(1) A registered owner or the registered owner's authorized representative must apply for a renewal vehicle registration to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a form approved by the director. The application for a renewal vehicle registration must be accompanied by a draft, money order, certified bank check, or cash for all fees and taxes required by law for the application for a renewal vehicle registration.
(2) An application and the fees and taxes for a renewal vehicle registration must be handled in the same manner as an original vehicle registration application. The registration does not need to show the name of the lien holder when the application for renewal vehicle registration becomes the renewal registration upon validation.
(3) A person expecting to be out of state during the normal renewal period of a vehicle registration may renew a vehicle registration and have license plates or tabs preissued by applying for a renewal as described in subsection (1) of this section. A vehicle registration may be renewed for the subsequent registration year up to eighteen months before the current expiration date and must be displayed from the date of issue or from the day of the expiration of the current registration year, whichever date is later.
(4) An application for a renewal vehicle registration is not required for those vehicles owned, rented, or leased by:
(a) The state of Washington, or by any county, city, town, school district, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington; or
(b) A governing body of an Indian tribe located within this state and recognized as a governmental entity by the United States department of the interior.
[2010 c 161 § 428; 2010 c 8 § 9012; 2001 c 206 § 1; 1997 c 241 § 8; 1994 c 262 § 9; 1977 c 8 § 1. Prior: 1975 1st ex.s. c 169 § 6; 1975 1st ex.s. c 118 § 8; 1969 ex.s. c 75 § 1; 1961 c 12 § 46.16.210; prior: 1957 c 273 § 5; 1955 c 89 § 2; 1953 c 252 § 3; 1947 c 164 § 11; 1937 c 188 § 34; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6312-34. Formerly RCW 46.16.210.]
Notes: Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2010 c 8 § 9012 and by 2010 c 161 § 428, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date -- Intent -- Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session -- 2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.
Effective date -- Severability -- 1975 1st ex.s. c 118: See notes following RCW 46.16A.020.
Rental cars: RCW 46.87.023.