Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

"Registration" means the registration certificate or license plates issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of vehicles.[ 2010 c 161 s 134.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during t…

"Renewal notice" means the notice to renew a vehicle registration sent to the registered owner by the department.[ 2010 c 161 s 135.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c…

(1) "Rental car" means a passenger car, as defined in RCW 46.04.382, that is used solely by a rental car business for rental to others, without a driver provided by the rental car business, for periods of not more than thirty consecutive days.(2) "Rental car" does not include:(a)…

"Rental car business" means a person engaging within this state in the business of renting rental cars, as determined under rules of the department of licensing.[ 1992 c 194 s 5.]Notes:Effective dates—1992 c 194: "(1) Sections 1 through 3 of this act are necessary for the immedia…

"Rental trailer" means a trailer, as defined in RCW 46.04.620, that is used solely by a rental car business for rental to others for periods of not more than thirty consecutive days.[ 2020 c 11 s 2.]

"Report of sale" means a document or electronic record transaction that when properly completed and filed protects the seller of a vehicle from certain criminal and civil liabilities arising from use of the vehicle by another person after the vehicle has been sold or a change in …

"Residence district" means the territory contiguous to and including a public highway not comprising a business district, when the property on such public highway for a continuous distance of three hundred feet or more on either side thereof is in the main improved with residence…

"Revoke," in all its forms, means the invalidation for a period of one calendar year and thereafter until reissue. However, under the provisions of RCW 46.20.285, 46.20.311, 46.20.265, or 46.61.5055, and chapters 46.32 and 46.65 RCW, the invalidation may last for a period other t…

"Ride share license plates" means special license plates issued for motor vehicles that are used primarily for commuter ride sharing as defined in *RCW 46.74.010.[ 2010 c 161 s 137.]Notes:*Reviser's note: RCW 46.74.010 was amended by 2021 c 135 s 2, deleting the definition of "co…

"Road tractor" includes every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a road building vehicle in drawing road building machinery and devices.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.490. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 53; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312-1, part.…

"Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder even though such sidewalk or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles. In the event a highway includes two or more separated roadways, t…

"Safety zone" means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is marked or indicated by painted marks, signs, buttons, standards, or otherwise, so as to be plainly discernible.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.510. Pr…

"Salvage vehicle" means a vehicle whose certificate of title has been surrendered to the department under RCW 46.12.600 due to the vehicle's destruction or declaration as a total loss or for which there is documentation indicating that the vehicle has been declared salvage or has…

"San Juan Islands license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the San Juan Islands in Washington state.[ 2019 c 177 s 4.]Notes:Effective date—2019 c 177: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Scale weight" means the weight of a vehicle without a load.[ 2010 c 161 s 139.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.

School bus means every motor vehicle used regularly to transport children to and from school or in connection with school activities, which is subject to the requirements set forth in the most recent edition of "Specifications for School Buses" published by the state superintende…

"Seattle Mariners license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the Seattle Mariners.[ 2018 c 67 s 7.]Notes:Effective date—2018 c 67 ss 3-8: See note following RCW 46.17.220.

"Seattle NHL hockey special license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the logo of the national hockey league team based in Seattle.[ 2020 c 129 s 4.]Notes:Effective date—2020 c 129: See note following RCW 46.17.220.

"Seattle Reign FC license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the logo of the Seattle Reign FC.[ 2025 c 385 s 17.]Notes:Effective date—2025 c 385 ss 3-24: See note following RCW 44.04.300.Short title—2025 c 385: See note following RCW 46.1…

"Seattle Seahawks license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the Seattle Seahawks.[ 2013 c 286 s 7.]Notes:Effective date—2013 c 286: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Seattle Sounders FC license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing Seattle Sounders FC.[ 2013 c 286 s 6.]Notes:Effective date—2013 c 286: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Seattle University license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing Seattle University.[ 2014 c 6 s 5.]Notes:Effective date—2014 c 6: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Secured party" has the same meaning as in *RCW 62A.1-201.[ 2010 c 161 s 140.]Notes:*Reviser's note: The reference to RCW 62A.1-201 appears to be erroneous. Reference to RCW 62A.9A-102 was apparently intended.Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 201…

"Security interest" has the same meaning as in RCW 62A.1-201.[ 2010 c 161 s 141.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.

"Semitrailer" includes every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by a vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tractor and so constructed that an appreciable part of its weight and that of its load rests upon and is carried by such other vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tra…

"Share the road license plates" means special license plates displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education. Share the road license plates commemorate the life of Cooper Jones.[ 2010 c 161 s 142.]Notes:Effective dat…

"Sidewalk" means that property between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property, set aside and intended for the use of pedestrians or such portion of private property parallel and in proximity to a public highway and dedicated to use by pedestria…

"Ski & ride Washington license plates" means special license plates displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing the Washington snowsports industry.[ 2010 c 161 s 143.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during th…

"Smokey Bear license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the name, image, and likeness of Smokey Bear promoting wildfire prevention and the state department of natural resources' wildland wildfire program.[ 2025 c 385 s 14.]Notes:Effective…

"Snow bike" means a motorcycle or off-road motorcycle that has been modified with a conversion kit to include (1) an endless belt tread or cleats or similar means for the purposes of propulsion on snow and (2) a ski or sled type runner for the purposes of steering.[ 2019 c 262 s …

"Snowmobile" means a self-propelled vehicle that is capable of traveling over snow or ice that (1) utilizes as its means of propulsion an endless belt tread or cleats, or any combination of these or other similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated, (2) is…

"Solid tire" includes every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon inflation with compressed air for the support of the load thereon.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.550. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 59; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 19…

(1) "Special highway construction equipment" means any vehicle that is (a) designed and used primarily for the grading of highways, the paving of highways, earthmoving, and other construction work on highways, (b) not designed or used primarily to transport persons or property on…

"Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and only incidentally operated or moved over a highway, including but not limited to: Ditch digging apparatus, well boring apparatus and road construction a…

"Sport utility vehicle" means a high performance motor vehicle weighing six thousand pounds or less, designed to carry ten passengers or less or designated as a sport utility vehicle by the manufacturer.[ 2010 c 161 s 146.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chap…

"Square dancer license plates" means special license plates displaying a symbol of square dancers.[ 2010 c 161 s 147.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes…

"Stand or standing" means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.[ 1975 c 62 s 10.]Notes:Severability—1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.

"Standard issue license plates" means license plates that are held for general issue, and does not mean personalized license plates or any other special license plate.[ 2010 c 161 s 148.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amen…

"State flower license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the Washington state flower.[ 2012 c 65 s 3.]Notes:Effective date—2012 c 65: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"State highway" includes every highway or part thereof, which has been designated as a state highway or branch thereof, by legislative enactment.[ 1975 c 62 s 7; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.560. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 60; prior: 1929 c 180 s 1, part; 1927 c 309 s 2, part; RRS s 6362-2, part.]N…

"State sport license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that recognize the state sport of pickleball.[ 2025 c 385 s 16.]Notes:Effective date—2025 c 385 ss 3-24: See note following RCW 44.04.300.Short title—2025 c 385: See note following RCW 46.18.060.

"Stop" when required means complete cessation from movement.[ 1975 c 62 s 11.]Notes:Severability—1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.

"Stop or stopping" when prohibited means any halting even momentarily of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.[ 1975 c 62 s 12.]Not…

"Streetcar" means a vehicle other than a train for transporting persons or property and operated upon stationary rails principally within cities and towns.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.570. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 61; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312…

"Street rod vehicle" means a motor vehicle that:(1) Is a 1948 or older vehicle or the vehicle was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949; and(2) Has alterations to one or more of the major component parts listed in RCW 46.80.010 that change the app…

"Subagency" means the licensing office in which vehicle title and registration functions are carried out by a subagent.[ 2010 c 161 s 149.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—…

"Subagent" means a person or governmental entity recommended by a county auditor or other agent and who is appointed by the director to provide vehicle registration and certificate of title services under contract with the county auditor or other agent.[ 2010 c 161 s 150.]Notes:E…

"Suspend," in all its forms and unless a different period is specified, means invalidation for any period less than one calendar year and thereafter until reinstatement.[ 1994 c 275 s 28; 1990 c 250 s 22; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.580. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 62; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, pa…

"Tab" or "license tab" means a sticker issued by the department and affixed to the rear license plate to identify the vehicle license expiration month and year for a specific vehicle.[ 2010 c 161 s 151.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 201…

"Tandem axle" means any two or more consecutive axles whose centers are less than seven feet apart.[ 1988 c 6 s 1; 1979 ex.s. c 149 s 2.]