Your vehicle registration expires annually. You can renew your vehicle registration:
- Online through License eXpress
- By mail (if you received a renewal notice from us)
- In person at a vehicle licensing office
To find out when your registration expires, look at the month and year of expiration on your license plate. You can also check your License eXpress account. Your account will show the month, day, and year it expires. It will show the address and email address we have for your vehicle.
Vehicle registration fees: You can calculate your vehicle registration fees and Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) excise tax through our online tool.
Deduct fees from federal taxes: You may be able to deduct the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Motor Vehicle Excise Tax and boat excise tax from your federal taxes. Check with your tax advisor.
Donations and other options when you renew: You will have the option to donate to: Other purchase options.
Time to receive your new registration: You will receive your registration within 5 business days by mail.
If you do not receive your registration within 15 days, contact the office where you ordered it. If you don’t receive your registration within 15-90 days, you can get a replacement registration but you must contact a vehicle licensing location by the 90th day to be eligible to receive a free replacement.
We can send a free replacement registration if you meet the following requirements:
- We verify that we issued the registration, but you did not receive it within 15-90 days
- We have your current mailing address
- Return the original registration to any vehicle licensing office, if found.
Authorize a representative to purchase or receive vehicle registration and license plates: Registered vehicle owners can authorize a representative to purchase and receive vehicle or vessel registrations and license plates. The authorized representative must present valid photo identification as well as: Written authorization or permission, such as a note or check containing the following information:
- Registered owner’s name and signature, and
- License plate number, VIN, registration number, or HIN.
If the purchaser or recipient has the same last name or address as your customer on their photo identification, no written authorization is necessary. Public law requires proof of identity whenever personal identifying information is provided.
Business authorization: A business owner or representative receiving registration documents for online or mail renewal must provide the office with a reasonable connection to that business. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Photo business card
- Letter with signature on company letterhead
- Attire with company logo
- Phone call from the business.
For military or uniformed services: If you are stationed outside of Washington when your registration expires, you may receive a new expiration date.
If your current registration expires in less than 12 months, you will receive a new one-year registration period. Apply for the new registration period through a vehicle licensing location.
To renew your registration by mail, send all of the items below to the office of your choice:
- Your registration renewal notice
- Copy of your military orders
- Check/money order payable to DOL
How to replace your vehicle registration: You can replace your registration by submitting a lost/stolen Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest form. All registered owners must sign the form in front of a notary or licensing agent at any vehicle licensing office.
- Include a check/money order payable to Department of Licensing for:
- $13.75 for passenger vehicles or trailers
- $13 for trucks
- Mail or bring the form and payment to any of our offices
We will mail your registration the next business day after we receive the form.
