Current rulemaking activity

Free or limited-fee license plate replacements

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

Chapter 308-96A WAC (Vehicle licensing)

We're proposing rules to create standards for free or limited fee license plate replacements.

Current step

May 6, 2026

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Personalized license plate approvals and denials

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

WAC 308-96A-065 Personalized License Plates

We're proposing rule changes to clarify the process of cancelling personalized license plate requests. The goal is to have a more equitable and consistent process for approving or denying personalized license plates.

Current step

April 22, 2026

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Electronic documentation for disabled parking permits

  • Driver licensing
    • Disabled parking permits
  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're defining requirements for healthcare professionals when using electronic documentation to request special parking privileges for persons with disabilities.

Current step

April 1, 2026

Intent to create a new rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Abandoned recreational vehicle (RV) processing

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

  • Abandoned recreational vehicle - Criteria and required information (WAC 308-61-195)
  • Abandoned recreational vehicle - Application and review (WAC 308-61-197)
  • Abandoned recreational vehicle - Reimbursements (WAC 308-61-203)
  • Abandoned recreational vehicle - Rates and caps (WAC 308-61-215)

We implemented rulemaking to improve the efficiency of the Abandoned RV program. We removed unnecessary barriers for our processing partners.

Current step

February 23, 2026

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on January 29, 2026.

Personalized license plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
Completed

Current rule(s)

WAC 308-96A-065 Personalized license plates

We conducted rulemaking to clarify rule language. We updating the term "lifestyle" in relation to denials or cancellations of applications for a personalized license plate.

Current step

January 6, 2026

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We conducted this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminates the need for us to hold public hearings. If you object to the use of the expedited process for this rule change, you must object in writing. Email your objection to rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov or mail it to:

Rules Coordinator
Department of Licensing
1125 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Temporary license plate expiration dates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
Completed

Current rule(s)

Department temporary license plates (WAC 308-56A-140)

We put in place extensions for temporary license plate expiration dates. These extensions are for cases of permanent license plate shortages.

Current step

November 4, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Collector vehicle requirements

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
Completed

Current rule(s)

We conducted rulemaking to include collector vehicle insurance requirements, secondary vehicle requirements, and eligible vehicle manufacturer dates.

Current step

October 21, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We conducted this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminates the need for us to hold public hearings. If you object to the use of the expedited process for this rule change, you must object in writing. Email your objection to rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov or mail it to:

Rules Coordinator
Department of Licensing
1125 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Vehicle and vessel ownership in doubt

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • Boats
    • Vehicle records
Completed

Current rule(s)

  • Ownership in Doubt - Bonded title or three-year registration without title (WAC 308-56A-210)
  • Ownership in Doubt - Bonded title or three-year registration without title (WAC 308-93-440)

We conducted rulemaking to clarify Ownership in Doubt rules. The changes clarify that we won't require customers to seek releases of interest from prior owners before entering Ownership in Doubt. This aligns with current law, helps protect the names and addresses of vehicle and vessel owners.

Current step

September 16, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing on this rulemaking activity on September 15, 2025.

Honorary consul plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
Completed

Current rule(s)

We repealed a rule to align with directives regarding issuance of honorary consul plates. We also amended a rule to make technical corrections to language and references.

Current step

August 6, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We conducted this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminates the need for us to hold public hearings. If you object to the use of the expedited process for this rule change, you must object in writing. Email your objection to rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov or mail it to:

Rules Coordinator
Department of Licensing
1125 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Document review and interviews

  • Driver licensing
  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Title 308 WAC: Department of Licensing

State laws already define administrative reviews and interviews. We're required to define the specifics of conducting the document review or interview. Standard procedures include eligibility, evidence needing review, authority of the review, and other legal remedies available after the review.

This new rule provides greater clarity for conducting administrative reviews and interviews.

Current step

January 6, 2025

New rule adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing on December 11, 2024.

Was this information helpful?