WAC 308-96A-180
Registration of rental vehicles. (1)
What is a rental vehicle?
A rental vehicle is defined in RCW 46.04.465.
(2) Who registers a rental vehicle?
Any Washington vehicle licensing office registers rental
vehicles.
(3) How will I register my rental vehicles?
Annual renewal of rental vehicle registration may be
processed through any Washington vehicle licensing office or
by mail by meeting the qualifications and paying the
appropriate fees. The rental vehicle business registration
number must be included on the vehicle registration. The name
of the legal or registered owner on a rental vehicle
registration must be identical to the business name displayed
on the master license.
(4) Do rental vehicles operated in Washington need to be
registered in Washington?
Rental vehicles must be registered in Washington unless:
(a) Rented by a customer at a location outside of the
state of Washington; or
(b) The vehicle was dropped off at a Washington rental
vehicle business by its previous renter and is being rented
for a one-way trip out of Washington; or
(c) The vehicle is part of a properly registered
International Registration Plan (IRP) rental vehicle business
fleet.
(5) Does the current certificate of registration issued
by the department need to be carried in the rental vehicle?
A photocopy of the current certificate of registration
may be carried in a rental vehicle in lieu of the original
certificate of registration.
(6) Who may operate a rental vehicle?
Rental vehicles may only be used by rental customers,
unless the rental vehicle is being moved by the business to
another business site, to or from maintenance or repair
facilities, or for testing purposes.
(7) What does a rental vehicle business do when they
remove a rental vehicle from their fleet?
The rental vehicle business may submit a vehicle seller's
report of sale that protects the seller of a vehicle from
certain criminal and civil liabilities arising from use of the
vehicle by another person after the vehicle has been sold or a
change in ownership has occurred.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110. 07-02-077, §
308-96A-180, filed 1/2/07, effective 2/2/07; 04-01-162, §
308-96A-180, filed 12/22/03, effective 1/22/04. Statutory
Authority: RCW 46.01.110, 46.16.135, 46.46.16.225
[46.16.225], 46.16.490 and 46.16.276. 98-19-075, §
308-96A-180, filed 9/21/98, effective 10/22/98. Statutory
Authority: RCW 46.01.110 and 46.87.023. 95-15-028, §
308-96A-180, filed 7/11/95 effective 8/11/95.]