Replace your license plates

You must replace your plates if they are:

At least 7 years old. By law, you must replace your license plates every 7 years when you renew your vehicle registration. The reflective coating on the plates only has a 5-year guarantee. This coating helps law enforcement officers easily identify vehicles in poor weather conditions. Proper care of plates won’t prevent this coating from breaking down over time.
Lost or damaged. If your vehicle license plates have been lost or damaged, replace them by following the instructions below.

Once replaced, your current plates are cancelled immediately, and our records will note your plates have been replaced.

Verify your address

Before you can replace your plates, you must verify your residence street address or business address with us. To verify your address:

visit your local vehicle licensing office.
OR
enter your address (even if it has not changed) in the Vehicle Change of Address system.

To replace standard license plates, visit a vehicle licensing office and bring all of the following with you:

A notarized Affidavit of Loss or a notarized letter addressed to the Department of Licensing, saying that you have lost your vehicle license plates.
Photo identification.
The fee in cash or check.

After you replace your standard license plates, you can dispose of the old plates in any of the following ways:

Take them to your local vehicle licensing office.
Mail them to us at:

Department of Licensing
1125 Washington St SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Shred the entire license plate.
Remove or invalidate the month and year tabs and:
- Bend the plates so they are no longer usable.
- OR
- Recycle the plates in such a way that they cannot be confused with a valid Washington license plate.

To replace personalized or special design plates, visit a vehicle licensing office and bring all of the following with you:

A notarized Affidavit of Loss or a notarized letter addressed to the Department of Licensing, saying that you have lost your vehicle license plates.
A completed License Plate Replacement Application.
Photo identification.
The fee in cash or check.

If you have replaced any of the types of plates listed below, you must dispose of the old plates by taking them to a vehicle licensing office:

If you have replaced other types of special design license plates, you can dispose of the old plates in any of the following ways:

Take them to your local vehicle licensing office.
Mail them to us at:

Department of Licensing
1125 Washington St SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Shred the entire license plate.
Remove or invalidate the month and year tabs and:
- Bend the plates so they are no longer usable.
- OR
- Recycle the plates in such a way that they cannot be confused with a valid Washington license plate.

To replace IRP plates, submit a completed Replacement of License Identification Application with the $12 fee:

in person at any prorate and fuel tax office.
by fax to (360) 570-7829 or (360) 586-5905. When we receive your faxed application, we will fax you a Temporary Authority that will allow you to drive until your replacement plates come in the mail.
by mail to:

Prorate Section
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9048
Olympia, WA 98507-9048

After you replace your IRP plates, you can dispose of the old plates in any of the following ways:

Take them to your local vehicle licensing office.
Mail them to us at:

Department of Licensing
1125 Washington St SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Shred the entire license plate.
Remove or invalidate the month and year tabs and:
- Bend the plates so they are no longer usable.
- OR
- Recycle the plates in such a way that they cannot be confused with a valid Washington license plate.