In Washington, when selling, buying, and registering a vehicle, you will need a bill of sale (Form TD-420-065-1) for vehicle. It acts as proof of the sale. It gives details about the vehicle and also acts as legal proof protecting the buyer and seller from liability should there be a discrepancy regarding the sale of the vehicle.
For example, if the seller were to get a ticket before the sale took place, this document shows that the buyer was not in possession of the vehicle at that time. It can also be used for tax purposes in some cases too.
Other RequirementÂ
In order for it to be considered a binding contract, both the buyer and the seller must sign it. Notarization is not a requirement, but doing so can add more weight to the document.
You will need to have three copies of it; one for the buyer, and the seller, and to submit to the DOL when registering the vehicle.
Documents, such as this form, are written in English only. However, Washington state’s Department of Licensing offers translation of documents in these languages through Google Translator:
- Japanese
- Korean
- Spanish
- Russian
- Chinese
- Vietnamese
In a situation where another individual will be taking care of the registration for the buyer, the third party will need to complete a Power of Attorney (Attorney in Fact).
Odometer Disclosure Statement
In the state of Washington, for any vehicle that is 10 years old or less, an Odometer Disclosure form must be completed by the seller. The Odometer Disclosure form cannot be downloaded because it comes as a temper-proof document. You will need to visit a Vehicle Licensing Office to acquire the form, or you can request one via phone at (309) 902-3770 and one will be posted to you within 2 business days. Vehicles from the year 2011 or newer can fill out the Odometer Disclosure section in the vehicle’s title.
Free Templates
Creating a Vehicle Bill of Sale for Washington
Washington state does offer its own document (Form TD-420-065-1) that you can download and complete. You can also create your own form.
The following details must be included:
- The date that the sale took place
- The full legal names of both the buyer and the seller
- Contact details for both parties, which must include their legal addresses and phone numbers
- Details about the vehicle being sold must include the make, model, year, VIN, and registration number
- The price that the vehicle was purchased for
After buying a vehicleÂ
If you have purchased the vehicle from a dealership, the dealer will submit the documents needed to register and title the vehicle for you. The license plates and documents will then be sent to you once the registration process has been completed.
For private sale
The following are details of private sale:
Seller
In a private sale, it is the responsibility of the seller to remove the license plates from the vehicle and surrender these to the Department of Licensing. You must complete the relevant areas of the title of the vehicle and give this to the buyer.
If the original title has been lost, an Affidavit of Loss (Form-420-040) must be completed and signed by both the seller and the buyer and witnessed by a county auditor, notary, or licensing agent. This form is also used when there is a line on the vehicle.
It is the seller’s responsibility to obtain a tamper-proof Odometer Disclosure Statement from the DOL, complete it on the day of sale, and give this to the buyer. Lastly, for the purpose of personal liability, the seller must report the vehicle sale to the DOL
Buyer
Once the sale has been completed, it is the buyer’s responsibility to register and title the vehicle, which can be done at the same time.
Registering a Vehicle in the State of Washington
In the state of Washington, to operate a vehicle on public roads, you are required to have the vehicle registered and titled. This includes out-of-state vehicles, new vehicles, and used vehicles. You have 15 days from the date of purchase to register your vehicle and your registration must be renewed annually. You will be charged a fee of $50 if you go past the 15-day time period and then be charged $2 for every day thereafter until you have reached $125. If you are a new resident, you have 30 days from the date of residency to register your vehicle.
Where to register a vehicle in Washington StateÂ
When registering a vehicle for the first time, you have one of three options:
- In person at your local DOL office
- For an added fee of $85.50, you can visit a Quick Title office to get your registration documents and plates immediately
- Through the mail at Department of Licensing, P.O. Box 9043, Olympia, Washington, 98507. Registering via mail will require that all documentation be notarized.
Vehicle renewals can be done online.
Documentation Needed to Register and Title a Vehicle in Washington
In order to complete the registration process, you will need the following:
- A completed bill of sale for vehicle in Washington State (Form TD-420-065-1)
- A current and valid Driver’s License
- A completed Vehicle Title Application (Form 420-001)
- Odometer Disclosure Statement (Must be obtained from your local DOL office)
- Original Title of vehicle. If the title has been lost, damaged, or stolen, you will need to apply for a replacement using Form 420-040 (Affidavit of Loss)
- Funds to cover all registration and tax fees
- While a registration card is not required at the time of registering, you are required to have liability insurance, which must have the Minimum Requirements:
- Cover of $10,000 for any damage to the property of another, per incident
- Cover of $25,000 for any death or injury per individual, per incident
- Cover of $50,000 for death or injury to more than one individual, per incident
Vehicle Tax and Registration Fees
Depending on where you live, the fees and taxes for registration can differ. You can use the DOL’s free fee calculator to get an estimate. Registration fees are based on what vehicle type you have, the weight of the vehicle, and where the vehicle will be registered.
Other fees can include:
- Title Service Fee – $12.00
- Registration Service Fee – $12.00
- Local Transport Benefit District Fee – $5.00 (this can vary in each county)
- Regional Excise Tax
- King County Congestion Reduction Fee – $20.00
- License Plate Fee – $20.00
The buyer is responsible for paying sales tax. If unpaid, the buyer must pay a use tax when registering, which is calculated at the same rate as sales tax for your area. There will also be an additional 0.3% charge. In some instances, you may be exempt from having to pay Sales Tax.
Emissions Testing
As of January 1st, 2020, the state of Washington no longer requires the vehicle to have an emissions test prior to registering and titling.
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