Brief Description: Permitting transfer of license plates.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Haugen, Horn, Oke, Benton and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Licensing).

Hearing Date: 2/23/04

Staff: Page Scott (786-7301).

Background:

In general, vehicle license plates follow the vehicle when a vehicle is sold or transferred to a subsequent owner. Current law allows personalized license plates and many special license plates to be transferred to a different vehicle. The transfer fee is $5. This fee is not collected for the transfer of disabled person special license plates.

A vehicle owner may opt to retain his or her current number/letter combination when general issue license plates are due to be replaced. The fee for retaining the same number/letter combination for general issue license plates is $20. However, general issue license plates may not be transferred to a different vehicle.

Summary of Bill:

General issue license plates may be transferred to a replacement vehicle eligible for the same type of license plate.

The license plate transfer fee is increased from $5 to $10. The following types of license plates are subject to the $10 transfer fee: general issue, personalized, amateur radio operators, collegiate, Medal of Honor, Pearl Harbor survivor, Purple Heart, ride share, square dancer, stadium, honorary consul, and foreign organizations.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 20, 2004.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.