Getting a brand new car is SO EXCITING!
And we guess you may’t wait to get behind the wheel and hit the streets.
However wait!
Earlier than you do, you have to guarantee it’s registered in Washington State.
The identical is true in case you are a brand new resident within the state and need to drive your out-of-state car round.
Properly, we’re right here to assist.
At this time, we’re going to stroll you thru the Washington automotive registration course of.
We’ll additionally discuss registration renewal, automotive legal guidelines, and penalties.
You received’t miss out on something.
So welcome to your all-in-one information to automotive registrations in Washington State!
Let’s dive in!
How one can Register A Automobile in Washington
Should you bought a brand-new automotive from a vendor in Washington State, you don’t have to fret about registering it. That’s half and parcel of the service they supply.
Nonetheless, issues are totally different if:
- It was from a personal sale
- It was from an out-of-state vendor
That mentioned, registering your automotive isn’t difficult.
You possibly can undergo your complete course of by doing the next:
- Make sure the car complies with California’s emission requirements. You didn’t learn that flawed — that is beneath Washington’s Clear Automobile Legislation.
- Collect the next paperwork:
- A Automobile Title Utility Kind
- A Automobile/Vessel Invoice of Sale (each you and the vendor should signal it)
- The car’s present Title
- Automobile insurance coverage, self-insurance, certificates of deposit, or legal responsibility bond (verify the ‘automotive legal guidelines’ part beneath for extra particulars).
- Odometer Disclosure Assertion Kind (in case your automotive is a 2011 mannequin or newer)
- Affidavit of Loss/Launch of Curiosity (provided that crucial)
You’ll find all types right here.
- Go to a car licensing workplace and do the next:
- Present proof of identification
- Submit all of the paperwork you ready within the earlier step
- Pay the required charge
- Get new license plates, besides if any of the next conditions apply:
- You’re taking a deceased partner or home associate off the Title
- Your car is out of your partner or home associate
- You inherited it from a member of the family
- A relative gave it as a present
- It was a part of a belief, and you’re the beneficiary
- Wait in your Certificates of Title. It’ll arrive inside eight to 10 weeks.
| NOTE: Should you want it sooner, go to a Fast Title Workplace in Step 3 as a substitute (click on right here for places). Nonetheless, you have to pay an extra $85.50 on high of the registration charges. |
- Add the car to your License eXpress Account. You will get renewal notices from right here and verify in case your info is up to date.
And similar to that, you’ve registered your automotive!
In order for you extra info, you may try the WA DOL’s official web site.
How one can Renew A Automobile Registration in Washington
Automobile registration isn’t a one-time factor — you have to renew your car’s tabs yearly.
Fortunately, you’re given 3 choices to resume your automotive registration.
Whichever route you need to use, it’s greatest to make sure you’ve paid any tickets or toll charges beforehand.
Don’t neglect to verify your handle on file via your License eXpress account too.
You may additionally need to see if in case you have different doable necessities.
After that, you can begin renewing…
How one can Renew Your WA Automobile Registration On-line
Think about renewing your tabs with out leaving the home — doesn’t that sound nice?
IT SURE DOES!
Nonetheless, earlier than you begin the method, let’s make sure you qualify for this methodology.
On-line renewal is feasible if:
- Your tabs aren’t expired (or expired lower than 12 months in the past)
- You don’t want a DOT quantity (otherwise you’ve had one for over a 12 months)
Should you qualify, right here’s what it is best to do:
- Head over to the WA DOL On-line Service web page and choose ‘Renew your car registration’.
- Present the required info, together with the next:
- Your plate, decal, or steel tag quantity
- Your final identify or enterprise identify
OR
- The final 4 characters of your VIN
- Comply with the web prompts and pay the required charge. You possibly can pay along with your checking account or bank card (bank cards have a 3% extra cost).
- Wait in your tabs to reach within the mail inside 5 days. It’s also possible to select to choose them up at a car licensing workplace.
How one can Renew Your WA Automobile Registration By Mail
You possibly can solely renew by mail if you happen to obtain a renewal discover from the Washington Division of Licensing.
Should you do, observe the directions on the discover to resume your car’s registration.
Don’t fear if you happen to didn’t obtain a discover — keep in mind, you may have three choices!
How one can Renew Your WA Automobile Registration In Individual
Possibility quantity 3 is renewing in particular person.
Should you’re not eligible for a web-based renewal or didn’t obtain a renewal discover from the DOL, that is your greatest (and solely) various.
Listed here are the steps:
- Put together the next paperwork:
- Emissions Check Completion
- The renewal discover (if you happen to acquired one) OR your present registration certificates
- A photograph ID
- Proof of residence in Washington State
- Go to a car license workplace and do the next:
- Submit the paperwork
- Pay the required charges
- Get your new tabs.
Washington Automobile Legal guidelines
Moreover registration, there are different automotive legal guidelines within the state that each driver ought to learn about.
Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at these 5 legal guidelines:
- When to register
- Title
- Report of Sale
- License Plates
- Insurance coverage
When to Register
Should you’re shifting to Washington State, you have to register your automotive inside 30 days of transferring.
Bear in mind, you have to first get a WA-issued driver’s license earlier than you may register your automotive right here.
Should you purchased a car within the state, then you definitely’re given solely 15 days to have it registered.
Should you go over the 30 or 15 days timeframe, you’ll should pay a penalty charge.
Title
A Certificates of Title is a doc proving possession.
It exhibits the registered and authorized house owners of a car.
The WA DOL points a Title to a number of autos, not solely vehicles. These embody mopeds, cell houses, electrical and off-road autos, campers, and trailers.
Preserve yours in a protected place, however you don’t must have it in your car.
When you have a snowmobile, you have to register it yearly. Nonetheless, you do not want a Title for it.
Bear in mind, whenever you buy a car, you have to switch the possession to you. It includes getting the present Title from all (earlier) house owners (it should be signed and dated).
Nonetheless, if you happen to bought your automotive from a vendor, they’ll deal with the switch of possession for you.
Report of Sale
Should you’re promoting your automotive, you have to report the sale of your car inside 5 days of the transaction.
You will get the Report of Sale kind from newer Certificates of Possession (on the higher portion) or any car licensing workplace. It’s also possible to obtain a replica right here.
You possibly can file it with the DOL via any of those channels:
Whatever the channel, you have to pay the $13.25 charge.
| NOTE: Enclose a verify payable to the Division of Licensing if submitting by mail. |
License Plate
Your car should have registered license plates within the entrance and on the rear.
Moreover common ones, there are three sorts of plate numbers out there in Washington:
Insurance coverage
Your Washington car doesn’t solely should be registered — you have to even have it insured.
When buying auto insurance coverage, make sure that your coverage has no less than the minimal limits for legal responsibility protection:
- $25,000 for bodily damage per particular person
- $50,000 for bodily damage per accident
- $10,000 for property harm
Bear in mind, these are the minimal automotive necessities in Washington. You should buy different coverages (akin to collision or complete insurance coverage) or enhance your limits.
You possibly can learn extra about it right here.
Automobile Penalties in Washington
You might face a number of penalties if you happen to don’t switch your new car’s possession or have it registered or insured.
Let’s break that down.
On Transferring of Possession:
- Pay a $50 penalty if you happen to switch possession on the sixteenth day (keep in mind you’re solely given 15 days)
- Pay $2 per day for on daily basis after the sixteenth day
On Registration:
- Driving unregistered autos ends in a wonderful of $529 (plus delinquent taxes and costs)
- Impounding of your car if its registration expired greater than 45 days in the past
- Avoiding tax or car license charges related to registration by registering it in a distinct state (verify desk beneath):
| Offense | Jail Time | Fines |
| First | As much as 364 days | $529 + $1,000 (plus delinquent taxes and costs) |
| Second | As much as 364 days | $529 + $5,000 (plus delinquent taxes and costs) |
On Insurance coverage:
- Driving with out insurance coverage ends in a wonderful of no less than $550
The Wrap Up
In order that was all you wanted to know in regards to the Washington automotive registration.
Now you realize what must be performed.
So go forward and register your car at this time!
If already registered, perhaps it’s time to resume it…
And naturally, at all times ensure you adjust to the Washington automotive legal guidelines.
Bear in mind, understanding the state’s registration necessities and automotive legal guidelines is a certain strategy to keep away from penalties and site visitors violations.
