WA DMV Vehicle Registration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: After buying a used car from a private party in Washington, how many days does the new owner have to transfer the title before a penalty applies?
- 45 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 15 days (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 15 days
Washington law requires the buyer to transfer the title within 15 days of acquiring the vehicle or pay a late penalty.
Question 2: When you sell a vehicle in Washington, what should you do to protect yourself from liability for the new owner's tickets or accidents?
- Cancel the vehicle's VIN
- Mail the title to the county auditor
- File a Report of Sale with the Department of Licensing (Correct answer)
- Keep the license plates as proof
Correct answer: File a Report of Sale with the Department of Licensing
Filing a Report of Sale within 5 business days documents that you no longer own the vehicle, protecting you from liability.
Question 3: In Washington, what generally happens to the license plates when a vehicle is sold?
- They must be returned to the seller's insurance company
- They transfer to the seller's next vehicle automatically
- They are destroyed by the county auditor
- They stay with the vehicle (Correct answer)
Correct answer: They stay with the vehicle
In Washington, standard license plates belong to the vehicle and remain with it when it is sold.
Question 4: A new Washington resident moves from Oregon with a registered car. How long do they have to register the vehicle in Washington?
- 10 days
- 90 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 6 months
Correct answer: 30 days
New residents must register their vehicles with the Washington Department of Licensing within 30 days of moving to the state.
Question 5: How often must a standard passenger vehicle registration be renewed in Washington?
- Every two years
- Every five years
- Only when the vehicle is sold
- Every year (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Every year
Washington vehicle registrations expire annually and must be renewed each year.
Question 6: What document must you carry in your vehicle to show it is properly registered in Washington?
- The original title
- The emissions test report
- The bill of sale
- The current registration certificate (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The current registration certificate
Drivers must keep the current registration certificate in the vehicle and show it to law enforcement on request.
Question 7: What is the penalty structure if a Washington buyer fails to transfer a title within the required time?
- Immediate suspension of the driver license
- A flat $500 fine
- A $50 penalty that increases $2 per day, up to $125 (Correct answer)
- The vehicle is impounded after 15 days
Correct answer: A $50 penalty that increases $2 per day, up to $125
Late title transfers in Washington incur a $50 penalty that grows by $2 per day to a maximum of $125.
WA DMV Vehicle Registration 2
After buying a used car from a private party in Washington, how many days does the new owner have to transfer the title before a penalty applies?