Local transportation benefit district fees

RCW 36.73.020 allows city or county governments to create transportation benefit districts and impose an additional vehicle registration fee to fund local transportation projects.

If you live in any of the following locations, you must pay an additional transportation benefit district fee when you renew your vehicle tabs. You may see this fee listed as "TBD" during renewal.

Vehicles subject to fees

• Passenger vehicles
• Trucks that weigh 6,000 pounds or less
• Motorcycles
• Commercial passenger vehicles and trucks that weigh 6,000 pounds or less
• Commercial trailers
• Combination trucks that weigh 6,000 pounds or less
• Combination trailers
• Tow trucks
• House moving dollies
• Trucks used exclusively for hauling logs that weigh 6,000 pounds or less
• Trailers used exclusively for hauling logs
• Taxicabs
• For-hire or stage vehicles with 6 seats or less
• For-hire or stage vehicles with 7 or more seats that weigh 6,000 pounds or less
• Private use trailers over 2,000 pounds
• Motorcycle trailers
• Travel trailers
• Fixed load vehicles that weigh 6,000 pounds or less
• Mobile homes licensed as vehicles
• Motor homes
• Neighborhood electric passenger vehicle and trucks that weigh 6,000 pounds or less
• Medium-speed electric passenger vehicle and trucks that weigh 6,000 pounds or less

Exempt vehicles

• All farm vehicles
• Campers
• Off-road vehicles
• Snowmobiles, including vintage snowmobiles
• Mopeds
• ATVs
• Personal use trailers with a single axle and less than 2,000 pounds scale weight
• Antique, collector, and restored vehicles
• Converter gear
• Government vehicles
• Federally owned vehicles and federal motorcycle trailers
• Private school vehicles
• Vehicles properly registered to disabled American veterans
• Commercial passenger vehicles and trucks that weigh 6,001 pounds or more

How a transportation benefit district works

Once a local transportation benefit district is set up, the district's board of directors may vote to charge a local vehicle licensing fee due when a vehicle owner buys new tabs.

• The transportation benefit district board has the authority to impose a fee of up to $20 per vehicle without voter approval.
• A transportation benefit district may impose a vehicle renewal fee of up to $100 per vehicle or seek other sources of funding if approved by voters.

Related laws

• RCW: 36.73: Transportation benefit districts
• RCW 82.80.140: Vehicle fee - Transportation benefit district - Exemptions

Questions? Need help?

Call us: 360.902.3900 (TTY: Call 711)

If you're a transportation benefit district or want to set one up, email us: JFerris@dol.wa.gov.