Registering an Out-of-State Car in Washington (2026)

If you move to Washington with a car, you have 30 days to get a Washington driver license and register the vehicle. The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) says you must have the Washington license first, because driver licensing and vehicle licensing are done in separate offices.

Quick answer

Steps

1. Get your Washington driver license. DOL says driver licensing and vehicle licensing are in separate locations, so plan two visits.
2. Gather your documents. Your current title, and the mileage from your odometer. DOL says to call a vehicle licensing office if you are unsure what steps, documents and fees apply to you.
3. If the bank holds your title, call a vehicle licensing office for the fax number. Your bank will need it to fax a copy of the title.
4. Go to a vehicle licensing office or, to do it by mail, call an office first to get the forms and hear the fees. Not all offices accept debit or credit cards, so check how you can pay.
5. Get your license plates. At an office you get them right away.
6. Set up a License Express account and add the vehicle. DOL says it shows when tabs are due, keeps your address current and lets you sign up for email renewal notices.

DOL adds that you may see open safety recalls on your renewal notice or at registration, taken from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You can still renew.

Before you go: checklist

Fees DOL lists

DOL says that fees are different in every situation. Everyone starts with a basic fee of $43.25, and vehicle weight, location and taxes determine the final amount. The table lists fees from DOL’s fee page that you may see. It is not a total for your vehicle.

The fee page also lists items that vary, such as Regional Transit Authority tax, transportation benefit district fees, sales or use tax, and electric vehicle fees ($100 or $50 for an electric car and $75 transportation electrification fee, as listed).

Card fees: DOL says online payments carry a 3% card fee, or you can pay from a checking account with no added fee. At licensing offices, the card vendor’s convenience fee adds $2.25 on a debit card, and on a credit card $2.25 if the total is $75 or less or 3% if over $75.

Common mistakes

• Trying to register the car before getting the Washington driver license.
• Not writing down the odometer reading before going in.
• Forgetting that a bank-held title needs to be faxed from the bank to the office.
• Assuming one fee. DOL’s basic fee is only the starting point.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to register?

DOL gives 30 days after you move to Washington, for both the driver license and the vehicle.

Can I register by mail?

DOL says to call a vehicle licensing office, and they will help you get the necessary forms and tell you the fees. Plates by mail may take up to 3 weeks.

Do I have to pay use tax on a car I already own?

DOL’s use tax page covers vehicles bought from private parties and gifts. It does not describe a car you already own and bring with you, so ask a licensing office.

This guide is general information compiled from the DOL pages listed under Sources. Fees and rules change, and this site is not part of any government agency. Confirm the total with the Washington State Department of Licensing before you go.