Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

(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.…

(1) A natural person who has a disability that meets one of the following criteria may apply for special parking privileges:(a) Cannot walk two hundred feet without stopping to rest;(b) Is severely limited in ability to walk due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition…

(1) The following organizations may apply for special parking privileges:(a) Public transportation authorities;(b) Nursing homes licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW;(c) Assisted living facilities licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW;(d) Senior citizen centers;(e) Accessible van rental c…

(1) The department shall design special license plates for persons with disabilities, parking placards, and year tabs displaying the international symbol of access.(2) Special license plates for persons with disabilities must be displayed on the motor vehicle as standard issue li…

(1) Parking privileges for persons with disabilities must be renewed at least every five years, as required by the director, by satisfactory proof of the right to continued use of the privileges. Satisfactory proof must include a signed written authorization from a health care pr…

(1) False information. Knowingly providing false information in conjunction with the application for special parking privileges for persons with disabilities is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.(2) Unauthorized use. Any unauthorized use of the parking placar…

(1) An additional fee may not be charged for special license plates for persons with disabilities except for any other fees and taxes required to be paid upon registration of a motor vehicle.(2) A registered owner who qualifies for special parking privileges as described in RCW 4…

A special license plate or card issued by another state or country that indicates that an occupant of a vehicle has disabilities entitles the vehicle on or in which it is displayed and being used to transport the person with disabilities to lawfully park in a parking place reserv…

(1) The application for special parking privileges for persons with disabilities must contain:(a) The following statement immediately below the physician's, advanced registered nurse practitioner's, or physician assistant's signature: "A parking permit for a person with disabilit…

(1) No person may drive a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state without first obtaining a valid driver's license issued to Washington residents under this chapter. The only exceptions to this requirement are those expressly allowed by RCW 46.20.025.(2) A person licensed as a…

Except as expressly exempted by this chapter, it is a misdemeanor for a person to drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state without a valid driver's license issued to Washington residents under this chapter. This section does not apply if at the time of the stop the pe…

(1) Except as expressly exempted by this chapter, it is a traffic infraction and not a misdemeanor under RCW 46.20.005 if a person:(a) Drives any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state without a valid driver's license issued to Washington residents under this chapter in his o…

Every licensee shall have his or her driver's license in his or her immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle and shall display the same upon demand to any police officer or to any other person when and if required by law to do so. The offense described in …

(1) New Washington residents must obtain a valid Washington driver's license within thirty days from the date they become residents.(2) To qualify for a Washington driver's license, a person must surrender to the department all valid driver's licenses that any other jurisdiction …

Any person who operates a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state without a driver's license or nonresident privilege to drive shall be subject to all of the provisions of Title 46 RCW to the same extent as a person who is licensed.[1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 29 s 1.]Notes:A…

No person shall cause or knowingly permit his or her child or ward under the age of eighteen years to drive a motor vehicle upon any highway when such minor is not authorized hereunder or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.[ 2010 c 8 s 9019; 1965 ex.s. c 121 s …

The following persons may operate a motor vehicle on a Washington highway without a valid Washington driver's license:(1) A member of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or in the service of the National Guard of this state or any other state, i…

A Washington state motor vehicle driver's license issued to any service member if valid and in force and effect while such person is serving in the armed forces, shall remain in full force and effect so long as such service continues unless the same is sooner suspended, canceled,…

The department shall not issue a driver's license to a person:(1) Who is under the age of sixteen years;(2) Whose driving privilege has been withheld unless and until the department may authorize the driving privilege under RCW 46.20.311;(3) Who has been classified as an alcoholi…

The department may not issue an identicard or a Washington state driver's license that is valid for identification purposes unless the applicant meets the identification requirements of subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section.(1) A driver's license or identicard applicant mus…

(1) The department shall develop in consultation with the department of children, youth, and families, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs:(a) Other forms of identification that could be used …

(1) The department may implement a facial recognition matching system for drivers' licenses, permits, and identicards. Any facial recognition matching system selected by the department must be used only to verify the identity of an applicant for or holder of a driver's license, p…

(1) If the department has reason to believe that a person is suffering from a physical or mental disability or disease that may affect that person's ability to drive a motor vehicle, the department must evaluate whether the person is able to safely drive a motor vehicle. As part …

A person who is under the age of eighteen years shall not drive:(1) A school bus transporting school children; or(2) A motor vehicle transporting persons for compensation.[ 1999 c 6 s 10; 1971 ex.s. c 292 s 43; 1965 ex.s. c 121 s 6.]Notes:Intent—1999 c 6: See note following RCW 4…

There shall be an additional fee for issuing any class of commercial driver's license in addition to the prescribed fee required for the issuance of the original driver's license. The additional fee for each class shall be one hundred thirty-six dollars for the original commercia…

(1) Driver's instruction permit. The department may issue a driver's instruction permit online or in person with or without a photograph to an applicant who has successfully passed all parts of the examination other than the driving test, provided the information required by RCW …

(1) If the department is completing an investigation and determination of facts concerning an applicant's right to receive a driver's license, it may issue a temporary driver's permit to the applicant.(2) A temporary driver's permit authorizes the permittee to drive a motor vehic…

(1) Agricultural driving permit authorized. The director may issue a juvenile agricultural driving permit to a person under the age of eighteen years if:(a) The application is signed by the applicant and the applicant's father, mother, or legal guardian;(b) The applicant has pass…

(1) An intermediate license authorizes the holder to drive a motor vehicle under the conditions specified in this section. An applicant for an intermediate license must be at least 16 years of age and:(a) Have possessed a valid instruction permit for a period of not less than six…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6081-S.SL) ***(1) Application. In order to apply for a driver's license or instruction permit the applicant must provide the applicant's:(a) Name of record, as established by documentation required under RCW 46.20.035;(b) Date of birth, as established …