Does Washington require a front license plate?

Yes. Passenger vehicles issued two plates must display one on the front and one on the rear.

What are tabs in Washington?

The registration sticker on your plate. Renewing your registration is called renewing your tabs.

How long is a Washington temporary plate good for?

Forty-five days from the date the dealer delivers the car.

Do Washington plates stay with the car?

No. The seller removes them; the buyer cannot use them. They can go on another vehicle of the same type or be surrendered.

Can I get a VIN from a Washington license plate?

Yes. Enter the license plate number with Washington selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.

Can I find the owner of a Washington license plate?

Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Washington vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.

Washington License Plate Lookup

Enter a Washington plate number to get the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model and trim.

In Washington, vehicles are handled by the Department of Licensing, and registration renewals are called tabs, after the sticker. Standard plates are three letters and four numbers, and since late 2024 new ones are flat rather than embossed.

Washington plate to VIN

A Washington platenumber points to one current registration, and the registration records the vehicle’s 17-character VIN. Enter the plate above to get the VIN with the year, make, model, trim, body and engine. It is the quickest way to get the VIN of a car you are not standing next to: one in a listing, one you are quoting a repair for, or your own when the title is in a drawer somewhere.

Washington license plate formats

Standard passenger plates use these formats. Personalized, specialty, commercial and motorcycle plates follow their own rules, and every format works in the lookup.

Format	What it is
ABC1234	Three letters and four numbers with no dash, issued since 2010. Since late 2024 new plates are flat with navy letters.
123-ABC	The format before it, issued until 2009 and still on the road.

Washington requires plates on the front and the rear.

Who issues plates in Washington

Plates and registrations in Washington come from the Washington State Department of Licensing, and people go in person to vehicle licensing offices, run by subagents and open for walk-ins. Plate Decoder is an independent service and is not affiliated with the DOL or any other government agency.

Temporary tags in Washington

Washington dealers print a temporary license plate through the Department of Licensing’s system. It expires 45 days after the car is delivered.

Personalized and specialty plates

Personalized plates can have one to seven characters on a car, using letters, numbers, dashes and spaces. DOL has an online checker for available combinations.

Report the sale within 5 days

When you sell a car in Washington, keep the plates and file a Report of Sale with DOL within five days. It protects you from the buyer’s tolls, tickets and towing bills.

What a Washington plate lookup can and can’t show

You get the vehicle: VIN, year, make, model, trim, body and engine. You do not get the person. See what a plate lookup shows for the full list.

What we don’t show, and why

No owner names, addresses, phone numbers or photos. Owner details in DMV records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and looking someone up out of curiosity is not a purpose it allows. Any site that promises the owner of a plate for a few dollars is either breaking that law or not going to deliver.

Who can get owner records, and what to do instead

FAQ

Washington plate lookup questions

Does Washington require a front license plate?: Yes. Passenger vehicles issued two plates must display one on the front and one on the rear.
What are tabs in Washington?: The registration sticker on your plate. Renewing your registration is called renewing your tabs.
How long is a Washington temporary plate good for?: Forty-five days from the date the dealer delivers the car.
Do Washington plates stay with the car?: No. The seller removes them; the buyer cannot use them. They can go on another vehicle of the same type or be surrendered.
Can I get a VIN from a Washington license plate?: Yes. Enter the license plate number with Washington selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.
Can I find the owner of a Washington license plate?: Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Washington vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.