Temporary Permits for Private or Commercial Vehicles in Washington

The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) administers temporary credentials for private and commercial vehicle registration, while oversize and overweight movement permits are issued by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

What Is a Temporary Vehicle Permit in Washington?

Under the trip permit provisions of RCW 46.16A.320, the Department of Licensing may issue a trip permit that allows operation of an unlicensed vehicle on public highways. A vehicle is considered unlicensed when its tabs have expired or when the current registered gross weight is insufficient for the load being carried. Washington temporary credentials take several forms, each with its own validity period:

Trip permits for unlicensed vehicles, valid for 3 consecutive days, for passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, and other vehicles not currently licensed
Commercial vehicle trip permits, valid for 3 consecutive days, authorizing operation of a single commercial vehicle at the maximum weight limit
Commercial fuel permits, valid for 3 consecutive days, for diesel- and propane-powered vehicles entering Washington when fuel tax is not paid under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA)
Dealer-issued temporary license plates, provided electronically at the point of sale through the DOL e-permit system
45-day temporary permits, issued to nonresident military personnel while out-of-state registration is completed
Oversize and overweight permits, issued by WSDOT for single trips, monthly, or annual periods for loads exceeding legal dimensions or weights

Who May Need a Temporary Permit

A temporary permit may be required in the following situations:

A vehicle's tabs have expired, and the vehicle must be operated before registration is renewed
A vehicle's registered gross weight is insufficient for the load being carried
A vehicle is purchased from a private party and must be driven without license plates before titling and registration are completed
A newly purchased vehicle requires immediate operation while the title application is processed
A commercial vehicle not registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP) must operate in Washington
A diesel- or propane-powered commercial vehicle entering Washington is not licensed under IFTA
A vehicle or load exceeds legal dimensions or weight and cannot be licensed for the movement

Private Vehicle Temporary Tags in Washington

For private vehicles, the trip permit for unlicensed vehicles is the principal temporary credential. Each trip permit costs $36 and is valid for 3 consecutive days, starting on the first day of use. A trip permit may be obtained for any one vehicle up to 3 times within any 30-day period and for any one recreational vehicle up to 2 times within a 1-year period. Trip permits are not available for non-highway and off-road vehicles, such as snowmobiles and ORV use-class vehicles, for commercial motor vehicles placed out of service by the Department of Transportation, or for destroyed vehicles. The permit is valid only for the vehicle named on it and may not be transferred to another vehicle.

Vehicles sold by dealers are issued temporary license plates through the DOL e-permit system. Dealers are required to provide purchasers with two temporary plates, which are linked to the vehicle licensing record. Unassigned temporary plates must be attached to the vehicle record within 24 hours of being placed on a vehicle. Dealers may charge a negotiable administrative fee of up to $200 per vehicle transaction but cannot obtain a refund or credit for unused paper permits. When a customer's temporary plates are lost or stolen, the dealer must revoke the plate in the e-permit system and mark it as stolen. The vehicle licensing office then provides the customer with one 15-day department-issued temporary permit.

Nonresident military personnel serving in Washington who purchase a vehicle while on duty may apply for a 45-day temporary vehicle permit while they complete registration in their home state. The permit must be displayed on the vehicle so it is visible from the outside, and qualifying personnel pay no sales tax, use tax, or motor vehicle excise tax during or after the 45-day period unless the vehicle remains in Washington for more than 3 months or is brought back to the State within one year of the permit's expiration.

Commercial Vehicle Temporary Permits in Washington

Commercial carriers may obtain temporary permits from the Department of Licensing when full IRP or IFTA credentials are not in place. A Washington vehicle trip permit authorizes operation of a single commercial vehicle at the maximum weight limit for 3 consecutive days, and no more than 3 permits may be used for any one vehicle within a 30-day period.

A special fuel permit is required when entering Washington without IFTA licensing to operate a diesel- or propane-powered commercial vehicle that has 2 axles and a gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 pounds, has 3 or more axles regardless of weight, or is a combination of vehicles with a combined gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 pounds.

Oversize and overweight permits are administered by WSDOT's Commercial Vehicle Permits program. A permit is required when a vehicle exceeds legal dimensions — 8 feet 6 inches in width, 14 feet in height, 53 feet in length for a tractor-trailer, 40 feet for a single unit, or 75 feet overall for a truck and trailer combination — or exceeds the legal weight table. Permits are issued only for loads that cannot be divided; a load that can reasonably be reduced must be reduced and will not receive a permit. Permits may be self-issued online and are not available for superloads exceeding 16 feet in width, 16 feet in height, 125 feet in load length, or 200,000 pounds, nor at ports of entry.

When a Temporary Permit Is Required

A private vehicle may require a temporary permit in the following circumstances:

Immediately after purchase from a private party, when the vehicle must be driven before a title application is filed and license plates are issued
When registration tabs have expired, and the vehicle must be operated before renewal
When the registered gross weight is insufficient for the load to be carried
During the 30-day period after moving to Washington, during which a new resident must register the vehicle and obtain a Washington driver license
When a nonresident service member purchases a vehicle while stationed in Washington and completes out-of-state registration

A commercial vehicle may require a temporary permit when:

The vehicle is not apportioned under the IRP and operates in Washington
The vehicle is not licensed under IFTA and operates in Washington on diesel or propane fuel
The movement involves a load or vehicle exceeding legal dimensions or weight, including movements on restricted routes and corridors

How to Get a Temporary Permit in Washington

Where To Apply

Private vehicle temporary credentials may be obtained through several channels:

Vehicle licensing offices, which issue trip permits in person for cash or check and provide 15-day department-issued temporary permits in lost-or-stolen tag situations
Dealerships, which issue temporary license plates through the DOL e-permit system at the point of sale
County auditor offices, which handle title and registration transactions

For commercial carriers, trip permits and fuel permits are purchased through authorized vehicle licensing agents, Department of Transportation permitting offices, or independent third-party permit services, with additional fees applicable at some locations. Oversize and overweight permits are obtained through the WSDOT eSNOOPI system, from WSDOT permit agents, or at WSDOT offices.

Documents Commonly Required

The documentation required to obtain temporary credentials varies with the transaction and may include:

The current certificate of title, signed by all owners listed on the title
A completed Vehicle Title Application, signed in the presence of a licensing agent or notary
An odometer disclosure for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer
A completed Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale showing the sale price used to calculate use tax
Proof of ownership documents where the title is held by a lienholder
A completed Non-Resident Military Affidavit for Exemption of Excise Tax, together with proof of an out-of-state title or registration application, for military permits
Payment of the trip permit fee in cash or by check at a vehicle licensing office

Temporary Permit Fees in Washington

The following table summarizes the principal permit and credential fees published by the Department of Licensing and WSDOT.

Permit or credential	Official fee
Trip permit, unlicensed private vehicle (3 days)	$36.00
Commercial vehicle trip permit (3 days, $25.00 permit plus $11.00 service fee)	$36.00
Commercial fuel permit (3 days)	$33.00
Oversize or overweight, single trip, dimensional	$10.00
Oversize or overweight, single trip, weight	From $14.00
Single trailer or double trailer, monthly	$10.00 per 30 days
Single trailer or double trailer, annual	$100.00 per year
Non-divisible load, height or width, monthly	$20.00 per 30 days
Manufactured housing, annual	$360.00 per year
Farm implement permit, farmer, annual	$25.00 per year
Heavy Haul Corridor (SR 509), annual	$1,000.00 per year
Log tolerance permit (quarterly)	$50.00 / $37.50 / $25.00 / $12.50

Weight permit fees vary according to the amount of excess weight and the miles to be traveled, and additional service fees apply when permits are purchased through agents or third-party providers. The WSDOT permit fee calculator provides exact pricing for specific loads.

Can a Washington Temporary Permit Be Used Across State Lines?

A trip permit authorizes operation of an unlicensed vehicle on Washington public highways only; it does not confer operating authority in other states, and operators traveling beyond Washington must comply with the registration and permit requirements of each jurisdiction entered. Dealers may nevertheless issue temporary plates to vehicles destined for registration in other states, and the interstate and intrastate permitting framework is further addressed in WAC 308-97.

Commercial fuel permits are specifically for entry into Washington by carriers not licensed under IFTA and authorize travel only within the State. A carrier with IRP apportioned registration may operate across state lines under its apportioned credentials, while a carrier holding only Washington trip permits must obtain trip permits for each additional IRP or IFTA jurisdiction entered. Oversize and overweight permits are route-specific within Washington, and a movement that continues into another state requires separate permitting for that state.

Penalties for Driving Without the Proper Temporary Permit

Washington imposes penalties for operating a vehicle without valid registration or the required temporary authority.

A vehicle operated after its tabs have expired or without sufficient registered gross weight is unlicensed, and operation without a valid trip permit or in violation of its restrictions is subject to the penalties prescribed by RCW 46.16A.320.
Altering or correcting data on a trip permit invalidates the permit, and a permit used on a vehicle other than the one named on it provides no operating authority.
Dealers that issue temporary license plates in violation of the requirements in RCW 46.16A.200 and RCW 46.16A.300, or that fail to attach an unassigned plate to the vehicle record within 24 hours, are subject to enforcement action by the Department of Licensing under the dealer licensing authority of RCW 46.70.
Commercial carriers operating overweight or over-dimensional loads without a permit or failing to reduce a divisible load are subject to citation and may be required to obtain a permit before continuing.
A nonresident service member whose vehicle remains in Washington more than 3 months after the 45-day military permit, or whose vehicle is brought back into the state within one year, becomes subject to the sales tax, use tax, and motor vehicle excise tax that the permit previously deferred.

Contact Information

Washington State Department of Licensing
1125 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 902-3900
Official Website: Washington State Department of Licensing