HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1302
As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to the vehicle report of sale.
Brief Description: Concerning the vehicle report of sale.
Sponsors: Representatives Timmons, Hutchins, Barkis, Orcutt and Ramel.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 1/23/23, 1/26/23 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Allows a vehicle dealer to file a report of sale on behalf of an owner who trades in or sells a vehicle to the dealer.  A vehicle dealer who files a report of sale on behalf of an owner must collect and remit the required fees from the owner.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by 29 members:Representatives Fey, Chair; Donaghy, Vice Chair; Paul, Vice Chair; Timmons, Vice Chair; Barkis, Ranking Minority Member; Hutchins, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Low, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Robertson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berry, Bronoske, Chapman, Cortes, Dent, Doglio, Duerr, Entenman, Goehner, Griffey, Hackney, Klicker, Mena, Orcutt, Ramel, Ramos, Schmidt, Taylor, Volz, Walsh and Wylie.
Staff: Michael Hirsch (786-7195).
Background:

Owner Releasing Interest. 
An owner releasing interest in a vehicle must:  (1) sign the release of interest section provided on the certificate of title or on a release of interest document or form approved by the Department of Licensing (DOL); (2) give the certificate of title or evidence of ownership document to the person gaining interest in the vehicle; (3) give the person gaining interest in the vehicle an odometer disclosure statement if one is required; and (4) report the vehicle sold.


Report of Sale.  
An owner must notify the DOL, the county auditor or other agent, or subagent in writing within five business days after a vehicle is sold, given as a gift to another person, traded privately or to a dealership, donated to charity, turned over to an insurance company or wrecking yard, or disposed of.

A report of sale is properly filed if it is received by the DOL, the county auditor or other agent, or subagent within five business days after the date of sale or transfer and it includes certain information, including:

  • the date of sale or transfer;
  • the name and address of both the owner of the vehicle and the person acquiring the vehicle;
  • the vehicle identification number and license plate number; and
  • payment of the $4.50 filing fee, the 25-cent license plate technology fee, the 50-cent license service fee, and the $8 service fee.


Vehicle dealers are licensed and regulated by the DOL.
Summary of Substitute Bill:

A vehicle dealer may, but is not required to, file a report of sale on behalf of an owner who trades in, sells, or otherwise transfers ownership of a vehicle to the dealer.  A vehicle dealer who files on behalf of an owner must collect and remit the required fees from the owner.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill states that a vehicle dealer who files on behalf of an owner must, rather than may, collect and remit the required fees.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Many people fail to file a report of sale when selling a vehicle.  If a report of sale is not filed, the former owner may receive notices and have to pay for parking tickets and other expenses.  Allowing dealers to file on behalf of customers would not increase fees to customers.  Dealers would not receive any additional compensation, but relations with customers would improve.


(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Joe Timmons, prime sponsor; Scott Hazlegrove, Washington State Auto Dealers Association; and Travis Graddon, Roger Jobs Automotive.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.