Last Update: September 17, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Washington

Vehicle registration and title records in Washington are administered by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) through a statewide network of vehicle licensing offices. Registration information may need to be updated after an address change, a legal name change, a vehicle purchase or transfer, a move into Washington, or the discovery of incorrect details on a registration or title document. Most transactions are processed in person at a vehicle licensing office, and certain records can also be updated online through the DOL License Express portal.

Washington Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

The DOL vehicle record may require updating when any of the following events occur:

• A residential or mailing address has changed.
• A legal name change affects the registered owner shown on the registration and title records.
• The registration receipt, title certificate, or vehicle record contains incorrect information.
• A vehicle has been purchased, sold, gifted, or otherwise transferred, which requires application for a new certificate of title and, in most cases, new license plates under DOL's buy and register a vehicle guidance.
• A vehicle has been brought into Washington from another state.
• A license plate must be transferred to another vehicle, or replacement credentials such as lost or damaged plates, tabs, or registration documents are needed.

Where to File a Washington Vehicle Registration Change

Vehicle and vessel registration services in Washington are provided through vehicle licensing offices, with the following filing options:

• Vehicle licensing offices — The primary local filing point is the vehicle licensing office serving the county in which the owner resides. These offices process registrations, title transfers, address and name changes, tab renewals, plate replacements, trip permits, and reports of sale.
• Quick Title offices — Quick Title offices are select vehicle licensing offices offering expedited service that can issue a certificate in person immediately or mail it within a few business days for an increased fee. Quick Title offices are not available for out-of-state vehicles.
• By mail — Completed applications may be mailed to DOL's Application and Issuance unit in Olympia.

Because the certificate of title establishes ownership, title-linked corrections are filed through the same licensing offices rather than at a separate agency.

Washington Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

DOL publishes an official address change procedure for vehicles and boats. The address on a vehicle record can be updated online through License Express or in person at any vehicle licensing office or Quick Title office. For a personally owned vehicle, the owner's residential street address is recorded; for a business-owned vehicle, the Washington street address of the principal place of business is used.

Changing the address on the record does not automatically produce an updated registration or title. An updated registration document costs $18 and is issued immediately, an updated standard title costs $39.50 and is mailed within 4-6 weeks, and an expedited Quick Title costs $89.50. Registrants who hold a Good To Go! tolling pass should also update the contact information on their account with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Washington Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change should be reviewed as both a registration matter and a title matter, because the title establishes ownership while the registration identifies the owner authorized to operate the vehicle.

DOL's official name change procedure requires the original certificate of title, since photocopies are not accepted, or an Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest when the title is unavailable, together with a Vehicle Title Application and documentation of the name change. Acceptable documentation includes a copy of the court order authorizing the name change or a Vehicle/Vessel Owner Name Update Affidavit for individuals, certified at a vehicle licensing office or notarized by a notary public.

An updated registration costs $18, an updated standard title costs $39.50, and an expedited Quick Title costs $89.50. For a company vehicle, the business name change must be supported by documentation from the Washington Secretary of State's Office, a Declaration of Use Tax form from the Department of Revenue, and a copy of the business license in the new name with the same UBI number.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Washington Registration Record

Corrections are handled differently depending on the record involved. When the registration record contains incorrect information, the owner can use DOL's official address and name change procedures, which are completed at a vehicle licensing office or online when the record permits.

Lost, stolen, or damaged registration documents and license plates can be replaced through any vehicle licensing office. When information on the certificate of title itself must be corrected, an application for a new certificate of title is required, because the title is the official proof of ownership and must reflect the current record; the vehicle title page explains the replacement of lost or damaged titles, and the Vehicle Title Application is used to record the correct ownership details.

Washington Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

Several deadlines apply to registration and title transactions in Washington:

• 30 days — New residents have 30 days after moving into Washington to obtain a Washington driver license and register their vehicles; a Washington driver license is required before a vehicle can be registered, as stated in DOL's moving to Washington guidance.
• 15 days — A person who acquires a vehicle by purchase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or legal action must apply for a new certificate of title within 15 days of delivery. A late-transfer penalty applies when the application is filed after 15 days, and failure to apply within 45 days of delivery is a misdemeanor under RCW 46.12.650.
• 5 business days — An owner who sells, gifts, trades, donates, or otherwise disposes of a vehicle must file a report of sale with DOL or a licensing office within 5 business days under RCW 46.12.650.
• Insurance — A motor vehicle subject to registration under chapter 46.16A RCW may not be operated in Washington unless it is covered by a motor vehicle liability policy with limits of at least the amounts specified in state law, and proof of financial responsibility must be provided on the request of a law enforcement officer under RCW 46.30.020.
• Current registration — Vehicle registrations expire annually, and a vehicle may not be operated on a public highway without a current registration and the license plates assigned to it.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Washington?

Contact Information

Washington State Department of Licensing
1125 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 902-3770
Official Website: Washington State Department of Licensing