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Washington License PlateA license plate, also known as a number plate or registration plate, is a plastic or metal plate attached to an automobile for official identification. Typically, it is a combination of alphanumeric characters allocated to vehicles by government agencies responsible for vehicle registration. The main purpose of a license plate is to provide vehicles with unique identities, making it easier for law enforcement agencies to monitor individuals and their vehicles.
Washington requires all vehicles in the state to have license plates. Both front and rear license plates are mandatory for most vehicles in the state. However, motorcycles, horseless carriages, and trailers are allowed to have only rear license plates. Washington standard license plates for vehicles have between one and seven alphanumeric characters, while those for small trailers and motorcycles have between one and six alphanumeric characters. Washington standard license plates for vehicles have three capitalized letters followed by four numbers. A Washington license plate must also display the state name on it. The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) issues license plates to vehicles.
The following are the types of license plates in Washington:
Previously, the first three letters on a Washington license plate were county codes indicating the counties where the vehicles were registered. This practice was discontinued in 1981. Since1923, Washington license plates have been produced by inmates in Washington State correctional facilities.
Washington License Plate Design and FormatsA Washington license plate is typically 12 inches by 6 inches (30 cm x 15 cm) in size for vehicles and trailers, while the dimensions for the plates issued to motorcycles and small trailers are 7 inches by 4 inches (17.8 cm x 10 cm). A standard license plate has a dark blue serial with a light blue Mount Rainier graphic on reflective white plates. "WASHINGTON" is written in red at the top left, and the Washington State slogan "EVERGREEN STATE" is written in red at the bottom center. Standard license plates have three alphabets followed by four numbers. The letters I, O, and Q are not used in the third alphabet position.
There are special license plates that display emblems or logos of their causes. The name of the cause often replaces the state slogan at the bottom. In addition, the alphabet portion of the serials is sometimes written vertically.
Standard license plates
Special license plates
*Source: Washington Department of Licensing
Washington Vanity License PlatesVanity license plates, or personalized license plates, are special license plates displaying personalized messages chosen by vehicle owners which are different from the standard alphanumeric characters assigned by the government. Personalized license plates attract additional fees and might take longer to issue.
There are two types of personalized license plates in Washington: personalized license plates and personalized special license plates. Personalized license plates can be given to all types of automobiles and can only display the personal messages of the vehicle owners. On the other hand, a personalized special license plate displays a personal message on a special license plate designed for a specific cause. An applicant for a personalized special license plate must pay the fee for both personalized license plate and special license plate.
The following rules apply for personalized and personalized special license plates:
An applicant for a personalized Washington license plate can use the state's Lookup personalized plates tool to confirm if their desired sequence is available. If available, they can visit a vehicle licensing office to submit the completed Specialty License Plate Application form and pay the appropriate fees. Alternatively, they can mail their application with the appropriate fees made payable to the Department of Licensing to:
Application and IssuanceThe costs for personalized license plates are:
The costs for personalized special license plates are:
Personalized and special license plates must be transferred to new vehicles within 30 days of the sale of the previous vehicles or they will be canceled and made available to other vehicle owners. Similarly, if a personalized license plate is not renewed within 45 days of expiration, it can be given to another vehicle owner. Getting a personalized license plate in Washington may take up to 3 months.
Most Popular Washington Special Plate NumbersThe most common special license plates in Washington are:
Washington License Plate LookupUsing a vehicle's license plate number, one can find information about the vehicle such as its manufacturer and model, mileage, repair history, accident history, and history of repossession. The following are some common reasons to lookup Washington license plates:
Washington state does not allow individuals to conduct third-party license plate lookups that reveal details about vehicle owners. Only specific businesses and government agencies are allowed to conduct such detailed license plate lookups. However, vehicle owners can apply to the Department of Licensing to look up information about their vehicles. They must provide their plate numbers and VINs to the vehicle licensing office for the search.
Alternatively, RecordsFinder and other third-party websites can be used to look up license plates. While some of these services offer free basic information about vehicles, others charge fees for more detailed information.
In Washington, vehicle owners can use the RecordsFinder website to search for reverse license plate numbers. The results of such lookups are useful for gathering information about vehicles registered to the searched license plate numbers. However, the stated purposes of these searches must be in line with state and federal privacy regulations regarding reverse license plate lookups.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Washington?The requirements to obtain a Washington license plate are:
An applicant can submit the required documents in person at any Washington vehicle licensing office or send it to them by mail. They can pick up their standard license plate the same day they submit all required documents or get it by mail within 3 weeks.
The fees for Washington vehicle license plates are as follows:
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and Commercial License Plate in WashingtonThe typical license plates given to vehicles for private usage are called passenger license plates. On the other hand, vehicles used for business, such as buses, taxis, and commercial trailers, are given commercial license plates. However, Washington issues commercial or passenger license plates based on gross weight. Automobiles with gross vehicle weights (GVW) greater than 26,000 pounds are classified as commercial vehicles and are given commercial license plates. Also, vehicles that transport hazardous materials are issued commercial license plates.
The table below shows the differences between passenger and commercial license plates in Washington:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Vehicle Weight |
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| Vehicle Use |
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| Design and Color |
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| Requirements to obtain a License plate |
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How To Renew a License Plate in WashingtonWashington vehicle owners must renew their vehicle registration and license plate tabs annually. The Washington Department of Licensing handles vehicle registration renewals and sends renewal notices to vehicle owners 3 weeks before the expiration of their vehicle registrations. Vehicle owners can renew their vehicle registration online, in person at vehicle licensing offices, or by mailing the documents to vehicle licensing offices. For online renewal, they must do the following:
To renew in person, visit a vehicle licensing office with the following:
These must be mailed to a vehicle licensing office if the renewal will be done via mail. The Department of Licensing will mail the vehicle registration tabs typically within 10 business days but can be picked up the same day if done in person.
Washington vehicle registration renewal fees vary depending on the vehicle's worth, gross weight, county of registration, type of plate, and mode of renewal. Vehicle owners can get an estimated fee via the Department of Licensing's Vehicle Tab Estimator website.
How To Transfer a License Plate in WashingtonIn Washington, a vehicle owner may only transfer a vehicle's license plate to a new one of similar use registered in their name. They can transfer the license plate by visiting a vehicle licensing office or mailing the required documents to a vehicle licensing office. The following must be submitted to effect the transfer:
Washington License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)The information about the owner of a vehicle's license plate is private and is not available to the public in Washington. Washington Department of Licensing is prohibited by the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) from divulging personal information of vehicle owners obtained from vehicle records to the public. Attempting to collect a vehicle owner's personal information, such as medical information, social security numbers, and photographs, breaches privacy laws and regulations. Washington Motor Vehicle Code allows authorized government agencies and specific business entities to search for vehicle information provided the requests align with the DPPA.
However, websites such as Recordsfinder may be used to obtain non-personal information about a vehicle owner from over 269 million registered cars in the USA. A vehicle's VIN or license plate number is used for the lookup because these identifying details are linked in public vehicle records.
A vehicle owner in Washington can get replacement license plates by completing the Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest form and submitting it to the nearest vehicle licensing office. They must pay the replacement fee of $13.75 for passenger vehicle/trailer and $13 for trucks. The replacement license plate is available for pick up by the next business day.
The following information may be obtained when a license plate is run by the police in Washington:
Free license plate lookup services are often used by individuals when buying used vehicles. Some of the reasons for using license plate lookup services include:
Free license plate lookup searches may provide the following information:
Washington license plates are valid for a year and must be renewed annually. Washington typically does not give a grace period on vehicle plate renewal. However, if a license plate expires on a public holiday or weekend, the vehicle owner has until the end of the next business day to renew the vehicle registration.
The penalty for driving with an expired license plate tag depends on how long the plate has expired. There is a penalty of $145 for license plates that have expired for not more than 2 months and $237 for those that have expired for more than 2 months. The penalty for expired temporary license plates is the same as that for permanent license plates. Vehicle owners with personalized license plates may lose their personalized license plates after 45 days of default.
Vehicle owners in Washington do not have to return standard license plates. They can keep them as mementos or recycle them. They may also return them to their vehicle licensing offices for disposal. However, specialty and personalized license plates must be returned to the Washington State Department of Licensing.
Possible reasons for disposing or returning license plates in Washington include:
Washington allows vehicle owners to keep their standard license plates. The Washington Department of Licensing cancels the vehicle registration once the car is registered in another state. However, personalized and specialty license plates must be returned to the vehicle licensing office that issued them. The specialty license plates can be returned in person or mailed to:
Department of LicensingFailure to return a deregistered personalized license plate in Washington state is a misdemeanor and attracts a penalty of up to 5 days imprisonment and a fine of up to $200.
The sizes of license plates in Washington are as follows:
Temporary license plates are usually issued to vehicles that are yet to be fully registered in Washington. The types of temporary license plates in Washington are:
The steps to renew Washington license plates in person or via mail are as follows:
The steps to renew a Washington license plate online are:
If your Washington license plate is lost or stolen, you must do the following:
A replacement license plate will be ready the next business day after submitting the form and making the payment.