applications for vehicle registrations and any copies of vehicle registrations or other records issued after those records have been on file in the county auditor's or other agent's office for a period of eight…
RCW 46.01.290 Director to make annual reports to governor.
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The director shall report annually to the governor on the activities of the department.[ 1977 c 75 s 66; 1967 c 32 s 5; 1965 c 28 s 1; 1961 ex.s. c 21 s 29. Formerly RCW 46.08.200.]
RCW 46.01.310 Immunity of director, the state, county auditors, agents, and subagents.
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No civil suit or action may ever be commenced or prosecuted against the director, the state of Washington, any county auditor or other agents appointed by the director, any other government officer or entity, or against any other person, by reason of any act done or omitted to be…
RCW 46.01.315 Immunity of director, the state, licensed driver training schools, and school districts in administering knowledge and driving portions of driver licensing examination.
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A civil suit or action may not be commenced or prosecuted against the director, the state of Washington, any driver training school licensed by the department, any other government officer or entity, including a school district or an employee of a school district, or against any …
RCW 46.01.320 Title and registration advisory committee.
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Notes:Reviser's note: RCW 46.01.320 was amended by 2010 c 161 s 1110 without reference to its repeal by 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 137. It has been decodified for publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
RCW 46.01.330 Facilities siting coordination.
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The state patrol and the department of licensing shall coordinate their activities when siting facilities. This coordination shall result in the collocation of driver and vehicle licensing and vehicle inspection service facilities whenever possible.The department and state patrol…
RCW 46.01.340 Database of fuel dealer and distributor license information.
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By December 31, 1996, the department of licensing shall implement a PC or server-based database of fuel dealer and distributor license application information.[ 1996 c 104 s 17.]
RCW 46.01.350 Fuel tax advisory group.
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By July 1, 1996, the department of licensing shall establish a fuel tax advisory group comprised of state agency and petroleum industry representatives to develop or recommend audit and investigation techniques, changes to fuel tax statutes and rules, information protocols that a…
RCW 46.01.360 Fees—Study and adjustment.
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To ensure cost recovery for department of licensing services, the department of licensing shall submit a fee study to the transportation committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 1, 2003, and on a biennial basis thereafter. Based on this fee study, the…
RCW 46.01.370 Authority to sell and distribute discover passes and day-use permits.
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The department may, in coordination with the state parks and recreation commission, offer for sale and distribute discover passes and day-use permits, as provided in chapter 79A.80 RCW, at the department's drivers' licenses offices. Any amounts collected by the department through…
RCW 46.01.380 Cost recovery—Portion of credit card and other financial transaction costs.
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The department must implement cost recovery mechanisms to recoup at least a portion of credit card and other financial transaction costs as part of charges imposed for driver and vehicle fee transactions. The department must develop a method of tracking the amount of credit card …
RCW 46.01.385 Agency financial transaction account.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6005-S.SL) ***The agency financial transaction account is created in the state treasury. Receipts directed by law to the account from cost recovery charges for credit card and other financial transaction fees must be deposited into the account. Moneys …