Report the selling or buying of a vehicle

I have sold, gifted or transferred my vehicle. What do I do next? 

First, try to fill out a Bill of Sale with the buyer. This form is not required but will help you gather the information you will need to transfer ownership. You can also get the Bill of Sale form in Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

The optional Bill of Sale is not the same thing as the Report of Sale form. The Report of Sale form is required.

Then you legally transfer ownership of the vehicle by signing the title (the vehicle certificate of ownership) and giving it to the new owner. If the vehicle is less than 10 years old, you must also fill out the odometer disclosure statement on the back of the title. 

Do not give up your interest in the vehicle and deliver the title to the new owner if they are making payments. Even though you have to report the sale of the vehicle right away, you can remain the legal owner on the title until the vehicle is fully paid off.

After you have signed the title for the sale, you should give the Department of Licensing (DOL) a written Report of Sale within 5 days. Don’t count Saturdays, Sundays, or state and federal holidays. If you don’t file this report on time, you may still have criminal or civil responsibility for the vehicle despite the sale. It costs a small fee to file the report (less than $20). 

How do I file a Report of Sale?

You can:

• Complete a Report of Sale form on the DOL website. You can get the Report of Sale form in in English, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
• Take the Report of Sale form to your local auto licensing office. You can tear the report of sale form off from the vehicle’s “certificate of ownership” (title). You can also get a copy of the form at any auto licensing office. 

If you submit your Report of Sale in-person, you get a receipt. You can use this receipt to show a court or towing company that you properly reported the sale or transfer. If you file your Report of Sale online, save or print out the receipt. 

Don’t mail your Report of Sale to the Department of Licensing in Olympia if you can avoid it. You won’t get a receipt. 

Make sure the DOL has your current address. Otherwise, you may not get notices from a court or a towing company. You may not learn someone is holding you responsible for the actions of others who now have your vehicle. You may lose the chance to fix a mistake. 

You can submit a Report of Sale after 5 business days but the DOL might treat a late filing as improperly filed. Filing on time protects you from parking tickets, towing charges, and any accidents that happen after you sell or transfer your vehicle.

What do I put in the Report of Sale? 

• your name and full address
• the date you sold or transferred your vehicle
• the buyer’s or transferee’s name and full address
• the sale price, or list it as a gift or trade
• a description of your vehicle, including its vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate number

If you can’t provide this information, the DOL may decide your Report of Sale is improperly filed. 

When do I need to file a Report of Sale?

You need to file a Report of Sale when:

• Selling your vehicle- Anytime you sell your vehicle to anyone even if they are outside of Washington.
• Giving, donating or trading your vehicle- Any time you give your vehicle away, donate it, trade it in at a vehicle dealer (with no money exchanged), or trade it to a private party, you should file a Report of Sale. Check the “gift/trade” box on the report of sale form if you are reporting online.  Put “gift” or “trade” in the box marked “purchase price” on the Report of Sale form if reporting in person.
• A court ordered you to give the vehicle to someone- If a court awards the vehicle to someone else in a court order, you will need to report the transfer as a gift or trade.
• Selling your vehicle to a wrecking yard or for parts- Even if you are selling your vehicle for scrap or parts, you still have to file a Report of Sale. If you are totally junking your vehicle for disposal, you will still need to report the transfer.
• Turning over your vehicle to an insurance company- After a wreck if your insurance company totals out your vehicle and takes it from you, you need to file a Report of Sale. 

You should file a report of sale anytime you sell, gift, give, transfer, or trade your vehicle. File it within 5 business days from the date of sale. 

What if I get charges for towing or parking tickets that are not mine? 

Show your Report of Sale receipt to the towing company or the court that issued the ticket. 

If you don’t have a receipt, you can get a copy of your Report of Sale from the Department of Licensing with a Vehicle/Boat Record Request. You can also call the Department of Licensing at (360) 902-3770 and ask them to mail you the form. Mail the completed Vehicle/Boat Record Request form to the address listed on it. It doesn’t cost anything to request a record.