Washington title transfer and use tax guide

Updated October 27, 2026 · Figures checked against the official sources listed below

The short answer

A Washington title transfer costs $39.50 in fees after a private sale: a $15 title application fee, a $6.50 filing fee and an $18 service fee. When you buy from a dealer, the application fee is $40 (since October 1, 2026), so the title costs $64.50. Transfer the title within 15 days of getting the vehicle, or a penalty of $50 starts on day 16 and grows by $2 a day to a maximum of $125. A vehicle coming from another state also pays a $75 stolen vehicle check. Use tax is due on private and out-of-state purchases.

Title fees

The $40 dealer amount started on October 1, 2026 (2026 c 186). Fee lists that show a flat $15 for every title, or that call the $18 service fee the "title fee", are out of date or mislabelled. If you register the vehicle at the same visit, you also pay the registration's own $6 filing fee and $11 service fee; the DOL's tab fee page shows the two service fees together as $29.

Late title transfer penalty

The buyer must transfer the title within 15 days of delivery. After that, RCW 46.17.140 adds a penalty to the normal title fees:

Renewing tabs late is different: the DOL charges no late fee for that. The court fine for driving on expired tabs is not available here, as we haven't verified it from an official source.

Use tax and sales tax

• Dealer purchase: the dealer collects sales tax at the combined rate for its location. The state part is 6.5% sales tax plus a 0.5% motor vehicle tax (0.3% before January 1, 2026), 7% in total, before local tax. A vehicle traded in to the dealer lowers the taxed price; rebates and incentives don't.
• Private purchase: you pay use tax when you transfer the title, at the rate for your address (7% state part plus local). The DOL uses the vehicle's fair market value when it is higher than the price you paid, so a low price on the bill of sale doesn't lower the tax.
• Bought out of state, or moving here with your vehicle: use tax is due when the vehicle is first used in Washington. Sales tax you lawfully paid to another state is credited, so you pay only the difference if Washington's rate is higher.

Local rates vary by address and change during the year. We don't list them: the local part is not available here, and our calculator shows the 7% state part on its own unless you enter your combined rate. As an example only, a combined rate of 9% on a $20,000 vehicle is $1,800; if you paid $1,000 of sales tax in another state, the Washington use tax would be $800.

Plates and the stolen vehicle check

Plate fees are paid once, when plates are issued or replaced, not at every renewal. The stolen vehicle check doesn't apply if you previously registered the same vehicle in Washington.

What this guide doesn't cover

Lien fees, duplicate and replacement titles, salvage titles, specialty and personalized plates, local sales tax rates and trucks over 105,500 lbs declared gross weight. For the yearly tab fees, see how much car tabs cost in Washington. For other states, see car registration late fees by state.

For tabs that have run out, see expired registration in Washington: there is no late fee.

Frequently asked questions

See title transfer fees for all 50 states

General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.