A 3-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Owning a car in Washington comes with paperwork and deadlines: a title that proves ownership, yearly registration, a report when you sell, plates that stay readable, and liability insurance you can prove on the spot.
Certificate of Ownership (title)
DOL's document showing the vehicle's registered and legal owner(s), its VIN, and bank information if there's a loan. Keep it somewhere safe, but not in the vehicle.
All vehicles must be registered with DOL. You need a driver license to register one unless you're exempt by law; exempt owners complete a Vehicle Registration Driver License Exemption form.
When you sell, remove the plates, pay the fee, and file the report of sale. The report does not transfer ownership: the owner signs and dates the title and gives it to the buyer.
Plates must be displayed on the front and rear, clean and easy to read. A plate frame is fine, but it's illegal to cover the letters, numbers, or tabs.
You sell your car to a neighbor on Saturday. Take off the plates, sign and date the title for them, and file your report of sale within 5 days. Your neighbor then has 15 days to transfer the title at a licensing office.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
You sell your car to a private buyer. Within how many days must you file a Vehicle Report of Sale?
15 days
10 days
30 days
5 days
Answer: 5 days
Sellers must file a Vehicle Report of Sale within 5 days and remove the license plates.