Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

This chapter applies to proportional registration and reciprocity granted under the provisions of the international registration plan (IRP). This chapter shall become effective and be implemented beginning with the 1988 registration year.(1) The director may adopt and enforce rul…

Provisions and terms used in this chapter have the meaning given to them in the international registration plan (IRP), in chapter 46.04 RCW, or as otherwise defined in this section. Definitions given to terms by the IRP prevail unless given a different meaning in this chapter or …

Owners of rental trailers and semitrailers over six thousand pounds gross vehicle weight used solely in pool fleets must fully register a portion of the pool fleet in this state. To determine the percentage of total fleet vehicles that must be registered in this state, divide the…

All vehicles being added to a Washington fleet or those vehicles that make up a new Washington fleet must be titled in the name of the owner at time of registration.[ 2015 c 228 s 4; 1990 c 250 s 75; 1987 c 244 s 17.]Notes:Effective date—2015 c 228: See note following RCW 46.87.0…

(1) When application to register a vehicle in an existing fleet is made, the Washington apportioned fees must be reduced by one-twelfth for each full month that has elapsed from the time an application for registration is received in the department. The prorate percentage previou…

Additional gross weight may be purchased to the limits authorized under chapter 46.44 RCW. Registration must be for the remainder of the registration year, including the full registration month in which the vehicle is initially registered at the higher gross weight. The apportion…

Each day the department must forward to the state treasurer the fees collected under this chapter and, within ten days of the end of each registration quarter, a detailed report identifying the amount to be deposited to each account for which fees are required. Such fees must be …

The apportionment of fees to IRP member jurisdictions must be in accordance with the provisions of the IRP agreement.[ 2015 c 228 s 8; 1987 c 244 s 21; 1985 c 380 s 6.]Notes:Effective date—2015 c 228: See note following RCW 46.87.010.Effective dates—1987 c 244: See note following…

Trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers properly based in jurisdictions other than Washington and displaying currently registered license plates issued by the jurisdictions are granted vehicle registration reciprocity in this state. Unless registered under the provisions of the…

(1) Upon making satisfactory application and payment of fees and taxes for proportional registration under this chapter, the department must issue credentials. License plates must be displayed as required under RCW 46.16A.200(5). The license plates must be of a design determined …

(1) To replace license plates, a cab card, or validation tab(s), the registrant must apply to the department on forms furnished by the department.(a) A fee of ten dollars is charged for two license plates. The department must issue new license plates with validation tabs and a ne…

(1) An application for proportional registration of a fleet must state the actual distance accumulated by the fleet during the reporting period. If operations were not conducted by the fleet during the reporting period, the application must contain a department determined average…

The department must collect a vehicle transaction fee each time a vehicle is added to a Washington fleet, and each time the registration of a Washington fleet vehicle is renewed. The exact amount of the vehicle transaction fee must be fixed by rule, but must not exceed ten dollar…

(1) Any owner of one or more fleets of apportionable vehicles may, in lieu of registration of the vehicles under chapter 46.16A RCW, register the vehicles of each fleet by filing a proportional registration application with the department. The application must contain the followi…

If a person pays a fee or tax that amounts to an overpayment of ten dollars or more, the person is entitled to a refund of the entire amount of the overpayment, regardless of whether or not a refund has been requested. This subsection does not preclude a person from applying for …

The department may suspend or cancel the exemptions, benefits, or privileges granted under chapter 46.85 RCW or this chapter to any person who violates any of the conditions or terms of the IRP or who violates the laws or rules of this state relating to the operation or registrat…

The department must refuse registration of a vehicle if the applicant has failed to furnish proof, acceptable to the department, that the federal heavy vehicle use tax imposed under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 4481 has been suspended or paid.[ 2015 c 228 s 17; 1987 c 244 s 33.]Notes:Effective…

The gross weight of a vehicle is the scale weight of the vehicle, plus the scale weight of any trailer, semitrailer, converter gear, or pole trailer to be towed by it, to which must be added the maximum weight of the load to be carried on it or towed by it as declared by the lice…

Whenever an act or omission is declared to be unlawful under chapter 46.12, 46.16A, or 46.44 RCW or this chapter, and the operator of the vehicle is not the owner or lessee of the vehicle but is operating or moving the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner o…

To administer the provisions of the IRP, the department may act in a quasi-agency relationship with other jurisdictions. The department may collect and forward applicable registration fees and taxes to other jurisdictions on behalf of the applicant or another jurisdiction and may…

This chapter constitutes complete authority for the registration of vehicles upon a proportional registration basis without reference to or application of any other statutes of this state except as expressly provided in this chapter.[ 2015 c 228 s 21; 1987 c 244 s 38.]Notes:Effec…

Any person who alters, forges, or causes to be altered or forged any credential, or holds or uses any credential knowing the credential to have been altered or forged, is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.[ 2015 c 228 s 22; 2003 c 53 s 255; 1987…

This chapter does not require any vehicle to be proportionally registered if it is otherwise properly registered for operation on the highways of this state.[ 2015 c 228 s 23; 1987 c 244 s 41.]Notes:Effective date—2015 c 228: See note following RCW 46.87.010.Effective dates—1987 …

(1) If the department determines at any time that an applicant for proportional registration of a vehicle or vehicles is not entitled to credentials, the department may refuse to issue credentials for the vehicle or vehicles and, after notice, cancel any existing credentials. The…

The department must refuse to register a vehicle if the registrant or motor carrier responsible for the safety of the vehicle has been prohibited from operating by the federal motor carrier safety administration. The department may not register a vehicle if the Washington state p…

The department must suspend or revoke the credentials of a vehicle if the registrant or motor carrier responsible for the safety of the vehicle has been prohibited from operating by the federal motor carrier safety administration. The department may not register a vehicle if the …

The suspension, revocation, cancellation, or refusal by the director, or the director's designee, of the credentials issued under this chapter is conclusive unless the person whose credentials are suspended, revoked, canceled, or refused appeals to the superior court of Thurston …

An owner must preserve the records on which the owner's application for apportioned registration is based for a period of three years following the close of the registration year. The owner must make records available to the department for audit as to the accuracy and adequacy of…

The department may initiate and conduct audits and investigations to establish the existence of any alleged violations of or noncompliance with this chapter or any rules adopted under it.For the purpose of any audit, investigation, or proceeding under this chapter, the director o…

An owner of vehicles against whom an assessment is made under RCW 46.87.310 may petition for reassessment within thirty days after service of notice of the assessment upon the owner. If the petition is not filed within the thirty-day period, the amount of the assessment becomes f…

Except in the case of violations of filing a false or fraudulent application, if the department deems mitigation of penalties, fees, and interest to be reasonable, it may mitigate such assessments giving consideration to the degree and extent of the lack of records and reporting …

(1) If a person liable for the payment of fees and taxes fails to pay the amount, including any interest and penalty, together with costs incurred, there must be a lien in favor of the state upon all franchises, property, and rights to property, whether real or personal, belongin…

If a person is delinquent in the payment of any obligation, the department may give notice of the amount of the delinquency, in person, by mail, or through electronic service, to persons having possession or control of credits or personal and real property belonging to the person…

If a person is delinquent in the payment of any obligation, and the delinquency continues after notice and demand for payment, the department must collect the amount due. The department must seize any property subject to the lien of the fees, taxes, penalties, and interest and se…

When an assessment becomes final, the department may file with the clerk of any county within the state a warrant in the amount of fees, taxes, penalties, interest, and a filing fee under RCW 36.18.012(10). The warrant constitutes a lien upon the title to, and interest in, all re…

The remedies of the state in this chapter are cumulative, and no action taken by the department may be construed to be an election on the part of the state or any of its officers to pursue any remedy under this chapter to the exclusion of any other remedy provided for in this cha…

(1) The director, the state of Washington, and its political subdivisions are immune from civil liability arising from the issuance of a vehicle license to a nonroadworthy vehicle.(2) No suit or action may be commenced or prosecuted against the director or the state of Washington…

A licensee who files a petition in bankruptcy, or against whom a petition for bankruptcy is filed, must notify the department within ten days of the filing, including the name and location of the court in which [the] petition is filed.[ 2015 c 228 s 36; 1997 c 183 s 1.]Notes:Effe…

This chapter may be known and cited as "Proportional Registration."[ 1987 c 244 s 54.]Notes:Effective dates—1987 c 244: See note following RCW 46.87.010.