Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES
54 chapters · 1,673 sections in this title.
RCW 46.12.520 Certificate required to operate and sell vehicle—Manufacturer or dealer testing—Security interest, how perfected.
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(1) A person shall not:(a) Operate a vehicle in this state with a registration certificate issued by the department without having a certificate of title for the vehicle that contains the name of the registered owner exactly as it appears on the registration certificate; or(b) Se…
RCW 46.12.530 Application—Contents—Examination of vehicle.
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(1) The application for a certificate of title of a vehicle must be made by the owner or owner's representative to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a form furnished or approved by the department and must contain:(a) A descrip…
RCW 46.12.540 Issuance of certificates—Contents.
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(1) The department shall issue an electronic record of ownership or a written certificate of title if the department is satisfied from the statements on the application that the applicant is the legal owner of the vehicle or otherwise entitled to have a certificate of title in th…
RCW 46.12.550 Refusal or cancellation of certificate—Notice—Penalty for subsequent operation—Appeals.
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(1) The department may refuse to issue or may cancel a certificate of title at any time if the department determines that an applicant for a certificate of title is not entitled to a certificate of title. Notice of cancellation may be accomplished by sending a notice by first-cla…
RCW 46.12.555 Quick title—Application requirements—Limitation—Subagents.
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(1) The application for a quick title of a vehicle must be submitted by the owner or the owner's representative to the department, participating county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a form furnished or approved by the department and must contain…
RCW 46.12.560 Inspection by state patrol or other authorized inspector.
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(1)(a) Before accepting an application for a certificate of title, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require an applicant to provide a certificate of vehicle inspection completed by the Washington state patrol or other auth…
RCW 46.12.570 Stolen vehicle check.
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The department shall institute software and systems modifications to enable a WACIC/NCIC stolen vehicle search of out-of-state vehicles as part of the application for a certificate of title transaction. During the stolen vehicle search, if the information obtained indicates the v…
RCW 46.12.580 Duplicate for lost, stolen, mutilated, etc. certificate.
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A legal owner or the legal owner's authorized representative may apply for a duplicate certificate of title if a certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, or becomes illegible. The application for a duplicate certificate of title must include information requ…
RCW 46.12.590 Procedure on installation of new or different motor—Penalty.
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(1) A person shall apply for a new certificate of title for any motor vehicle registered by its motor number when:(a) A new or different motor has been installed; and(b) The most recent certificate of title issued for the motor vehicle has recorded on it the previous motor number…
RCW 46.12.600 Destruction of vehicle—Surrender of certificate, penalty—Report of settlement by insurance company—Market value threshold.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2604.SL) ***(1)(a) The registered owner or legal owner shall:(i) Report the destruction of the vehicle issued a certificate of title or registration certificate to the department within fifteen days of its destruction; and(ii) Submit the certificate of…
RCW 46.12.610 Contaminated vehicles.
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(1) A local health officer may notify the department that a vehicle has been:(a) Declared unfit and prohibited from use as authorized in chapter 64.44 RCW if the vehicle has become contaminated as defined in RCW 64.44.010;(b) Satisfactorily decontaminated and retested according t…
RCW 46.12.620 Legal owner not liable for acts of registered owner.
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A person shown as the legal owner on a certificate of title which has a different person shown as the registered owner does not incur liability and is not responsible for damage or any liability resulting from any act or contract made by the registered owner or by any other perso…
RCW 46.12.630 Lists of registered and legal owners of vehicles and vessels—Furnished for certain purposes—Contract—Fees—Penalty for unauthorized use—Definition.
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(1) The department of licensing must furnish lists of registered and legal owners of: (a) Motor vehicles only for the purposes specified in this subsection (1)(a) to the manufacturers of motor vehicles or motor vehicle components, or their authorized agents, to enable those manuf…
RCW 46.12.635 Disclosure of names and addresses of individual vehicle and vessel owners—Vehicle and vessel information—Address confidentiality program participants.
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(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 42.56 RCW, the name or address of an individual vehicle or vessel owner shall not be released by the department, county auditor, data recipient, subrecipient, or agency or firm authorized by the department except under the following c…
RCW 46.12.640 Disclosure violations, penalties.
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(1) The department may review the activities of a person or entity that receives personal or identity information to ensure compliance with the limitations imposed on the use of the information. The department may suspend or revoke for up to five years the privilege of obtaining …
RCW 46.12.650 Releasing interest—Reports of sale—Transfer of ownership—Requirements—Penalty, exceptions.
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(1) Releasing interest. An owner releasing interest in a vehicle shall:(a) Sign the release of interest section provided on the certificate of title or on a release of interest document or form approved by the department;(b) Give the certificate of title or most recent evidence o…
RCW 46.12.652 Fraudulent report of sale filed—Procedure.
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If a court has declared that a fraudulent report of sale has been filed with the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director, the court must notify the department in writing with a copy of the court order. Once notified, the department may rem…
RCW 46.12.655 Release of owner from liability.
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(1) An owner is relieved of civil or criminal liability for the operation of a vehicle by another person when the owner has:(a) Made a bona fide sale or transfer of a vehicle;(b) Delivered possession of the vehicle to the person acquiring ownership;(c) Released interest in the ve…
RCW 46.12.660 Transitional ownership record.
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(1) A transitional ownership record:(a) Enables a security interest in a motor vehicle to be perfected in a timely manner when the certificate of title is not available at the time the security interest is created;(b) Provides for timely notification to security interest holders …
RCW 46.12.665 Odometer disclosure statement required—Exemptions.
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(1) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require a written odometer disclosure statement with every application for a certificate of title for a motor vehicle. The odometer disclosure statement must be on either the certificat…
RCW 46.12.670 Assigned certificates of title filed—Transfer of interest in vehicle.
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(1) The department shall file and index certificates of title when assigned and returned to the department, together with subsequent transactions so that at all times it will be possible to trace ownership to the vehicle designated on each certificate of title.(2)(a) A person who…
RCW 46.12.675 Perfection of security interest—Procedure.
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(1) A security interest in a vehicle other than one held as inventory by a manufacturer or a dealer and for which a certificate of title is required is perfected only by:(a) Complying with the requirements of RCW 46.12.660 or this section;(b) Receipt by the department, county aud…
RCW 46.12.680 Ownership in doubt—Procedure.
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(1) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director may register a vehicle and withhold issuance of a certificate of title or require a bond as a condition of issuing a certificate of title if the department is not satisfied:(a) As to the owne…
RCW 46.12.690 Campers.
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A camper is considered a vehicle for the purposes of certificates of title, perfection of security interests, and registrations. The director may adopt rules to implement this section.[ 2010 c 161 s 321; 2010 c 8 s 9007; 1979 c 158 s 136; 1971 ex.s. c 231 s 6. Formerly RCW 46.12.…
RCW 46.12.691 Custom vehicles.
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(1) When applying for a certificate of title for a custom vehicle for the first time, the owner of the custom vehicle must:(a) Submit a certification that the custom vehicle:(i) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, and si…
RCW 46.12.695 Kit vehicles.
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(1) A person who applies for an original certificate of title for a kit vehicle shall provide:(a) The manufacturer's certificate of origin or an equivalent document if the kit vehicle is a new manufactured vehicle kit or body kit;(b) The certificate of title or a certified copy o…
RCW 46.12.700 Manufactured homes—Manufactured/mobile or park model homes.
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(1) Titling options. An owner of a manufactured home shall establish ownership in the manufactured home by either:(a) Applying for a certificate of title as required under this chapter; or(b) Eliminating the certificate of title under chapter 65.20 RCW.(2) Exemption. This section…
RCW 46.12.711 Street rod vehicles.
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(1) When applying for a certificate of title for a street rod vehicle for the first time, the owner of the street rod vehicle must:(a) Submit a certification that the street rod vehicle:(i) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, t…
RCW 46.12.720 Buying, selling, etc. with numbers removed, altered, etc.—Penalty.
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Whoever knowingly buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or has knowingly in his or her possession any vehicle, watercraft, camper, or component part thereof, from which the manufacturer's serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been rem…
RCW 46.12.725 Seizure and impoundment—Notice to interested persons—Release to owner.
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(1) Any vehicle, watercraft, camper, or any component part thereof, from which the manufacturer's serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, obliterated, or destroyed, may be impounded and held by the seizi…
RCW 46.12.730 Disposition authorized, when.
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Unless a claim of ownership to the article or articles is established pursuant to RCW 46.12.735, the law enforcement agency seizing the vehicle, watercraft, camper, or component part thereof may dispose of them by destruction, by selling at public auction to the highest bidder, o…
RCW 46.12.735 Hearing—Appeal—Removal to court—Release after ruling.
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(1) Any person may submit a written request for a hearing to establish a claim of ownership or right to lawful possession of the vehicle, watercraft, camper, or component part thereof seized pursuant to this section.(2) Upon receipt of a request for hearing, one shall be held bef…
RCW 46.12.740 Release without hearing.
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The seizing law enforcement agency may release the article or articles impounded pursuant to this section to the person claiming ownership without a hearing pursuant to RCW 46.12.735 when such law enforcement agency is satisfied after an appropriate investigation as to the claima…
RCW 46.12.745 Assignment of new number.
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An identification number shall be assigned to any article impounded pursuant to RCW 46.12.725 in accordance with the rules promulgated by the department of licensing prior to:(1) The release of the article from the custody of the seizing agency; or(2) The use of the article by th…
RCW 46.12.750 Penalty for false statements, illegal transfers, alterations, or forgeries—Exception.
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(1) A person is guilty of a class B felony if the person:(a) Knowingly makes any false statement of a material fact, either on an application for a certificate of title or in any transfer of a certificate of title;(b) Intentionally acquires or passes ownership of a vehicle which …
RCW 46.12.755 Ownership of motor vehicle by person under eighteen prohibited—Exception.
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(1) A person under the age of eighteen may not be the registered or legal owner of a motor vehicle unless the:(a) Motor vehicle was previously registered in the person's name in another jurisdiction while a resident of that jurisdiction;(b) Person is on active military duty with …