You move to another Washington address. How soon must you notify DOL that the address on your driver record has changed?
Correct answer: Within 10 days.
RCW 46.20.205 requires notice within ten days after a change of address or name of record. Waiting until the license expires does not meet that deadline.
Source: RCW 46.20.205, first paragraph; current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
An adult with a valid out-of-state license becomes a Washington resident and plans to drive here. What is the ordinary deadline for obtaining a Washington driver license?
Correct answer: Within 30 days after becoming a resident.
New residents must obtain a Washington driver license within 30 days of becoming residents. A later expiration date on the old license does not extend this period.
Source: RCW 46.20.021(1); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
When qualifying for a Washington driver license, what must you do with valid driver licenses issued to you by other jurisdictions?
Correct answer: Surrender all of them to the licensing department.
The statute requires surrender of all valid licenses issued by other jurisdictions. DOL invalidates a surrendered photograph license and may return the invalidated card; return of the card does not keep the old license valid.
Source: RCW 46.20.021(2); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
You have updated the address on your Washington driver license. Does that action automatically change the address on your vehicle record?
Correct answer: No, the vehicle address must be updated separately.
The driver guide distinguishes the two records: changing the driver-license address does not change the vehicle address. Arrange the vehicle-record update as well.
Source: Washington Driver Guide R/4/25, physical PDF page 42, 2.0 Vehicle Services — Vehicle address; complete page read September 13, 2026. ↗
You own a car outright and have received its certificate of ownership, or title. Where does the Washington Driver Guide recommend keeping that document?
Correct answer: In a secure place outside the vehicle.
The title identifies the vehicle and its owners. The guide advises keeping this important ownership document safely outside the vehicle; it is different from the registration carried for the vehicle.
Source: Washington Driver Guide R/4/25, physical PDF page 41, 2.0 Vehicle Services — Certificate of ownership (title); complete page read September 13, 2026. ↗
For an ordinary privately owned car, you choose to carry the registration certificate on paper. Which preparation meets Washington registration-certificate requirements?
Correct answer: Have the registered owner sign it and carry it in the car.
A registration certificate must be signed by the registered owner and carried for that vehicle, with proof available on demand. The law also accepts an electronic image; this question specifies the paper option.
Source: RCW 46.16A.180(1)(a)-(d), (2); ordinary privately owned vehicle; reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
After a private sale of your Washington-titled car, when must your completed report of sale reach DOL or an authorized licensing agent?
Correct answer: Within 5 business days after the sale.
The report must be received within five business days. This is the seller’s reporting duty, not the buyer’s separate 15-calendar-day title-application deadline.
Source: RCW 46.12.650(2)-(3); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
You give your Washington-titled car to a neighbor without receiving any money. Does the gift remove your ordinary duty to report the transfer?
Correct answer: No, giving the vehicle away also requires a report.
The reporting rule expressly covers a vehicle given as a gift, as well as sales, trades, donations and other disposals. Receiving no purchase money does not remove the reporting duty.
Source: RCW 46.12.650(2)(b); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
You trade your car to a licensed Washington dealer. May you assume the dealer is legally required to file your owner’s report of sale for you?
Correct answer: No; the dealer may file it, but is not required to.
A dealer may submit the report on an owner’s behalf, but the statute does not require that service. Confirm that the report has been properly filed instead of assuming the trade-in handled it.
Source: RCW 46.12.650(5); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
You take delivery of a used car in a private Washington purchase. With no special exception involved, when must you apply for a new certificate of title to avoid a late-transfer penalty?
Correct answer: Within 15 calendar days of receiving the car.
The buyer must apply within 15 calendar days after delivery. That deadline is separate from the seller’s five-business-day report of sale; it does not mean waiting until the seller files.
Source: RCW 46.12.650(6)(a), (8)-(9); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
You are the sole owner of a car with no lien and sell it privately. Which title-handling step matches your obligation when releasing ownership?
Correct answer: Sign the release of interest and give the title to the buyer.
The owner must sign the release of interest and provide the title or most recent ownership evidence to the person acquiring the vehicle. The owner must also report the sale and provide an odometer disclosure when required.
Source: RCW 46.12.650(1)(a)-(d); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
A private seller has filed a report of sale for the car you bought. Does that report, by itself, replace your application to transfer the title?
Correct answer: No, you must still apply for the new title.
Reporting the sale and applying for the buyer’s title are separate steps. A sale can be reported while the title transfer remains incomplete; the buyer’s application duty still applies.
Source: RCW 46.12.650(4)(a)(v), (6)(a); current substantive section reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
Washington issued two license plates for your ordinary passenger car, and no display exception applies. Where must the plates be attached?
Correct answer: One at the front and one at the rear.
When two plates have been issued, they must be conspicuously attached at the front and rear. The separate rear-only rule applies when just one plate has been issued.
Source: RCW 46.16A.200(4)-(5)(a); version effective until January 1, 2027; reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
A decorative frame covers part of your car’s license-tab sticker and one identifying number. What should you do before driving?
Correct answer: Remove or replace it so the tabs and identifiers stay readable.
A frame is permitted only when it leaves the tabs and identifying letters and numbers unobscured and the plate plainly readable. Matching frames or another readable plate do not authorize this obstruction.
Source: RCW 46.16A.200(7)(c)(i)-(ii); version effective until January 1, 2027; reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
Your car’s license plate is badly defaced, and cleaning it does not make the identifying characters readable. What is the proper next step?
Correct answer: Apply for a replacement plate through vehicle licensing.
An owner must apply for replacement when a plate is defaced or has become difficult to distinguish. A handmade substitute does not replace the required valid plate.
Source: RCW 46.16A.200(7)(b), (9)(a); version effective until January 1, 2027; reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
You kept the standard plates from a car you sold and want to use them on your replacement car of the same use. What must happen before transferring the plates?
Correct answer: Apply through vehicle licensing for the plate transfer.
Washington allows retained standard plates to be transferred to a replacement vehicle of the same use through the plate-transfer process. Moving them between vehicles without first applying is unlawful.
Source: RCW 46.16A.200(7)(e), (8)(a); version effective until January 1, 2027; reviewed September 13, 2026. ↗
