Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

The legislature has seen an increase in the demand from constituent groups seeking recognition and funding through the establishment of commemorative or special license plates. The high cost of implementing a new special license plate series coupled with the uncertainty of the st…

Persons applying to the department for special license plates shall apply on forms obtained from the department and in accordance with RCW 46.16A.040. The applicant shall provide all information as is required by the department in order to determine the applicant's eligibility fo…

The director shall adopt rules to implement this chapter, including the setting of fees.[ 2011 c 171 s 64; 2010 c 161 s 631; 1990 c 250 s 10. Formerly RCW 46.16.335.]Notes:Intent—Effective date—2011 c 171: See notes following RCW 4.24.210.Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reco…

The department shall:(1) Process special license plate applications and confirm that the sponsoring organization has submitted all required documentation. If an incomplete application is received, the department must return it to the sponsoring organization; and(2) Compile the an…

(1) The department must review and either approve or reject special license plate applications submitted by sponsoring organizations. Except for special license plates created under chapter 385, Laws of 2025, the department may not issue any new special license plates until Janua…

(1) For an organization to qualify for a special license plate under the special license plate approval program created in this chapter, the sponsoring organization must submit documentation to the department that verifies that the organization is:(a)(i) A nonprofit organization,…

(1) A sponsoring organization meeting the requirements of RCW 46.18.100, applying for the creation of a special license plate must, on an application supplied by the department, provide the minimum application requirements in subsection (2) of this section.(2) The sponsoring orga…

(1) Within thirty days of legislative enactment of a new special license plate series for a qualifying organization meeting the requirements of RCW 46.18.100(1), the department shall enter into a written agreement with the organization that sponsored the special license plate. Th…

(1) Revenues generated from the sale of special license plates for those sponsoring organizations who used the application process in RCW 46.18.110 must be deposited into the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 46.68.070 until the department determines that the state's implementati…

(1) A special license plate series created by the legislature after January 1, 2011, that has not been reviewed and approved by the department is subject to the following requirements:(a) The organization sponsoring the license plate series shall, within thirty days of enactment …

The department shall offer special license plate design services to organizations that are sponsoring a new special license plate series and organizations seeking to redesign the appearance of an existing special license plate series that they sponsored. In providing this service…

(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions…

(1) A registered owner may apply to the department for special license plates showing the official amateur radio call letters assigned by the federal communications commission. The amateur radio operator must:(a) Provide a copy of the current valid federal communications commissi…

(1) A registered owner may apply to the department for special armed forces license plates for vehicles representing the following:(a) Air force;(b) Army;(c) Coast guard;(d) Marine corps;(e) National guard; or(f) Navy.(2) Armed forces license plates may be purchased by:(a) Active…

(1) The department must make available, upon request by a purchaser of special armed forces license plates, at no additional cost, a decal indicating the purchaser's military status. The list of available decals must include, but is not limited to:(a) Active duty;(b) Disabled vet…

(1) A registered owner may apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a collector vehicle license plate for a motor vehicle or travel trailer that is at least 30 years old. The motor vehicle must be operated primarily as a co…

The department must provide a method by which law enforcement officers may readily access vehicle information for collector vehicles by using the collector vehicle license plate number. In the event duplicate license plate numbers have been issued to more than one collector vehic…

A state university, regional university, or state college as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 may apply to the department, in a form approved by the department and request the department to issue a series of collegiate license plates, for display on motor vehicles required to display on…

(1) A registered owner who has been awarded the Medal of Honor may apply to the department for no more than three special license plate sets for use on no more than three motor vehicles required to display one or two license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.…

(1) A registered owner who is a veteran, as defined in RCW 41.04.007, may apply to the department for disabled American veteran or former prisoner of war license plates, for use on one personal use motor vehicle required to display one or two license plates, excluding vehicles re…

(1) A registered owner who is an officer of the Taipei economic and cultural office may apply to the department for special license plates for a motor vehicle owned or leased by the officer. The special license plates must:(a) Be issued for passenger vehicles having a manufacture…

(1) A registered owner who is an eligible family member of a member of the United States armed forces who died while in service to his or her country, or as a result of his or her service, may apply to the department for special gold star license plates for use on a motor vehicle…

(1) A registered owner who is an honorary consul or official representative of any foreign government may apply to the department for special license plates for a motor vehicle owned or leased by the honorary consul or official representative. The honorary consul or official repr…

(1) A registered owner may apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a horseless carriage license plate for a motor vehicle that is at least forty years old. The motor vehicle must be operated primarily as a collector vehicl…

(1) A registered owner who has a valid military affiliate radio system station license may apply to the department for special license plates for use on only one motor vehicle owned by the qualified applicant. The applicant must:(a) Be a resident of this state;(b) Provide a copy …

(1) A registered owner who has survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, may apply to the department for special license plates for use on only one motor vehicle required to display one or two license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, u…

(1) A registered owner may apply to the department for a personalized license plate for any vehicle required to display one or two vehicle license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department. The applicati…

(1) A registered owner may purchase personalized license plates with a special license plate background for any vehicle required to display one or two vehicle license plates, excluding:(a) Amateur radio license plates;(b) Collector vehicle license plates;(c) Disabled American vet…

(1) A registered owner who has been awarded a Purple Heart medal by any branch of the United States armed forces, including the merchant marines and the women's air forces service pilots may apply to the department for special license plates for use on a motor vehicle required to…

(1) A registered owner who uses a passenger motor vehicle for ride sharing or ride sharing for persons with special transportation needs, as defined in RCW 46.74.010, shall apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for special r…

A registered owner may apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a square dancer license plate. The registered owner shall pay the special license plate fee required under *RCW 46.17.220(27), in addition to any other fee or …

(1) Veterans and active duty military personnel may purchase a veterans remembrance emblem, campaign medal emblem, or military service award emblem. The emblem is to be displayed on license plates in the manner described by the department, existing vehicular registration procedur…

(1) The general public may purchase a prevent veteran suicide emblem for a prescribed fee set by the department. The emblem must be displayed on license plates in the manner described by the department, existing vehicular registration procedures, and current laws.(2) The departme…

(1) The department shall create, design, and issue a keep Washington evergreen license plate that may be used in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for motor vehicles required to display one or two license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.…