How to Sell a Car in Washington Privately? (State Guide)

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The bottom line: To sell a car in Washington, start with the title. If yours is missing, get a duplicate using Form 420 040 for $39.50 at a vehicle licensing office. Notarization for the title is not required. A Bill of Sale is required when the sale price and date are not on the title. Use Form 420 065.

Sign the title, then handle your plates: transfer to a like-kind vehicle, or surrender at a vehicle licensing office.

File your release of liability within 5 days (excluding weekends and state holidays). The form is Form 420 062 (Vehicle Report of Sale). Filing channels: online through the Department of Licensing website, or mail Form 420 062 to a vehicle licensing office. Cancel your insurance only after that’s confirmed.

Washington at a glance

Title required to sell: yes

Title notarization: not required

Cost to replace a lost title: $39.50

Replacement title processing time: 4 to 6 weeks in person, or 6 to 8 weeks by mail

Title replacement available online: no

Quick Title (same-day fee): $89.50

Bill of sale: required when the sale price and date are not on the title

Bill of sale notarization: not required

Emissions testing required to sell: no

Safety inspection required to sell: no

License plates stay: with the seller

Buyer’s deadline to register: 15 days

Buyer penalty for missing deadline: $50 on day 16, then $2 per day, max $125

Form to release yourself from liability: Form 420 062 (Vehicle Report of Sale)

Deadline to file release of liability: 5 days (excluding weekends and state holidays)

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Step 1: Prepare Your Washington Paperwork

Documents you’ll need:

Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
Valid Washington driver’s license – Your name must match the title exactly
Lien release documentation – Required if you still owe money on the car

If your title is missing:

You’ll need to get a replacement first. To do this, complete Form 420 040 in front of a notary, then mail or bring it to a vehicle licensing office; Quick Title is available same day at a Quick Title office for $89.50.

Standard processing costs $39.50 and takes 4 to 6 weeks in person, or 6 to 8 weeks by mail.

Selling without a title:

In Washington, a title is required for all sales; the Department of Licensing accepts an Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest in place of the original paper title (no junk-specific exception).

The legal authority is RCW 46.12.520, and the substitute paperwork is Form 420 040 (Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest).

Video guide: Sell a Car Without a Title in Washington

If you still owe money on the car:

In Washington, the lender holds the paper title until the loan is paid off, then either signs the title at closing or mails the released title to the seller. If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket to clear the title.

Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?

Name matching requirement:

Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.

Notarization in Washington:

In Washington, the title assignment itself never needs a notary; the Affidavit of Loss requires notarization or signing in front of a vehicle licensing agent. For a standard private sale, just sign the back of the title in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the front.

Step 2: Prepare Your Car

Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.

Learn more:

How to Clean & Wash Your Car at Home?

How Does a Car Pre-Purchase Inspection for Sellers Work?

Is Vehicle History Report Worth for Sellers?

Car Maintenance Records – Should You Keep Them?

Step 3: Price Your Car

Start with online tools like KBB and Edmunds, then check what similar cars are selling for locally.

Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools

Step 4: Advertise Your Car

Facebook Marketplace works best in Washington, especially in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Oregon and Idaho.

Washington's emission check program ended January 1, 2020. No testing required for sale or registration. This makes older vehicles easy for buyers to register, which can boost your pool of interested local buyers. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.

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Best for Older Cars

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Learn more:

Best Online Car Buyers

Best Places to Sell a Car Privately

Free Car Ad Description Generator

Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely

Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.

Learn more:

Should You Give a Buyer a Test Drive?

Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate

Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.

Learn more:

How to Handle Car Selling Negotiations?

The Safest Ways to Accept Payment When Selling Car Privately

Step 7: Complete the Washington Title Transfer

Flip the title over to the assignment section on the back. Fill in the buyer’s full legal name and address, the sale date, the sale price, and the current odometer reading. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the front of the title.

Use blue or black ink only. Do not use white-out, cross things out, or make corrections. Any alterations can void the title and force you to apply for a duplicate.

For vehicles model year 2011 or newer, you must also provide an odometer disclosure. The disclosure is built into the title for newer vehicles; a separate odometer disclosure form is available at any vehicle licensing office (not downloadable). Vehicles model year 2010 and older are exempt from odometer disclosure under federal law’s 20-year rule.

If two people are listed on the title connected by “AND,” both sellers must sign. If the title uses “OR,” either owner can sign alone.

Once you’ve signed and handed over the title, the buyer takes it to a vehicle licensing office along with the Bill of Sale, proof of insurance, and payment for the title fee to register the car in their name. The buyer must do this within 15 days of purchase.

If the buyer misses the deadline, the late penalty is $50 on day 16, then $2 per day, max $125.

Step 8: Sign the Bill of Sale

A Bill of Sale is required when the sale price and date are not on the title. In practice, you should always complete one.

Use the official state form. Download Form 420 065 (Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale). Enter the actual sale price since the buyer uses this to calculate the use tax they owe when registering. If the vehicle is a gift or inheritance, enter zero.

Both you and the buyer sign and date the form. Keep a copy for your records. Notarization for the Bill of Sale is not required in Washington.

Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)

Step 9: Handle Washington License Plates and Registration

In Washington, license plates stay with the seller, so remove them before the buyer drives away.

You can transfer to a like-kind vehicle, or surrender at a vehicle licensing office. Washington does not let you transfer plates to a different vehicle class (car plates must go to a car, truck plates to a truck). The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.

If the buyer needs to drive the car home without plates, they can get a 3-day trip permit from a vehicle licensing office before the sale.

Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?

Step 10: Submit the Report of Sale

File the Report of Sale with the Washington DOL after you sell the car. You must do this within 5 days (excluding weekends and state holidays).

You can also download and mail Form 420 062 (Vehicle Report of Sale) to a vehicle licensing office if you prefer paper.

This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. Without it, the seller may remain liable for towing charges, civil and criminal liabilities, tickets, and tolls until the Report of Sale is filed.

Step 11: Cancel Insurance

Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.

Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?

Washington DOL Resources

State Resources:

Phone Support:

Washington DOL: (360) 902-3770

Washington Fees and Costs

What You Pay	Cost	When?
Duplicate title (if needed)	$39.50	Before sale
Quick Title (optional)	$89.50	Before sale (same-day processing)
Lien payoff (if applicable)	Loan balance	Before sale
Everything else	$0	Buyer pays title fees and use tax

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?

The buyer has 15 days to transfer the title and register the car in Washington. If they miss that window, the late penalty is $50 on day 16, then $2 per day, max $125.

As the seller, your job is done once you file the Report of Sale within 5 days (excluding weekends and state holidays). What the buyer does after that is their responsibility.

Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Washington?

No, the title assignment itself never needs a notary; the Affidavit of Loss requires notarization or signing in front of a vehicle licensing agent. Just sign the back of the title in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the front.

When is a Bill of Sale required in Washington?

A Bill of Sale is required when the sale price and date are not on the title. In practice, always complete one.

It protects both you and the buyer, and the DOL uses it to calculate the buyer’s use tax.

Use the official state form (Form 420 065).

Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Washington?

Yes. In Washington, the lender holds the paper title until the loan is paid off, then either signs the title at closing or mails the released title to the seller.

If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket to clear the title.

My car was inherited. What additional Washington forms do I need?

In Washington, if the estate is probated, submit Letters Testamentary or a court order with the title and a Vehicle Title Application; for estates under $100,000, an affidavit of succession may be used instead.

Contact a vehicle licensing office to confirm which documents apply to your situation.

Both my spouse and I are on the Washington title. Do we both need to sign?

It depends on how the title is worded. If it says “AND” between the two names, both owners must sign. If it says “OR,” either one can sign alone.

Check the front of your title carefully before the meeting with the buyer so you know what to expect.

What if I make a mistake on the Washington title?

Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any alteration voids the title in Washington. You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form 420 040, pay the $39.50 fee, and sign it before a notary.

Once you have the clean duplicate, complete the assignment section carefully on the new title.

The buyer is from out of state. Does Washington require anything special?

Your obligations as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. Sign the title, complete the Bill of Sale, remove your plates, and file the Report of Sale within 5 days (excluding weekends and state holidays).

The buyer will register the vehicle in their home state according to their local rules. They may need a VIN inspection or additional paperwork in some states, but that’s their responsibility to sort out.