Washington VIN Lookup

Buying a used car in Washington can be a great way to save money, but it is important to research before purchasing one. Washington is home to about 416 used car dealerships, with 5.4 used car dealers per 100,000 residents. The average used car price in the state depends on the make, model, and year, but generally is around $24,398, which is 1.3% lower than the national average of $24,710.

In Washington, the state Lemon Law is designed to protect buyers of new cars. Unfortunately, it does not extend to pre-owned or used vehicles. This means that the responsibility falls entirely on the buyer to ensure the vehicle is in good condition and free from serious problems. Generally, there are fewer legal protections for used car buyers. Therefore, to ensure you don’t end up with a car with hidden issues, it is crucial to conduct a thorough check through VIN lookup before making your purchase.

Why Performing a Washington VIN Check Is Important

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle at manufacture. It is a 17-character code that provides information about the car’s make, model, and year of manufacture. Conducting VIN checks in Washington reveals details about the car's past to ensure the vehicle is not stolen. VIN checks also uncover hidden car damages or spot inconsistencies to avoid scams and legal troubles. Generally, conducting a Washington VIN check provides information on the following:

• Theft History: Washington has the 4th highest car theft rate in the United States at 554.44 incidents per 100,000 residents. Yearly, the state records around 30,647 car theft incidents. Conducting VIN checks will tell if the car was stolen and whether it was recovered. Buying a stolen car can lead to financial loss and possibly legal troubles.
• Auto Fraud: Washington ranks 4th as one of the states with the highest auto fraud. There are about 1,305 auto fraud cases reported in the state annually, 43 incidents per 100,000 residents. A VIN lookup can show auto fraud, revealing inconsistencies about past incidents, such as altered service records, vehicles with fake titles, or accident vehicles.
• Odometer Fraud: Odometer fraud happens when someone rolls back the mileage, reducing the number of miles recorded on the car to make it seem less used. The NHTSA reports that more than 450,000 cars have fraudulent odometer readings when sold yearly. A VIN lookup can help spot mileage inconsistencies.
• Registration and Title Verification: A VIN check reveals the car’s registration and title details, ensuring that the vehicle purchased is not stolen. By conducting a VIN lookup, you may confirm that the title is clean and the registration matches the seller’s information. It helps reveal issues such as title washing, where the car’s history is concealed, or VIN cloning, where the VIN is replaced illegally with the VIN of another vehicle.
• Title Issues: VIN checks can show whether the car was declared a total loss or if the car was rebuilt. Total loss implies that the car has undergone severe accident or flood damage. Likewise, cars are rebuilt after being totaled, and such information may turn up when conducting VIN checks.

In Washington, you may register your vehicle within 30 days of becoming a resident. Operating an unregistered vehicle can lead to significant penalties. Per Section 46.16A of the Washington Code, failure to register a vehicle before operation is a traffic infraction resulting in fines, payment of delinquent taxes, impoundment of vehicle, or jail time.

How To Perform a Washington VIN Check

Conducting a VIN check in Washington may require the use of both state and federal resources, including:

• Washington Department of Licensing: You can request information about a vehicle’s registration and title from the Washington DOL. You may perform VIN checks by sending written requests and completed applications to the Vehicle Licensing Office.
• The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB): The NICB provides access to the VINCheck Lookup tool, which focuses on car theft and fraud information. The database provides information on whether the car has been reported stolen, if it has a salvage record, or if there is any history of auto fraud.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): You may also perform VIN checks using the NHTSA VIN Decoder. The tool allows users to conduct searches using the full or partial VIN and the vehicle model year. The result reveals information embedded in the VIN, such as the manufacturer, model year, assembly plant, and safety recalls. The tool is useful to verify a car’s specifications and recall history.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in Washington

VIN checks conducted using government and some nonprofit organizations’ resources are generally free. While the information obtained is usually reliable, these resources tend to provide only the essential facts of the car. Therefore, if you require more comprehensive information about a car’s history, consider using paid resources such as GoodCar, CarFax, and AutoCheck. These sites offer premium and detailed reports on a vehicle's history, including:

• Title information
• Odometer readings
• Vehicle specifications
• Ownership history
• Service and maintenance history
• Accident history
• Car defects and recall information
• Inspection records
• Theft history
• Sales history
• Rebuild information
• Vehicle use history
• Insurance claims and loss records
• Market value information
• Manufacturers information
• NHTSA crash testing ratings, and much more!

What Used Car Scams Are Common in Washington?

Buying a used car comes with risks. In Washington, scammers use various tricks to fool buyers into purchasing cars with hidden problems. Staying informed about the commonly used car scams can protect you from falling victims. Generally, the commonly used car scams in Washington include:

Curbstoning:

Curbstoning is when unlicensed sellers, usually not real dealerships, approach buyers on the street or curb.

Title Washing:

This happens when a car’s title is altered to remove information such as rebuilt or salvage title, outstanding loans, accident report, or anything that shows the car was stolen.

Odometer Rollbacks:

It is a scam where the seller illegally resets the car’s mileage. It makes the vehicle appear less used and more valuable than it is.

VIN Cloning:

VIN cloning involves copying the VIN from a car with a good history and placing it on a stolen or salvaged vehicle to hide the car’s real title.

As-is Sales Without Disclosure:

Failure to disclose major issues while selling the car “as-is.”

Lowballing:

It is a scam where the seller tries to sell the car way below the car’s actual value, hoping the seller accepts out of desperation or lack of knowledge.

These scams set you back financially and may bring legal troubles for the buyer. Therefore, it is important to be careful when purchasing used cars. The following tips can help you avoid used car scams:

1. Do a thorough research. Check the reputation of the seller or dealership. Look for reviews online to verify their credentials.
2. Request detailed reports of the vehicle using trustworthy services like GoodCar to access detailed information on the car’s history.
3. Inspect the vehicle in person. Look for signs of damage that may not match the seller’s sales pitch.
4. Verify the paperwork. Ask to see the car's title and registration documents.
5. Have the car inspected by an independent party, such as a trusted mechanic.
6. Generally, be cautious, cross-check information from multiple sources, and do not rush the purchase.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in Washington?

In Washington, you may check the status of your vehicle’s title by contacting the Washington Department of Licensing. Washington state does not provide a central repository to access vehicle title information online. However, users may contact the department via phone to obtain information about the title of their vehicle. Additionally, you may email or mail written requests and complete an application to the department to check the status of your car’s title.

It costs around $15 to check the status of a vehicle title in Washington. To check the status of your vehicle title in Washington, you may need to provide the Department of Licensing with the following information:

• The Vehicle Identification Number
• The License plate number
• Personal identification such as a driver's license
• Additional information such as names and addresses to match the records

Checking the status of your pre-owned vehicle title is crucial. It ensures that the car’s history and any lienholder information is accurate. It also helps to know if there is any hidden history that could affect the car’s safety or hidden debts or scams that could result in legal or financial implications.

How To Register a Brand New Car in Washington

When you buy a new car in Washington, you need to ensure the car is officially yours. This means titling and registering the vehicle with the state. Titling is the official document that proves you own the car, while registration is the process of getting your car on the state’s list of vehicles allowed to be driven on public roads. To register your brand new car with the Washington Department of Licensing, you need to:

• Complete and notarize the Vehicle Title Application form
• Complete the Odometer Disclosure Form if the vehicle model is 2011 and newer. The form is provided for you in the Washington Department of Licensing or your local licensing office.
• Obtain an insurance policy from an insurance agent. Washington state mandates that you have auto liability insurance before registering your vehicle.
• Gather all relevant supporting documents, including driver’s license and Vehicle Bill of Sale form.
• Pay the filing fees.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a New Car in Washington?

Every year, over 8 million motor vehicles are registered in Washington. This large volume shows the importance of understanding the steps in registering and titling new cars in Washington.

Generally, if you buy a car from a dealer, the dealer is responsible for transferring the vehicle title, providing the plates, and the registration for the new owner. Per state requirements, a dealer may transfer the vehicle’s title to the buyer within 45 days from the date of delivery. The dealer completes a dealer reassignment form that transfers the title from the dealer to the buyer.

When you complete your application, you will pay several fees. Generally, vehicle fees vary depending on the weight of your car, the type, and where you live in Washington. Expect to pay around $15 for titling service, $68 to $115 for base registration of your vehicle, and $50 for license plate issuance fee. In addition, depending on your jurisdiction within the state, expect to pay extra fees, such as local transportation benefit district fee, regional authority excise tax, and a use tax.

The process to renew the registration of a car in Washington may be done online, by mail, or in person. Washington offers a service, License eXpress, which permits car owners to renew their registration online. Alternatively, you may visit a local vehicle licensing office to submit your renewal in person or by mail. Renewal fees vary depending on the make and weight of the car. Generally, expect to pay around $40 to $65 to renew the car registration. As with the initial registration, additional local fees may apply at renewal.

Does Washington Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

There is no statewide law that mandates every car to undergo regular inspections or emissions testing in Washington. This means that you do not have to take your car to a state-certified inspection station every year to check if it’s safe. Similarly, up until December 31, 2019, some areas in Washington did have emission testing requirements. However, those tests were discontinued, and emission inspections are no longer required statewide.

While Washington does not require regular inspections, there are specific scenarios when some inspection or verification might be necessary. Per Chapter 46.32 of the Revised Code of Washington, there are scenarios when some sort of inspection or verification might be necessary. Per the law, the state requires verification of the car’s VIN and the odometer reading to ensure they match the documents. In addition, if your vehicle has a salvage title or has been rebuilt, the licensing office may request an inspection to verify that the car meets safety standards before it is re-titled.

Although you may not have to take your car in for inspection every year in Washington, two things are still important during the registration process. These verifications are essential to maintain accurate records and prevent fraud. They are:

• VIN Verification: The licensing office will verify your VIN on your documents against the car. This helps to ensure that the car is legally yours and that no one is trying to pass off a stolen vehicle as their own.
• Odometer Verification: Odometer readings specify how many miles the car has been driven. The number is verified during registration or title transfer to confirm that the mileage is accurate.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in Washington?

There are several reasons why your vehicle’s VIN requires replacement.

• Damaged or Missing VIN: VIN found on the driver’s side of the dashboard or door jam may become unreadable over time due to rust, damage from an accident, or excessive wear.
• Altered VIN: Sometimes, VINs are deliberately or accidentally altered when someone attempts to hide the vehicle's true history or during body repairs.
• Homemade or Custom-Built Vehicles: Washington requires a replacement VIN for vehicles built from parts that might not have a manufacturer-assigned VIN.
• Rebuilt Vehicles (from Salvage): When a vehicle is rebuilt from a salvage title, a VIN inspection is required. If the original VIN was removed during the rebuild, you may need to secure a replacement VIN.

Replacing your VIN in Washington requires visiting the Washington Department of Licensing or the local vehicle licensing office. They will review your documentation to determine if the vehicle requires a new VIN. For cases where the VIN is missing, altered, or the vehicle rebuilt or homemade, you may be required to have a physical VIN inspection by the Washington State Patrol (WSP).

Obtain a WSP Inspection Request Form provided by the local vehicle license agent, then schedule an appointment with the WSP. On the scheduled date, bring along all required documents, including proof of ownership, evidence of VIN issues, and other supporting documents. After inspection, the WSP will issue a new state-assigned VIN.

Does Washington Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

Yes. Washington State requires a VIN inspection when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Even if the vehicle is titled in another state, its VIN must be verified and processed by a local vehicle license office in Washington, to ensure that the vehicle’s identity is accurate and not reported stolen.