Washington Private Party Car Tax Calculator

Usually. Washington taxes fair market value, but it accepts your price if it is no more than 20% below fair market value or the value is under $7,500. If you paid less because of the vehicle’s condition, a pricing guide value, a repair estimate, or an appraisal can support the lower price.

The title is $39.50 ($15 application, $6.50 filing, and $18 service). Tabs are $82.75 a year for a vehicle up to 4,000 lbs and $112.75 from 4,001 to 6,000 lbs. Plug-in vehicles that go 30 miles or more on battery add $225 at renewal. Local fees, including the regional transit authority tax in the Sound Transit district, are extra.

If you live in the Sound Transit district, in parts of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, the regional transit authority (RTA) excise tax is added to your tabs each year: 1.1% of the MSRP, reduced by a state depreciation schedule as the vehicle ages. It is not in the estimate. Sound Transit’s address tool shows whether you are in the district.

No. A buyer gets new plates at $50 each plus $2 per plate for reflectivity ($104 for a car, $22 for a motorcycle), or moves a plate they already own for $10. The plates can stay on the vehicle when it comes from a spouse or domestic partner, or as a gift or inheritance from a family member.

Not if you acquired and used the vehicle as a resident of another state more than 90 days before you came to Washington. You have 30 days after moving to get a Washington driver license and register the vehicle, and the license comes first.

A gift or inheritance is exempt when the previous owner paid Washington sales or use tax and nothing is given in return. A vehicle with a loan on it generally does not qualify. A gift from a place without sales tax, such as Oregon, pays use tax unless the giver owned it for at least 7 years in a state or province with sales tax.

You have 15 days. The penalty is $50 on the 16th day and $2 a day after that, up to $125.