Tabs renewal requirements
Before you can renew your vehicle tabs, you may need to meet certain requirements, including verifying your primary or business address.
Before you get started
Before you renew your tabs, please review how to change your vehicle address to learn about address requirements.
If you are using your vehicle as a ride share vehicle, you'll need to certify your rideshare plates.
Verify your primary residence street address
Please visit a vehicle license office when you renew. You'll need to verify your primary residence street address. Bring your renewal notice and one of the following:
- Utility bill
- Driver license
- Other documentation verifying your primary residence street address
If the address we have is incorrect, you may change it at the licensing office.
Please visit a vehicle license office when you renew. You'll need to verify your primary business street address. Bring your renewal notice and a utility bill or other documentation verifying your primary business street address.
If the address we have is incorrect, you may change it at the licensing office.
Renew your disabled parking privilege
Our records show that your disabled parking has expired. To keep your special license plate and get your disabled parking tab for the next year, please renew at a vehicle license office. See more information about disabled parking permits.
Prove you qualify for the RTA excise tax exemption
To keep your RTA (Sound Transit) excise tax exemption, take your renewal notice and your active-duty or dependent military ID card to a vehicle licensing office. If you've registered to vote in Washington, you no longer qualify for this exemption.
If it is undetermined whether RTA applies to you
If we're unsure whether your address is within the Regional Transit Authority taxing district boundary, there will be no Regional Transit Authority (RTA) tax included on your renewal notice. If it's determined that you live within the RTA district, you may receive notification of RTA taxes due.
Provide the vehicle's DOT number or proof of exemption
Please visit a vehicle license office when you renew. Bring proof to show you're exempt or have a DOT number. Learn more about DOT numbers.
Lease operators
If you operate under a lease agreement, bring a copy of the agreement.
Auto transporters
If you operate an auto transport, passenger charter, solid waste, motor freight, or limousine, and don't transport hazardous material, subtract the $16 commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from your total.
Tell the licensing agent the number of months of gross weight license you want to purchase
You'll need to visit a vehicle licensing office. The gross weight license fee shown on your renewal notice is priced for 12 months. If you're buying 14,000 pounds or more gross weight and want to buy less than 12 months, tell the licensing agent how many months you want when you buy your tabs.
Tell the licensing agent the amount of gross weight license and months you want to purchase
You'll need to visit a vehicle licensing office because our records show that this vehicle carries no gross weight and isn't licensed to drive on Washington's public roads. Tell the licensing agent the gross weight and how many months you want to purchase. If you're not sure how many months, please discuss options with the licensing agent.
Provide proof you've paid your Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (FHVUT)
When you renew your tabs, visit a vehicle licensing office, and show proof you've paid your FHVUT. Your options are:
- Bring the original or copy of validated Schedule 1 (form 2290) Schedule of Highway Motor Vehicles for the current tax period
- A receipted Schedule 1 (form 2290) that shows proof of filing is required each year even if the vehicle is exempt from FHVUT
- All of the following:
- A copy of Form 2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Return
- Schedule 1 (form 2290) Schedule of Highway Motor Vehicles as filed with the IRS
- Proof of payment (a copy, front and back, of the canceled check payable to the IRS)
Show you've paid or are exempt from paying your Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (FHVUT)
Visit a vehicle licensing office, and show proof that one of the following applies to you.
You've paid your FHVUT to the IRS
This tax is paid when a vehicle meets all these conditions:
- It's registered for highway use,
- It's driven on public highways, and
- The declared gross weight is more than 55,000 pounds.
The vehicle is exempt
It's exempt if it's:
- Owned and used by:
- a government agency (federal, state, county, city),
- the District of Columbia,
- the American Red Cross,
- non-profit volunteer fire depts.,
- ambulance associations, or
- rescue squads.
- A Native American Tribal government and is an essential function,
- A mass transportation authority, created under a statute (e.g. Metro in Seattle), or
- A state or local government.
FHVUT may be suspended for a tax period if the vehicle was used on public highways:
- 5,000 or fewer miles, or
- 7,500 or fewer miles for agricultural vehicles (miles driven on the farm don't count towards the 7,500).
Pay your outstanding balance from a past transaction
You'll need to visit a vehicle licensing office. Bring the letter we sent that shows the past due amount and pay your outstanding balance.
You must provide the scale weight of your vehicle
Please visit a vehicle licensing office and bring proof of the weight of your vehicle so we can charge the correct weight fee. Proof can be:
- The owner's manual
- A previous title or registration
- A nationally accepted vehicle value guide
- The vehicle manufacturer web site
Show proof that you're a professional firefighter
Please visit a vehicle license office. Bring a current letter from the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters and one of the following:
- A valid Washington state driver license
- A valid Washington ID card
- International Association of Fire Fighters ID showing current membership
If you want to keep the current plate number, it'll cost an additional $20.
If you're not going to keep your Professional Fire Fighter plates, you'll get regular plates when you renew.
