State guide

Washington

Washington requires a certificate of vehicle inspection for salvage, rebuilt, assembled, kit, homemade, glider-kit, street-rod/custom, and ownership-in-doubt titles under RCW 46.12.560. The State Patrol runs the appointment-based VIN inspection program, and residents must first get a Washington State Patrol Inspection Request Form from a DOL licensing agent before scheduling.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

When a VIN verification is required

Washington requires a certificate of vehicle inspection for certain salvage/rebuilt vehicles, for first-time Washington titles as assembled, glider kit, homemade, kit, street rod, custom, or ownership-in-doubt vehicles, and the bonded-title form also says the vehicle must be inspected by an authorized inspector before bond issuance; a normal out-of-state vehicle title transfer can also trigger a $50 out-of-state service fee, but the official title instructions do not describe a routine physical VIN inspection for every out-of-state transfer.

Who can do it

RCW 46.12.560 authorizes the Washington State Patrol or another authorized inspector, and the WSP says it performs these physical inspections at DOL's request after a licensing agent issues the inspection request form.

Official form

Washington State Patrol Inspection Request Form (issued by DOL licensing agent); Vehicle Ownership Bond TD-420-054 for bonded-title cases

Fee

$65 WA State Patrol vehicle ID number (VIN) inspection; $50 out-of-state service fee; bonded-title bond amount is 1-1/2 times the vehicle value as determined by DOL.

Official instructions

Official page →