Keep or sell decision
Sell a car before moving out of Washington
A sale can remove destination transport and registration costs, but it also creates a title, plate, registration, insurance, and possible tax closeout in Washington.
Old-state closeout
Invalidate or return old Washington plates
After the destination registration is active, remove or invalidate the Washington month and year tabs and bend regular plates so they cannot be mistaken for valid plates. Recycle them where accepted or mail or take them to a vehicle licensing office. Washington requires listed personalized, disabled, collector, and other special plates to be returned rather than recycled.
Open the official Washington sourceCompare before accepting an offer
- Get the written purchase offer and payoff treatment.
- Subtract payoff, negative equity, transport avoided, and replacement-vehicle costs.
- Confirm title signatures and plate disposition.
- Close registration before ending required insurance.
Use direct buyers or local dealers and compare their written offers with the full move cost.