Learn how to transfer a vehicle purchased from a private party into your name.
After you buy or receive a vehicle as a gift, you have 15 days to transfer the ownership into your name. If you don't transfer within 15 days you'll have to pay penalties:
If you buy from an out-of-state dealer, you may need to take care of the transfer. If you buy from a Washington State (WA) dealer, they will take care of the transfer. Learn more about buying from a WA dealer.
Contact a vehicle licensing office to learn how much it will cost to transfer ownership of your new vehicle into your name.
If you don't have the title, you can get an Odometer Disclosure form at your local vehicle licensing office. You cannot download this form. We will provide it for you in the office on tamper-proof paper.
You and the seller need to complete the Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale form.
Signatures on the Vehicle Title Application form must be notarized. Don't sign this form until you are in front of either:
Submit the following to a vehicle licensing office:
You may also need to submit:
There are 2 ways to get your title. You can submit your forms to:
*Note: Quick Titles aren't available for snowmobiles, vehicles or boats reported as stolen, insurance or wrecker-destroyed vehicles and boats, or vehicles with "WA Rebuilt" on the title.
Since the vehicle has changed ownership, you'll need to get new license plates.
Plates don't need to be replaced (unless the vehicle has out-of-state plates) if:
Once the ownership has been transferred into your name, you can add it to your License eXpress account. With License eXpress, you can manage all your vehicles: