Licensing and registering in Washington State

[RogerC]

It seems this topic comes up every few years. Here is a "reprint" from 7/6/00 that I submitted shortly after going thru this ordeal. Maybe some things have change, but I think as a whole these rules will still apply.

The car is registered by the year of the Chassis and not the engine. That means if you live in an area with emission control you will have to fight a battle. If there is not Manuf. I.D. number stamped on the chassis the State Patrol will provide you with a number plate for about $25.00.

The State Patrol only checks for stolen parts when registering the car. They did not look at my car for road worthiness.

You will need receipts for all "major" components with V.I.N. numbers from the vehicle the parts came from or if you buy the part from a retail outlet (such as a crate motor) just their receipt will do. I heard from one person that the receipts needed to be notarized also. If your receipts don't have the V.I.N. number, as in my case, you can register the car but can not title it for three years.

Now that we don't pay excise tax the pain to register the car is not as bad, but don't forget you will be asked to pay sale tax on the receipts you bring in on items that were bought out of state or at swap meets. This could be a big number, so some might bring in only the receipts for the kit, engine and drive train.

Good luck!

….. The WSP wrote right on the document that I had to take to DOL, along with my receipts, that the car was to be registered as a 1996 or the year the chassis was made.

I must admit there seems to be allot of confusion on how this process works within both the WSP & DOL. I guess they don't do this every day and the people they hire at DOL are sometimes not the sharpest knifes in the drawer.


I would heed Bob's advice. It is easier and cheaper to buy a completed car that is registered than to build your own. That is unless you're like me and just like to put things together yourself.

Good Luck,
Roger Carlson