What to know about fee increases for Washington license plates

SEATTLE — Beginning Friday, July 1, Washington state license plate fees will increase to fund the nearly $17 billion “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package signed into law earlier this year.

Here’s what you need to know about the increased fees.

• Original Plate: Increases from $10 to $50
• Replacement Plate: Increases from $10 to $30
• Original Motorcycle License Plate: Increased from $4 to $20
• Replacement Motorcycle License Plate: Increased from $4 to $12

Some fees when buying a vehicle from a dealer will also be increased.

Temporary dealer permits, which dealers provide to vehicle buyers before they receive their permanent license plates, will increase from $15 to $40.

The maximum amount a merchant can charge for documentation fees, which are optional and negotiable administrative expense fees, also increases from $150 to $200.

The fee for verifying that a vehicle is stolen upon initial registration in Washington state will also be increased. The Washington State Department of Licensing checks vehicles against national and state databases for titles or other issues.

The fee will increase from $15 to $50 on July 1 and to $75 in 2026.

Additional license fees from the Washington State Department of Licensing will be increased in October.

Beginning October 1, the fee for an extended driver’s license will increase from $32 to $56 in addition to the fees for each driver’s license.

Move Ahead Washington has invested $16.9 billion in major projects across the state over 16 years.

Investments include $3 billion for public transportation, $2.4 billion for the removal of barriers at fish passages, $1 billion for Washington’s portion of an I-5 replacement bridge over the Columbia River, and $836 million dollars to build four new hybrid-electric ferries.