List of rulemaking activity

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.

Temporary license plate expiration dates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

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

We're conducting rulemaking to put in place extensions for temporary license plate expiration dates. These extensions are for cases of permanent license plate shortages.

Current step

September 3, 2025

Rule change proposed

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
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're conducting rulemaking to include collector vehicle insurance requirements, secondary vehicle requirements, and eligible vehicle manufacturer dates.

Current step

August 20, 2025

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

We're conducting 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

Abandoned recreational vehicle (RV) processing

  • Vehicle and boat registration
In progress

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're considering rulemaking to improve the efficiency of the Abandoned RV program. We want to remove unnecessary barriers for our processing partners.

Current step

July 23, 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
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

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.

Tax exemptions for clean alternative fuel vehicles

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Retail sales and use tax exemption criteria for clean alternative fuel vehicles (WAC 308-04-030); Certificates of title - Motor vehicles, etc. (Chapter 308-56A WAC)

We moved the tax exemption rules for clean alternative fuel vehicles into the rules for motor vehicle titles.

Current step

October 23, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held on October 19, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

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.

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