Selling a car in Washington: the paperwork
| Washington seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Not required |
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | Report of Sale, form TD-420-062, within 5 days, online |
| Duplicate title | Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest; $39.50 |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest (TD-420-040)) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Washington State Department of Licensing. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Washington
We buy cars in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue and Yakima, and in every other town in Washington a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Washington
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Washington, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Washington
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Washington too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Washington car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Washington?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Washington title, apply to the Washington State Department of Licensing with Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest. The fee is $39.50.
Can I junk a car without a title in Washington?
Sometimes. Scrap processors and hulk haulers can accept the owner's affidavit of lost or stolen title and release of interest (DOL form TD-420-040, notarized or certified) instead of a title (WAC 308-65-130). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Washington title, apply to the Washington State Department of Licensing with Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest. The fee is $39.50.
Does the title need to be notarized in Washington?
No. Washington doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title, and add the odometer reading and sale date where the title asks for them.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Washington?
In Washington, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Seller must remove plates; transfer them to the same type of vehicle you own or surrender them.
How do I tell the Washington DMV that I sold my car?
File the Report of Sale, form TD-420-062, with the state within 5 days of the sale, and you can file it online. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Washington?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Washington a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- WA DOL: Sell a vehicle
- WA DOL: Vehicle Report of Sale form (TD-420-062)
- WA DOL: Replace a lost title or registration
- WAC 308-65-130, scrap processor procedures for acquiring vehicles (Washington Legislature)
- WAC 308-65-080, hulk hauler procedures for acquiring vehicles (Washington Legislature)
- RCW 46.79.020 (Washington Legislature)
- Washington DOL, Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest
- WAC 308-56A-265 Releasing interest, Washington State Legislature
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.