Requirements: Renew your tabs
You may need to meet certain requirements before you can renew your tabs. Your renewal notice will list all the requirements that apply to you.
To find out what to do to meet a requirement, choose a message below:
- This vehicle must pass a Washington emission inspection.
- Provide proof of Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.
- You must show you have either paid or are exempt from paying your Federal Heavy Vehicle Use tax before you can buy your tabs.
- Provide this vehicle’s DOT number or proof of exemption.
- Please see DOT numbers to get the DOT Number Determination/Disclosure form and determine if you need a DOT number.
- If you operate under a lease agreement, you must provide a copy of the agreement when you buy your tabs.
- 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.
- Certify this vehicle is used as a ride share vehicle.
- Pay your outstanding balance from a past transaction.
- You have an outstanding balance from a past transaction which you must pay before you buy your tabs. Refer to the letter we sent you showing the past due amount. Take the letter and your renewal notice to your local vehicle licensing office to buy your tabs.
- Tell your licensing agent the number of months of gross weight license you wish to purchase.
- The gross weight license fee shown on your renewal notice is priced for 12 months. If you are buying 14,000 pounds or more gross weight, but want to buy less than 12 months of gross weight license, tell your vehicle licensing agent how many months you wish to purchase when you buy your tabs.
- Tell your licensing agent the amount of gross weight license and number of months you wish to purchase.
- Our records show that this vehicle carries no gross weight and isn’t licensed for operation on Washington’s public roads. To renew this vehicle registration you must tell your licensing agent the amount of gross weight and how many months you wish to purchase. If you aren’t sure of the amount or months, please discuss the options with your licensing agent before buying your tabs.
- Prove you qualify for 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 when you buy your tabs. If you have registered to vote in the state of Washington, you no longer qualify for this exemption.
- Renew your disabled parking privilege.
- Our records show that your disabled parking privilege has expired. To keep your special license plate and receive your disabled parking year tab for the next registration year, you must renew your privilege at any vehicle license office before buying your tabs.
- Provide your primary residence street address.
- Please see Changing the address for your vehicle to learn about residence address requirements and how to provide a residence street address for your vehicle.
- Verify your primary residence address.
You must verify your primary residence or business address before you can buy your tabs. Take your renewal notice and one of the folowing items to your local vehicle licensing office:
- Utility bill
- Driver license
- Other documentation verifying your primary residence or business address.
If the address we have for you is incorrect, you may change your address online.
- Provide your primary business street address.
- Please see Changing the address for your vehicle to learn about address requirements for business vehicles and how to provide a current business address.
- Replace your personalized license plates.
It’s time to replace your personalized license plates. 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.
If you aren’t renewing online, complete the personalized plate area on the payment coupon that came with your printed renewal notice.
In most cases, we will send you new personalized license plates printed on the standard mountain background. You have the option to combine your personalized plate with most special plate backgrounds for an additional fee. For more information, contact a vehicle licensing office or see Personalized plates with a special background design.
We will mail your plates in a 12" x 6" envelope that won’t fit into smaller mailboxes.
- Replace your specialized license plates.
It’s time to replace your special-design plates. 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.
If you don’t have a personalized plate with a special background design, we will issue you a new license plate number unless you opt to pay an additional $20 to keep your current number.
We’ll mail your plates in a 12" x 6" envelope that won’t fit into smaller mailboxes.
- Show proof that you are a professional firefighter.
To keep your Professional Fire Fighter license plates, you must provide a current letter from the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters and show one of the following when you buy your tabs:
- 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 number on your new plates, add $20 to the total in the space provided on the payment coupon.
If you won’t be keeping your Professional Fire Fighter license plates, you will need to get different license plates when you buy your tabs.
We will mail your plates in a 12" x 6" envelope that won’t fit into smaller mailboxes.
