Temporary permits: Military personnel

If you’re nonresident military personnel, you may get a temporary permit to operate a vehicle in Washington while you apply for a title, registration, or license plates in your home of record. The permit:

• Is valid for 45 days.
• and
• Must be displayed on the vehicle so it’s clearly visible from outside.

Nonresident military personnel are:

• Active-duty members of the United States armed forces:
  • Coast Guard (including personnel living in Washington who are on duty in the Portland area)
  • Army
  • Navy
  • Marines
  • Air Force
• Members of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA).
• Commissioned officers of the public health service.
• Members of foreign military organizations assigned to Washington on official duty.

How to apply

1. Visit a vehicle licensing office.
2. Submit a completed Non-Resident Military Affidavit for Exemption of Excise Tax.
   • The form must be signed and notarized. You may have the signatures notarized by a notary public or an active-duty commissioned officer of the armed forces. If the commissioned officer’s signature, rank, and branch of service appear on the document as a notary, no further proof of their authority is needed.
3. Provide 1 of the following as proof you’ve applied for registration outside of Washington:
   • Out-of-state application.
   • Letter of request.
   • Notarized or certified statement of fact, stating you’ve applied for an out-of-state title or registration.