WA · Registration fee guide

Washington car registration fees

Last verified 2026-10-28 · View sources

Base registration fee$30.00Fee source ↗

EV / hybrid fee$225.00 / $75.00See applicable rules

Typical example total$83.0012-month renewal example

Washington tabs renew every year.

Your itemized estimate

Estimate your registration

Use your vehicle details to calculate the listed fees. Amounts reflect the schedule verified in 2026.

Start with the published example below, then adjust the details for your vehicle.

Vehicle weight (lbs)

Fuel type

Value shown on your renewal notice ($)

Model year

Registration type

Optional feesSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 1: 100% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 2: 95% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 3: 89% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 4: 83% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 5: 74% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 6: 65% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 7: 57% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 8: 48% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 9: 40% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 10: 31% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 11: 22% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 12: 14% of MSRPSound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 13 or later: 10% of MSRPState parks donation

Published example · listed fees

$83.00

12-month renewal example

Where the fees go

State fees$83.00
County / local$0.00
One-time$0.00

View breakdown data

Where the fees go — amounts in USD
Category	Amount
State fees	$83.00
County / local	$0.00
One-time	$0.00

Itemized estimate, with official fee sources
Fee	Amount
Vehicle license fee (passenger car or SUV)	$30.00
Registration filing fee	$6.00
Registration service fee	$11.00
License service fee	$0.75
License plate technology fee	$0.25
Motor vehicle weight fee (by scale weight)	$35.00

Estimate only. Includes only the fees listed here; other taxes, penalties or local charges may apply. Confirm with the official agency.

What’s not included

Many cities and a few counties add a transportation benefit district (TBD) fee at renewal, listed as "TBD" on your notice. Rates on DOL's list run from $15 to $50 (for example Seattle $50, Vancouver $50, Olympia $40, Tacoma and Spokane $20). The calculator does not include it because it depends on the city, not the county; see DOL's TBD list.
The Sound Transit RTA excise tax applies only inside the Sound Transit district, whose boundary splits King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, so it is an optional line. When you tick it, enter the vehicle's original MSRP as the vehicle value. DOL's fee breakdown in License Express shows the exact RTA amount.
The weight fee uses the manufacturer's empty scale weight, not the gross vehicle weight rating.
Pickup trucks and other trucks pay a license fee by declared gross weight (RCW 46.17.355) instead of the $30 car fee plus weight fee; those schedules are not modeled. Motorcycles are also not modeled.
A new registration also owes sales or use tax at the local rate where you live (not included), plus RTA excise if inside the Sound Transit district. Vehicles coming from another state may need a Washington State Patrol VIN inspection.
Optional items at renewal include the $5 State Parks donation (added unless you opt out), an Organ and Tissue Awareness donation and a $45 Discover Pass.
Washington plates must be replaced periodically; a renewal that includes replacement plates adds $30 per plate set plus reflectivity fees, which the calculator does not include. Paying online by card adds a 3% fee.

Use the official calculator

Registration fee schedule

Only applicable fees contribute to your estimate. Optional fees are excluded unless selected. One-time fees apply only to new registrations.

Washington fee rules · verified 2026-10-28
Fee	Amount or rule	Applies to
Vehicle license fee (passenger car or SUV)	$30.00 RCW 46.17.350(1)(j) and (n): $30 initial and renewal for a passenger car or sport utility vehicle. Pickup trucks are licensed by declared gross weight under RCW 46.17.355 instead and are not modeled.	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
Registration filing fee	$6.00 RCW 46.17.005(1): $6 for each vehicle registration.	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
Registration service fee	$11.00 RCW 46.17.040(1)(b): $11 for a registration renewal or other registration service, collected by DOL, county auditors and subagents.	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
License service fee	$0.75 RCW 46.17.025(1): 75 cents per vehicle registration.	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
License plate technology fee	$0.25 RCW 46.17.015(1): 25 cents per vehicle registration.	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
Motor vehicle weight fee (by scale weight)	Up to 4,000 lbs: $35.00; Up to 6,000 lbs: $65.00; Up to 8,000 lbs: $82.50; Remaining weights: $96.00 RCW 46.17.365(1), for registrations due on or after January 1, 2026: 4,000 lbs $35; 6,000 lbs $65; 8,000 lbs $82.50; 16,000 lbs and over $96. Weights not listed round up to the next listed weight, so 8,001 to 16,000 lbs pays $96. Based on the manufacturer's empty scale weight. The 2025 law (ch. 417, sec. 105) repealed the separate $10 additional passenger weight fee, which DOL's fee page still lists. Rises again on January 1, 2029 ($35/$75/$90/$110).	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
Electric vehicle fee ($100)	$100.00 RCW 46.17.323(1): plug-in vehicles that can travel at least 30 miles on battery power pay $100 at each annual renewal (not at first registration).	See conditions fuel type: electric; registration type: renewal
Electric vehicle fee ($50)	$50.00 RCW 46.17.323(4): an additional $50 at each annual renewal for the same vehicles.	See conditions fuel type: electric; registration type: renewal
Transportation electrification fee (electric)	$75.00 RCW 46.17.324(1): $75 a year, collected only at renewal, for plug-in vehicles with at least 30 miles of battery range.	See conditions fuel type: electric; registration type: renewal
Hybrid vehicle transportation electrification fee	$75.00 RCW 46.17.324(2): $75 at renewal for a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle that does not pay the electric vehicle fees. A plug-in hybrid with 30 or more miles of battery range pays the $225 electric fees instead (choose "electric").	See conditions fuel type: hybrid; registration type: renewal
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 1: 100% of MSRP	1.1% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 0; max age years: 0; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 2: 95% of MSRP	1.045% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 1; max age years: 1; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 3: 89% of MSRP	0.979% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 2; max age years: 2; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 4: 83% of MSRP	0.913% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 3; max age years: 3; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 5: 74% of MSRP	0.814% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 4; max age years: 4; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 6: 65% of MSRP	0.715% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 5; max age years: 5; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 7: 57% of MSRP	0.627% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 6; max age years: 6; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 8: 48% of MSRP	0.528% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 7; max age years: 7; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 9: 40% of MSRP	0.44% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 8; max age years: 8; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 10: 31% of MSRP	0.341% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 9; max age years: 9; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 11: 22% of MSRP	0.242% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 10; max age years: 10; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 12: 14% of MSRP	0.154% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 11; max age years: 11; optional
Sound Transit RTA excise tax (1.1% of depreciated MSRP), year of service 13 or later: 10% of MSRP	0.11% of vehicle value Only for vehicles registered at an address inside the Sound Transit district (parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties); check your address with Sound Transit's tool. Uses the original MSRP, not current value: year of service = current year minus model year plus 1, MSRP x the DOL depreciation percentage x 1.1%. Charged on new registrations and renewals.	Optional min age years: 12; optional
State parks donation	$5.00 DOL adds a $5 State Parks donation to renewals automatically; you can change the amount or opt out.	Optional All listed vehicles; optional
Certificate of title application fee	$15.00 RCW 46.17.100 (effective October 1, 2026): $15 for most title applications, such as moving a vehicle to Washington or a private sale. A title on a dealer sale or lease is $40 through 2036.	New registration All listed vehicles; one-time
Title filing fee	$6.50 RCW 46.17.005(2): $6.50 for a certificate of title application.	New registration All listed vehicles; one-time
Title service fee	$18.00 RCW 46.17.040(1)(a): $18 for a certificate of title change or transfer.	New registration All listed vehicles; one-time
Emergency medical services fee	$6.50 RCW 46.17.110: $6.50 on original and transfer certificate of title transactions and on all retail vehicle sales.	New registration All listed vehicles; one-time
Original issue license plates (2 x $50)	$100.00 RCW 46.17.200(1)(a): $50 per standard plate; passenger vehicles get two plates under RCW 46.16A.200. Transferring plates you already have to another vehicle is $10 instead. Specialty and personalized plates cost more.	New registration All listed vehicles; one-time
Plate reflectivity fee (2 x $2)	$4.00 RCW 46.17.200(1)(a): $2 per plate.	New registration All listed vehicles; one-time

How Washington fees work

Washington tabs renew every year. A passenger car or SUV pays a $30 license fee, $18 in filing, service and small add-on fees, and a weight fee that is $35 for 4,000 lbs or less and $65 up to 6,000 lbs. Plug-in electric cars pay $225 more at renewal and hybrids $75. Inside the Sound Transit district the 1.1% RTA excise tax on depreciated MSRP is added, and many cities add a $15 to $50 transportation benefit district fee.

The listed registration period is 12 months. Agency information

Cost factors: flat, weight, fuel, value, age.

Electric & hybrid surcharges

Electric: $225.00 in the listed schedule. Fee source

Hybrid: $75.00 in the listed schedule. Fee source

Choose the matching fuel type in the calculator to include the applicable surcharge.

Late registration

DOL lists no late fee for renewing tabs after they expire. Driving with an expired registration is a traffic infraction (RCW 46.16A.030(5)), and a vehicle with registration expired more than 45 days parked on a public street may be impounded. A separate title transfer late fee ($50 on day 16, then $2 a day up to $125) applies to late title transfers.

Confirm deadlines and penalties with the agency

Worked example

2022 gas sedan, 3,500 lbs, 2026 renewal outside the Sound Transit district and any TBD: $30 license + $6 filing + $11 service + $0.75 license service + $0.25 plate technology + $35 weight fee = $83.00. (Inside the Sound Transit district with a $25,000 MSRP, the optional RTA line adds $25,000 x 74% x 1.1% = $203.50; Seattle's $50 TBD would be extra.)

Listed total: $83.00

See the fee rules and sources above

Common questions

How are Washington registration fees calculated?

Where can I confirm my final registration cost?

Confirm the final amount with Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). Its official website is linked below the calculator and in this guide’s sources.

What other limitations should I consider?

Many cities and a few counties add a transportation benefit district (TBD) fee at renewal, listed as "TBD" on your notice. Rates on DOL's list run from $15 to $50 (for example Seattle $50, Vancouver $50, Olympia $40, Tacoma and Spokane $20). The calculator does not include it because it depends on the city, not the county; see DOL's TBD list. The Sound Transit RTA excise tax applies only inside the Sound Transit district, whose boundary splits King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, so it is an optional line. When you tick it, enter the vehicle's original MSRP as the vehicle value. DOL's fee breakdown in License Express shows the exact RTA amount. The weight fee uses the manufacturer's empty scale weight, not the gross vehicle weight rating. Pickup trucks and other trucks pay a license fee by declared gross weight (RCW 46.17.355) instead of the $30 car fee plus weight fee; those schedules are not modeled. Motorcycles are also not modeled. A new registration also owes sales or use tax at the local rate where you live (not included), plus RTA excise if inside the Sound Transit district. Vehicles coming from another state may need a Washington State Patrol VIN inspection. Optional items at renewal include the $5 State Parks donation (added unless you opt out), an Organ and Tissue Awareness donation and a $45 Discover Pass. Washington plates must be replaced periodically; a renewal that includes replacement plates adds $30 per plate set plus reflectivity fees, which the calculator does not include. Paying online by card adds a 3% fee.

Sources and last checked

Sources

Calculate vehicle tab fees (common vehicle fees) Washington State Department of Licensing
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) tax Washington State Department of Licensing
Local transportation benefit district fees Washington State Department of Licensing
Renew or replace vehicle tabs Washington State Department of Licensing
RCW 46.17.350 - License fees by vehicle type Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.365 - Motor vehicle weight fee Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.005 - Filing fees Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.040 - Service fees Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.025 - License service fee Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.015 - License plate technology fee Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.323 - Electric vehicle registration renewal fees Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.324 - Transportation electrification fee Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.100 - Certificate of title application fee Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.110 - Emergency medical services fee Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.17.200 - License plate fees Washington State Legislature
RCW 46.16A.200 - License plates (two plates for passenger vehicles) Washington State Legislature
Chapter 417, Laws of 2025 (ESSB 5801) - 2026 weight fee changes Washington State Legislature

Last verified 2026-10-28

Fees can change. Confirm your final amount with the official registration agency before paying.

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