HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5282
As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to authorizing vehicle dealers to file a report of sale.
Brief Description: Authorizing vehicle dealers to file a report of sale.
Sponsors: Senators Valdez, MacEwen, Gildon, Liias and Nguyen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 3/13/23, 4/4/23 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Bill
(As Amended By Committee)
  • 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: Do pass as amended.Signed by 28 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, 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 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 or has been 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 cents license plate technology fee, the 50 cents license service fee, and the $8 service fee.


Vehicle dealers are licensed and regulated by the DOL.
Summary of Amended 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.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The amended 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 Amended 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) When selling a car, people do not always file the report of sale.  People only realize filing the report of sale is a requirement when they receive a bill for towing or for unpaid tolls.  Filing the report of sale makes it easier to tell who the owner of the vehicle is and terminates the previous owner's legal liability for the vehicle.  This bill makes the process easier by allowing the vehicle dealer to ask if they can do this service on a vehicle seller's behalf.  The report of sale is the only part of the process vehicle dealers cannot currently file on behalf of the customer.  Vehicle dealers support this bill to provide better customer service.  Vehicle dealers would not receive a fee for the filing the report of sale.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Javier Valdez, prime sponsor; and Scott Hazlegrove, Washington State Auto Dealers Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.