License first, then registration
The DOL requires a Washington driver license before you register vehicles in the state. For someone who has just moved here, that means the 30-day license deadline drives the whole sequence. See moving to Washington with an endorsement.
Note that registration and endorsement are separate. You can register a motorcycle you are not yet licensed to ride. Owning it and riding it are different permissions.
What it costs
The base vehicle registration fee is $43.25. The final figure varies by weight, location and applicable local taxes, which is why two riders in different counties pay different amounts for identical machines.
The DOL does not publish a single motorcycle-specific tab figure, so use its fee calculator against your own address rather than trusting a number from a forum.
Tabs expire annually. The expiration month and year are shown on the plate.
Plate mounting, and the tickets it generates
The DOL states plates must be mounted horizontally and remain visible. Two popular modifications run straight into this:
- Vertical or side-mounted plates. Common on custom builds, not horizontal, easy to spot.
- Steeply angled tuck-ups. A plate rotated toward the sky is not visible from behind in the way the rule contemplates.
Separately, RCW 46.37.525 requires a white light illuminating the plate so it is legible from fifty feet. Most fender eliminator kits delete that light. Two rules, one modification, two ways to fail. Details on the lighting page.
Insurance is not optional
Registration and insurance are separate obligations, and riders sometimes assume tabs imply coverage. They do not. Motorcycles must carry liability insurance in Washington at 25/50/10 minimums, and you must be able to show proof. See the insurance requirements.
Buying used, briefly
Two things worth checking before money changes hands. Confirm the title is clean and in the seller's name, because a bike with a missing or mismatched title becomes your problem at the counter. And if the machine started life off-road, confirm whether it was properly converted and whether the title says "modified for on-road use." An unconverted dirt bike cannot simply be registered for the road. See the conversion rules.