Get the latest news about prorate and fuel tax (PRFT).
License Express improvements: We’re making it easier for you to use
July 7, 2026
What’s happening?
On July 14, 2026, License Express (LX) is getting a new look, making it more accessible and easier for you to use.
You’ll soon notice greater color contrast, bigger fonts, and more space between links.
We’re making sure everything on your screen can be navigated when using a keyboard and are including a keyboard indicator to show where you are on the screen.
Ever struggled with mistyping a password? We’re adding an option to see your password after you enter it.
Lastly, you’ll notice a refreshed look and feel along with clear, simple language — in line with our 2023 website redesign.
What’s not changing?
You can still do every task that you could before, including:
- Creating your account.
- Adding or removing services.
- Logging out.
- Changing your password.
You will not need to re-create your account or change your password as part of this change. Just log in as usual!
When is this happening?
License Express will be unavailable intermittently beginning Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. while we complete the upgrade. We encourage you to complete any time-sensitive transactions outside of July 14 from 6:30 – 7:30 a.m.
Questions?
If you have questions, please email DOL-PRFTUpgradeProject@dol.wa.gov.
Fuel tax rate changes in 2026
July 1, 2026
We're notifying you of changes to Washington State fuel tax rates, effective for motor and special fuel on July 1, 2026, and for aircraft fuel on November 1, 2026.
New fuel tax rates
Beginning July 1, 2026
| Fuel type | July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 | Beginning July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Fuel (Gasoline) | $0.554 per gallon | $0.565 per gallon |
| Special Fuel (Diesel and others) | $0.584 per gallon | $0.595 per gallon |
Beginning November 1, 2026
| Fuel type | July 1, 2022 to October 31, 2026 | Beginning November 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Fuel | $0.180 per gallon | $0.250 per gallon |
All licensees must begin paying motor and special fuel tax at the new rates as of July 1, 2026, and aircraft fuel tax at the new rate as of November 1, 2026. Please review and update your systems, reporting tools, and invoicing procedures to ensure compliance. Updated tax forms and rate tables will be available on our reporting website before the new rates take effect.
For questions or assistance, contact the Prorate and Fuel Tax office DOL-PRFTUpgradeProject@dol.wa.gov.
Prorate and Fuel Tax Online Services Temporarily Unavailable for System Upgrade
June 4, 2026
The Department of Licensing (DOL) will be upgrading our prorate and fuel tax system to improve reliability and ensure continued support of current operating systems.
What's happening?
License Express online services for prorate and fuel tax accounts will be unavailable beginning Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 12 p.m. (noon) while we complete the upgrade.
What does this mean for customers?
During this time, customers will not be able to access prorate and fuel tax services through License Express. We encourage customers to complete any time-sensitive transactions before the outage begins.
When will services be restored?
Online services are expected to resume by 6 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026. PRFT offices in Olympia and Vancouver will reopen at their normal operating times on June 15.
Following the upgrade, customers may experience higher-than-normal wait times or system activity as services return to normal. We appreciate your patience while these improvements are completed.
Questions?
If you have questions, please email DOL-PRFTUpgradeProject@dol.wa.gov.
International Registration Plan (IRP) fee updates
IRP fees are changing soon:
- Effective June 11, 2026, the vehicle safety inspection fee will increase from $16 to $32.
- Effective July 1, 2026, additional fee table updates will take effect.
For more information, read the IRP jurisdiction fee schedule updates.
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact at MotorCarrierServices@dol.wa.gov or 360-664-1858. Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Motus launch update
May 14, 2026
This message is about helping your Organization, Customers, and/or Members prepare for the Motus launch. There is an NLT date of May 14, 2026 for FMCSA registrants to obtain or update their portal account.
FMCSA is mailing a letter to more than 2 million registered entities urging them to log in and update their FMCSA Portal accounts by May 14.
In the message below there is a link to the job aid to help update Portal accounts as soon as possible to ensure seamless claiming of USDOT Numbers once Motus goes live. Failure to do so will result in Motus account access delays during the rollout.
The job aid, our Portal Registration User Guide, and other resources are available on the Registration Modernization Resources Hub. If your members need further assistance, our team is just a phone call away at 1-800-832-5660.
Thank you for your help making sure industry is prepared for Motus. A launch date for Motus will be coming soon.
Federal Motor Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
USPS Processing Time Impacts
April 27, 2026
Please be advised that Prorate and Fuel Tax processing times for physical mail may be affected by the United States Postal Services postmark process.
To ensure your documents are processed in a timely manner, we recommend mailing items well in advance of deadlines.
For more details on how the postmarking process works, please refer to the USPS Postmarking Myths and Facts.