Buying a Vehicle

A title or other approved ownership document is essential. You cannot complete an official sales transaction without one. When conducting a car transaction in Washington, you will need the following to transfer ownership of the vehicle:

 Title with all previous owner's release signatures (including lien holders). This also needs to be dated with the date of sale including a purchase price.

• Completed Odometer Disclosure Statement signed by the buyer and seller, if the vehicle is 2011 and newer.
• Completed bill of sale which includes the year, make, model, license plate, VIN number, the date of sale, purchase price, and the seller's signature.
• Washington drivers license is required if this is your state of residence. Out of state license may be required to fill out an exemption (if applicable).
• Be sure to bring any other supporting documents that you have.
• You must transfer the title into your name within 15 days of buying the vehicle, or face a fine.

In the event the Washington title is lost, the vehicle owner can complete an Affidavit of Loss / Release of Interest form. This must be signed in the presence of a licensing agent or a notary public. If you are buying a vehicle from out of state and the out of state title is lost, the seller must get a replacement title from the state it was last titled in. 

Bill of Sale

A bill of sale is not required when the purchase price and sale date are filled out clearly on the title, but it is preferred when registering and titling your new vehicle. It’s a valuable document to have for your files should there ever be a question regarding your vehicle's value and use tax rates. See our section on "forms".

Odometer Disclosure Statement

When transferring a vehicle title and changing ownership, if the vehicle is 2011 or newer, owners must submit an accurate odometer reading. In most cases, you can simply fill in the odometer-reading section on the certificate of title. If this cannot be obtained, please come to our licensing office to get a form called the Odometer Disclosure Statement.