Washington Title Application

By Mohamed SkhiriUpdated November 8, 2026Checked against the Washington State Department of Licensing

A car title transfer in Washington starts and ends with the Department of Licensing. Washington handles vehicle titles through the Department of Licensing (DOL) and its network of vehicle licensing offices. Whether you've bought a car from a neighbor, been given one by a parent, or moved here with your own, the paperwork centers on the same document. The Washington vehicle title application is short, but the rules around it are strict, and the penalties start early.

What the Washington State vehicle title application covers

DOL uses its Vehicle Title Application for three jobs:

• Transferring ownership to a new owner after a sale or gift
• Adding or removing an owner on an existing title
• Titling and registering a vehicle in Washington for the first time

DOL publishes instructions for completing it. The key point is the signatures: all registered owners sign in front of a licensing agent and show unexpired Washington licenses, or, if you plan to mail the application, contact your local vehicle licensing office first to confirm you have the right forms, fees and mailing address.

Transferring a car title in WA: the buyer's steps

1. Get the signed title. All legal and registered owners shown on the title must sign the Release of Interest.
2. Complete the title application. Use the Washington title application to transfer the current title into your name.
3. Submit it within 15 days at a vehicle licensing office, with the title, your ID and the fees.
4. Pay any tax due on the purchase, along with the title and service fees.

The clock matters. DOL's buyer page says you have 15 days to transfer ownership after you buy or receive a vehicle. From the 16th day there's a $50 penalty, plus $2 for each additional day, up to $125.

The seller's Report of Sale

The seller's job in a transfer of title in Washington is to sign the title over and then file a Report of Sale with DOL. The Report of Sale form says to file within 5 business days of the sale. It's what protects the seller if the buyer drives off and never transfers the title: it shows DOL the date the vehicle stopped being yours.

Give the buyer a Washington bill of sale too. DOL publishes its own Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale form, and any bill of sale that names both parties, the vehicle, the price and the date is useful evidence.

Gifts and family transfers

A car given to you still needs a transfer of title in Washington, on the same deadline as a purchase: DOL's 15 days apply "after you buy or receive a vehicle." The person giving the car signs the title and releases their interest, and you fill in the vehicle title application Washington State uses for every ownership change. Write the price as a gift on your bill of sale, and ask the licensing office whether any tax exemption applies to your situation before you pay.

Adding or removing a name

The same title application used for sales also covers changes that aren't sales, such as adding a spouse to the title or removing a former partner. Every current owner still has to sign to release their interest, so plan for everyone to be available, either at the licensing office or with signatures arranged in advance as DOL directs.

Fees and quick titles

The Washington title application itself is free to download. The fees are made up of the application fee for the certificate of title plus service fees charged by the licensing office, and the amounts are adjusted from time to time, so check DOL's current fee page before you go. If you need the title in hand quickly, DOL offers quick titles for an additional $50 on top of the regular fees.

Out-of-state titles

Moving to Washington with your car uses the same application. Bring your current out-of-state title; if you're coming from a state that doesn't issue titles for your vehicle, bring a copy of the registration instead. If a lender holds your title, contact the lender and DOL about how the title will be sent. Select "moving to Washington" in the checklist for the full list.

What to bring to the licensing office

• The title, with the Release of Interest signed by every legal and registered owner
• The completed Vehicle Title Application
• Your Washington driver's license or ID
• A bill of sale or other proof of the price
• A lien release, if the title shows a lender that hasn't signed
• Payment for the fees and any tax

Mistakes that cost Washington buyers money

• Waiting past day 15. The penalty starts at $50 the next day.
• Missing a signature. Every legal and registered owner has to release their interest.
• Mailing the application without checking first. DOL recommends confirming the forms, fees and address with your local office.
• Sellers skipping the Report of Sale. Without it, tolls and tickets can still come to you.

That's the state of Washington title application process from start to finish. For any other state, use the title transfer checklist.

Washington state car title replacement

To replace a lost car title in Washington state, file the Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest with the Department of Licensing. Print it on white paper and have every registered owner sign it in front of a notary, or sign it at a vehicle licensing office, where the agent can certify the signatures instead. If you mail it, the signatures must be notarized.

• Standard replacement title: $39.50 for a vehicle or trailer, mailed in about 4 to 6 weeks; DOL's selling page allows up to 8 weeks.
• Quick Title: $89.50, handed to you at the office. It isn't available for some vehicles, such as ones reported stolen or titled "WA rebuilt."
• Payment: a check or money order payable to the Department of Licensing; confirm the total at the office, since DOL says fees vary.

That covers every version of the question, from a duplicate title in Washington to a replacement title in WA for a car you're about to sell. People often ask the DMV about a lost title in Washington; here that means the Department of Licensing. The same affidavit is the Washington lost title application, so there's no separate form to look for, and DOL handles every lost car title in Washington state the same way. And if you searched for a Washington title app, you probably mean the title application covered at the top of this page. If you're selling, order the replacement before you list the car; a Quick Title saves the wait if the buyer is ready.

Washington title application FAQ