List of rulemaking activity

Vehicle and vessel ownership in doubt

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • Boats
    • Vehicle records
In progress

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're considering rulemaking to clarify agency rules regarding release of interest from previously registered and legal owners when applying for a vehicle title through the Ownership in Doubt process.

Current step

June 18, 2025

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

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

Honorary consul plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're proposing to repeal a rule to align with directives regarding issuance of honorary consul plates. We're also amending rules to make technical corrections to language and references.

Current step

June 4, 2025

Rule repeal proposed

Public hearing or comments

We're proposing 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

Destroyed or wrecked vehicles, temporary license plates for off-road vehicle dealers

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Destroyed or wrecked vehicle—Reporting—Rebuilt (WAC 308-56A-460); Delivery of off-road vehicle on dealer temporary permit (WAC 308-94A-035)

We updated the current market value threshold amount of destroyed or wrecked vehicles according to the law. For off-road vehicle dealers, we replaced references to temporary permits to temporary license plates.

Current step

July 26, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We proposed this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminated 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.

Specialty license plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Special license plates - Criteria for creation or continued issuance (WAC 308-96A-560)

We clarified specialty plate design guidelines by requiring new designs to show the jurisdiction at the top of the plate.

Current step

October 20, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held on October 11, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Names and addresses of vehicle owners

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Ownership in doubt - Bonded title or three-year registration without title (WAC 308-56A-210)

We're removing the requirement for us to provide the names and addresses of current vehicle owners of record.

Current step

November 22, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

A public hearing was held on November 15, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Reimbursements for abandoned recreational vehicles (RVs)

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Abandoned recreational vehicle - Rates and caps (WAC 308-61-215)

We're updating the abandoned recreational vehicle (RV) standardized reimbursement schedule. These changes will increase the reimbursement rates and caps.

Current step

October 3, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held on September 28, 2023

Certifying signatures for vehicle and boat registration

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Certification of signature (WAC 308-56A-275); Certification of signatures (WAC 308-93-470)

We're clarified the process to certify signatures for vehicle and boat registration. We also removed outdated references to operator numbers so you can more easily comply with the rules.

Current step

November 20, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

A public hearing was held on November 8, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Titles for wheeled all-terrain vehicles

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Off-road and nonhighway vehicles (WAC 308-94A-005)

We removed the requirement for wheeled all-terrain vehicles to be retitled after being modified for on-road use. This change also includes technical edits to the wording of the rule.

Current step

September 16, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held September 9, 2022

Qualifications for special parking privileges for persons with disabilities

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Definitions - Special parking privileges for persons with disabilities (WAC 308-96B-010) and General provisions (WAC 308-96B-020)

We clarified the law to specify that customers need to be Washington State residents to qualify for special parking privileges for persons with disabilities. We also defined the term, "resident" in WAC 308-96B-010 (Definitions) to further clarify.

Current step

March 21, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on March 18, 2024.

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Learn how we make rules

Find out how we create and change rules related to licensing.

Understand the terms we use

Read our rulemaking definitions for the terms we use when working on rules.

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