Registration

plate

Registration
There are three different ways to renew your vehicle registration:

Email Reminders
You can sign up to have the Department of Licensing send you an email reminder for your vehicle every year. Vessels do not get a paper renewal notice; only a reminder by email, since every vessel in the state expires June 30th, but you must sign up for email reminders.

 

Replacement Plates and Tabs
Should your license plate(s) or tabs need replacing due to theft, damage, or loss, you will need to visit one of our offices to replace them. An Affidavit of Loss needs to be signed by one of the registered owners. This form can be printed, completed and notarized or completed in person at any of our offices. Notarization is only required when you cannot be here in person.

You are no longer required to replace your license plates every seven years. The law changed as of January 1, 2015. The new law requires that new plates and registration be purchased when ownership on a vehicle changes, unless certain circumstances apply. Refer to WAC 308-96A-021 and RCW 46.16A.200 for more information.

 

Specialty/Personalized Plates
Specialty plates refer to license plates with a special background. These plates include colleges, sports teams, branches of the military, and other organizations. Specialty plates can be ordered directly through the Department of Licensing in Olympia or at any licensing office. More information and the application are available on the Department of Licensing website.

Personalized plates refer to plates with numbers or phrases chosen by the owner. These plates are ordered directly through the Department of Licensing in Olympia and cannot be ordered at any local offices. More information and the application are available on the Department of Licensing website.