wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1283 > Original Bill
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 description of the vehicle, including make, model, vehicle identification number, type of body, and the odometer reading at the time of delivery of the vehicle;
The name and address of the person who is to be the registered owner of the vehicle and, if the vehicle is subject to a security interest, the name and address of the secured party; and
Other information the department may require.
The department may require additional information and a physical examination of the vehicle or of any class of vehicles, or either.
The application for a certificate of title must be signed by the person applying to be the registered owner and be sworn to by that person in the manner described under chapter 5.50 RCW. The department shall keep the application in the original, computer, or photostatic form.
The application for an original certificate of title must be accompanied by:
A draft, money order, certified bank check, or cash for all fees and taxes due for the application for certificate of title; and
The most recent certificate of title or other satisfactory evidence of ownership.
Once issued, a certificate of title is not subject to renewal.
Whenever any person, after applying for or receiving a certificate of title, moves from the address named in the application or in the certificate of title issued to him or her, or changes his or her name of record, the person shall, within 10 days thereafter, notify the department of the name or address change as provided in RCW 46.08.195.
A certificate of title may be issued as an electronic record of ownership or as a paper certificate.
The department shall issue a 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 the applicant's name.
Each certificate of title issued by the department must contain:
The date of application;
The certificate of title number assigned to the vehicle;
The name and address of the registered owner and legal owner;
The vehicle identification number;
The mileage reading, if required, as provided by the odometer disclosure statement submitted with the application involving a transfer of ownership;
A notation that the recorded mileage is actual, not actual, or exceeds mechanical limits;
A blank space on the face of the certificate of title for the signature of the registered owner;
Information on whether the vehicle was ever registered and operated as an exempt vehicle or taxicab;
The director's signature and the seal of the department; and
Any other description of the vehicle and facts the department may require.
The department shall deliver the registration certificate to the registered owner and the certificate of title to the legal owner, or both to the person who is both the registered owner and legal owner. The certificate of title must be issued as an electronic record of ownership unless the applicant applies for a paper title under the process described in RCW 46.12.555.
The application for a paper title of a vehicle must be submitted by the owner or the 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 description of the vehicle, including make, model, vehicle identification number, type of body, and the odometer reading at the time of delivery of the vehicle, when required;
The name and address of the person who is to be the registered owner of the vehicle and, if the vehicle is subject to a security interest, the name and address of the secured party; and
Other information as may be required by the department.
The application for a paper title must be signed by the person applying to be the registered owner and be sworn to by that person in the manner described under chapter 5.50 RCW. The department must keep a copy of the application.
The application for a paper title must be accompanied by:
All fees and taxes due for an application for a certificate of title, including a paper title service fee under RCW 46.17.160; and
The most recent certificate of title or other satisfactory evidence of ownership.
All applications for a paper title must meet the requirements established by the department.
For the purposes of this section, "paper title" means a paper certificate of title. The paper certificate of title must be printed at the time of application
, except that a paper title is subject to a processing period before a paper title may be issued when the title is the first title issued to a vehicle previously designated as a salvage vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.514 or as otherwise restricted or prohibited by the department.
Before accepting an application for a paper title of a vehicle under RCW 46.12.555, the department, participating county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require the applicant to pay a $50 paper title service fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. The paper title service fee must be distributed under RCW 46.68.025.
The paper title service fee imposed under RCW 46.17.160 must be distributed as follows:
If the fee is paid to the director, the fee must be deposited to the motor vehicle fund established under RCW 46.68.070.
If the fee is paid to the county auditor or other agent appointed by the director, $25 must be deposited to the motor vehicle fund established under RCW 46.68.070. The remainder must be retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor.
If the fee is paid to a subagent appointed by the director, $25 must be deposited to the motor vehicle fund established under RCW 46.68.070. The remaining $25 must be distributed as follows: $12.50 must be retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor and $12.50 must be retained by the subagent.
For the purposes of this section, "paper title" has the same meaning as in RCW 46.12.555.
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:
Complying with the requirements of RCW 46.12.660 or this section;
Receipt by the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director of:
The existing certificate of title, if any;
An application for a certificate of title containing the name and address of the secured party; and
Payment of the required fees.
A security interest is perfected when it is created if the secured party's name and address appear on the most recently issued certificate of title or, if not, it is created when the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director receives the certificate of title or an application for a certificate of title and the fees required in subsection (1) of this section.
If a vehicle is subject to a security interest when brought into this state, perfection of the security interest is determined by the law of the jurisdiction where the vehicle was when the security interest was attached, subject to the following:
The security interest continues perfected in this state if the name of the secured party is shown on the existing certificate of title issued by that jurisdiction. The name of the secured party must be shown on the certificate of title issued for the vehicle by this state. The security interest continues perfected in this state when the department issues the certificate of title.
If the security interest was not perfected under the law of the jurisdiction where the vehicle was when the security interest was attached, it may be perfected in this state. Perfection begins when the department receives the information and fees required in subsection (1) of this section.
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After a certificate of title has been issued, the registered owner or secured party must apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a new certificate of title when a security interest is granted on a vehicle. Within 10 days after creating a security agreement, the registered owner or secured party must submit:
An application for a certificate of title;
The certificate of title last issued for the vehicle, or other documentation required by the department; and
The fee required in RCW 46.17.100.
If satisfied that a certificate of title should be reissued, the department shall change the vehicle record and issue a new certificate of title to the secured party.
A secured party shall release the security interest when the conditions within the security agreement have been met and there is no further secured obligation. The secured party must either:
Assign the certificate of title to the registered owner or the registered owner's designee and send the certificate of title to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director with the fee required in RCW 46.17.100 and the fee required in RCW 46.17.160 if a paper title is requested; or
Assign the certificate of title to the person acquiring the vehicle from the registered owner with the registered owner's release of interest.
The department shall issue a new certificate of title to the registered owner when the department receives the release of interest and required fees as provided in subsection (5)(a) of this section. A subagent appointed by the director may remove liens on electronic records.
A secured party is liable for $100 payable to the registered owner or person acquiring the vehicle from the registered owner when:
The secured party fails to either assign the certificate of title to the registered owner or to the person acquiring the vehicle from the registered owner or apply for a new certificate of title within 10 days after proper demand; and
The failure of the secured party to act as described in (a) of this subsection results in a loss to the registered owner or person acquiring the vehicle from the registered owner.
The application for a certificate of title of a vessel must be made by the owner or the 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 description of the vessel, including make, model, hull identification number, and type of body;
The name and address of the person who is to be the registered owner of the vessel and, if the vessel is subject to a security interest, the name and address of the secured party; and
Other information the department may require.
The application for a certificate of title must be signed by the person applying to be the registered owner and be sworn to by that person under penalty of the perjury laws of this state that:
The applicant is the owner or an authorized agent of the owner of the vessel; and
The vessel is free of any claim of lien, mortgage, conditional sale, or other security interest of any person except the person or persons on the application as secured parties.
The application for a certificate of title must be accompanied by:
A draft, money order, certified bank check, or cash for all fees and taxes due for the application for the certificate of title; and
The most recent certificate of title or other satisfactory evidence of ownership.
A certificate of title may be issued as an electronic record of ownership or as a paper title. The certificate of title must be issued as an electronic record of ownership unless the applicant applies for a paper title under the process described in RCW 88.02.540.
The application for a paper title of a vessel must be made by the owner or the 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 description of the vessel, including make, model, hull identification number, series, and body;
The name and address of the person who is to be the registered owner of the vessel and, if the vessel is subject to a security interest, the name and address of the secured party; and
Other information as may be required by the department.
The application for a paper title must be signed by the person applying to be the registered owner and be sworn to by that person in the manner described under chapter 5.50 RCW. The department must keep a copy of the application.
The application for a paper title must be accompanied by:
All fees and taxes due for an application for a certificate of title, including a paper title service fee under RCW 88.02.640(1); and
The most recent certificate of title or other satisfactory evidence of ownership.
All applications for paper title must meet the requirements established by the department.
For the purposes of this section, "paper title" means a paper certificate of title. The paper certificate of title must be printed at the time of application, except that a paper title is subject to a processing period before a paper title may be issued if restricted or prohibited by the department.
A subagent may process a paper title under this section only after (a) the department has instituted a process in which blank certificates of title can be inventoried; (b) the county auditor of the county in which the subagent is located has processed paper titles for a minimum of six months; and (c) the county auditor approves a request from a subagent in its county to process paper titles.
FEE
AMOUNT
AUTHORITY
DISTRIBUTION
a. Dealer temporary permit
$5.00
RCW 88.02.800(2)
General fund
b. Derelict vessel and invasive species removal
Subsection (3) of this section
Subsection (3) of this section
Subsection (3) of this section
c. Derelict vessel removal surcharge
$1.00
Subsection (4) of this section
Subsection (4) of this section
d. Duplicate certificate of title
$1.25
RCW 88.02.530(1)(c)
General fund
e. Duplicate registration
$1.25
RCW 88.02.590(1)(c)
General fund
f. Filing
RCW 46.17.005
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.68.400
g. License plate technology
RCW 46.17.015
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.68.370
h. License service
RCW 46.17.025
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.68.220
i. Nonresident vessel permit
Subsection (5) of this section
RCW 88.02.620(4)
Subsection (5) of this section
j. Paper title service
$50.00
RCW 88.02.540(3)
Subsection (7) of this section
k. Registration
$10.50
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 88.02.650
l. Replacement decal
$1.25
RCW 88.02.595(1)(c)
General fund
m. Service fee
RCW 46.17.040
RCW 88.02.515 and 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.17.040
n. Title application
$5.00
RCW 88.02.515
General fund
o. Transfer
$1.00
RCW 88.02.560(7)
General fund
p. Vessel visitor permit
$30.00
RCW 88.02.610(3)
Subsection (6) of this section
The $5 dealer temporary permit fee required in subsection (1) of this section must be credited to the payment of registration fees at the time application for registration is made.
The derelict vessel and invasive species removal fee required in subsection (1) of this section is $5 and must be distributed as follows:
$2 must be deposited in the aquatic invasive species management account created in RCW 77.135.200;
$1 must be deposited into the aquatic algae control account created in RCW 43.21A.667; and
$2 must be deposited in the derelict vessel removal account created in RCW 79.100.100.
In addition to other fees required in this section, an annual derelict vessel removal surcharge of $1 must be charged with each vessel registration. The surcharge is to address the significant backlog of derelict vessels accumulated in Washington waters that pose a threat to the health and safety of the people and to the environment and must be deposited into the derelict vessel removal account created in RCW 79.100.100.
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The amount of the nonresident vessel permit fee is:
For a vessel owned by a nonresident natural person, $25; and
For a nonresident vessel owner that is not a natural person, the fee is equal to:
(A) $25 per foot for vessels between 30 and 99 feet in length;
(B) $30 per foot for vessels between 100 and 120 feet in length; and
(C) $37.50 per foot for vessels between 121 and 200 feet in length. The fee must be multiplied by the extreme length of the vessel in feet, rounded up to the nearest whole foot.
b. The fee must be paid by the vessel owner to the department. Any moneys remaining from the fee after the payment of costs to administer the permit must be allocated to counties by the state treasurer for approved boating safety programs under RCW 88.02.650.
c. In addition to the applicable fees under this section, vessel owners who obtain a nonresident vessel permit for the purposes of chartering their vessel with a captain or crew are subject to use tax as provided in RCW 82.12.799.
The $30 vessel visitor permit fee must be distributed as follows:
$5 must be deposited in the derelict vessel removal account created in RCW 79.100.100;
The department may keep an amount to cover costs for providing the vessel visitor permit;
Any moneys remaining must be allocated to counties by the state treasurer for approved boating safety programs under RCW 88.02.650; and
Any fees required for licensing agents under RCW 46.17.005 are in addition to any other fee or tax due for the titling and registration of vessels.
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The $50 paper title service fee must be distributed as follows:
If the fee is paid to the director, the fee must be deposited to the general fund.
If the fee is paid to the participating county auditor or other agent appointed by the director, $25 must be deposited to the general fund. The remainder must be retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor.
If the fee is paid to a subagent appointed by the director, $25 must be deposited to the general fund. The remaining $25 must be distributed as follows: $12.50 must be retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor and $12.50 must be retained by the subagent.
For the purposes of this subsection, "paper title" has the same meaning as in RCW 88.02.540.
The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall charge the service fee under subsection (1)(m) of this section beginning January 1, 2016.
FEE
AMOUNT
AUTHORITY
DISTRIBUTION
a. Dealer temporary permit
$5.00
RCW 88.02.800(2)
General fund
b. Derelict vessel and invasive species removal
Subsection (3) of this section
Subsection (3) of this section
Subsection (3) of this section
c. Derelict vessel removal surcharge
$1.00
Subsection (4) of this section
Subsection (4) of this section
d. Duplicate certificate of title
$1.25
RCW 88.02.530(1)(c)
General fund
e. Duplicate registration
$1.25
RCW 88.02.590(1)(c)
General fund
f. Filing
RCW 46.17.005
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.68.400
g. License plate technology
RCW 46.17.015
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.68.370
h. License service
RCW 46.17.025
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.68.220
i. Nonresident vessel permit
$25.00
RCW 88.02.620(3)
Subsection (5) of this section
j. Paper title service
$50.00
RCW 88.02.540(3)
Subsection (7) of this section
k. Registration
$10.50
RCW 88.02.560(2)
RCW 88.02.650
l. Replacement decal
$1.25
RCW 88.02.595(1)(c)
General fund
m. Service fee
RCW 46.17.040
RCW 88.02.515 and 88.02.560(2)
RCW 46.17.040
n. Title application
$5.00
RCW 88.02.515
General fund
o. Transfer
$1.00
RCW 88.02.560(7)
General fund
p. Vessel visitor permit
$30.00
RCW 88.02.610(3)
Subsection (6) of this section
The $5 dealer temporary permit fee required in subsection (1) of this section must be credited to the payment of registration fees at the time application for registration is made.
The derelict vessel and invasive species removal fee required in subsection (1) of this section is $5 and must be distributed as follows:
$2 must be deposited in the aquatic invasive species management account created in RCW 77.135.200;
$1 must be deposited into the aquatic algae control account created in RCW 43.21A.667; and
$2 must be deposited in the derelict vessel removal account created in RCW 79.100.100.
In addition to other fees required in this section, an annual derelict vessel removal surcharge of $1 must be charged with each vessel registration. The surcharge is to address the significant backlog of derelict vessels accumulated in Washington waters that pose a threat to the health and safety of the people and to the environment and must be deposited into the derelict vessel removal account created in RCW 79.100.100.
The $25 nonresident vessel permit fee must be paid by the vessel owner to the department for the cost of providing the identification document by the department. Any moneys remaining from the fee after the payment of costs must be allocated to counties by the state treasurer for approved boating safety programs under RCW 88.02.650.
The $30 vessel visitor permit fee must be distributed as follows:
$5 must be deposited in the derelict vessel removal account created in RCW 79.100.100;
The department may keep an amount to cover costs for providing the vessel visitor permit;
Any moneys remaining must be allocated to counties by the state treasurer for approved boating safety programs under RCW 88.02.650; and
Any fees required for licensing agents under RCW 46.17.005 are in addition to any other fee or tax due for the titling and registration of vessels.
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The $50 paper title service fee must be distributed as follows:
If the fee is paid to the director, the fee must be deposited to the general fund.
If the fee is paid to the participating county auditor or other agent appointed by the director, $25 must be deposited to the general fund. The remainder must be retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor.
If the fee is paid to a subagent appointed by the director, $25 must be deposited to the general fund. The remaining $25 must be distributed as follows: $12.50 must be retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor and $12.50 must be retained by the subagent.
For the purposes of this subsection, "paper title" has the same meaning as in RCW 88.02.540.
The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall charge the service fee under subsection (1)(m) of this section beginning January 1, 2016.
Section 9 of this act expires January 1, 2029.
Section 10 of this act takes effect January 1, 2029.