Customs inspections: Vehicles & boats
Starting January 1, 2023, vehicle registrations allow the removal of your address. New registrations have your address located on the bottom. There's a dotted line showing where to cut it. This is optional and intended to provide address privacy in case of theft.
If you import a vehicle or boat from a foreign country and want to register it in Washington:
- It must clear U.S. customs.
- and
- You must have U.S. customs or Department of Defense documents. These must:
- Include the year, make, and VIN of the vehicle or HIN of the boat.
- Be from U.S. Customs, not from a brokerage or foreign customs office.
- Be signed and stamped by Customs.
Military personnel
If you licensed a vehicle or boat in a foreign country while you were on active duty, submit the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) when you license it in Washington.
