Many vehicle licensing offices are open and providing services during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, office hours and availability could vary from day-to-day. If you need to visit an office in-person, please check office hours before visiting.
Your tab renewal options:
Tabs expire every year.
To see when they're due, look at your license plate for the expiration month and year. You can also check your License eXpress account – it'll show you the month, day, and year they expire. It will show the address and email addresses we have for your vehicles.
Do you want to get renewal reminders?
If you don't get the tabs you purchased, contact a vehicle licensing location. We may be able to send a replacement, at no cost, if you meet these requirements:
Registered owners may authorize a representative to purchase and pick up a vehicle or vessel registration and plates. The authorized representative must present a valid photo ID and:
If the person purchasing/picking up has the same last name or address as your customer on their photo ID, written authorization is not necessary.
Public disclosure laws require proof of identity whenever personally identifiable information is provided.
A business owner or representative picking up registration documents for an online or mail in renewal must provide the office with a reasonable connection to that business. Examples include, but are not limited to:
If you're stationed outside of Washington when your tabs expire, you may be able to get a new expiration date.
If your current tabs expired less than 12 months ago, we'll give you a new full year registration period. Apply for a new registration period through a vehicle licensing location:
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Motor Vehicle Excise Tax and Watercraft Excise Tax may be deductible. Check with your tax advisor.
Call us: 360.902.3900 (TTY: Call 711)