FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1046

C 326 L 11

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning vehicle and vessel quick title.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Moeller, Condotta and Morris).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

Vehicle and vessel title changes in Washington can be made at a county auditor's office, or offices of other agents or subagents, or at the Department of Licensing (DOL). The applicant must fill out a Vehicle or Vessel Certificate of Ownership Application. Documentation and the required taxes and fees are collected at the location and sent to the DOL. Seven county auditors in Washington (Benton, Clark, Franklin, Kitsap, Pierce, Spokane, and Whatcom counties) prepare quick titles, which are titles that are processed by the counties and given to the applicant immediately.

Summary:

A quick title is defined as a certificate of ownership printed at the time of application.

A $50 fee is charged by the participating county auditor or other agent; $25 is retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor, and the remaining $25 is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund for a vehicle and the General Fund for a vessel. If the fee is paid directly to the DOL, the entire fee of $50 must be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund for a vehicle and into the General Fund for a vessel.

The application for a quick title may not be used to obtain the first title issued to a vehicle previously designated as a salvage vehicle.

The application for a quick title must be submitted by the owner or owner's representative to the DOL, participating county auditor, or other agent appointed by the DOL Director on a form furnished or approved by the DOL.

Subagents are allowed to perform quick title transactions providing that:

• the county auditor or agent is providing quick title services in the county in which the subagent is located for at least six months;

• the county auditor or other agent has selected the subagent to perform quick title services; and

• the DOL has instituted a process in which blank certificates of title can be inventoried.

All applications for a quick title must meet the requirements established by the DOL. The act applies to quick title transactions processed on and after January 1, 2012.

Votes on Final Passage: