Vehicle Licenses
Hours of Operation
10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday
San Juan County Courthouse, First Floor
Directory
License Renewals
Vehicle licenses expire annually in Washington State. Currently, renewal notices are mailed to owners by the State Department of Licensing. The department is encouraging vehicle owners to receive license renewals by email, as it is likely, in the future, that renewal notices will no longer be mailed. To register your email with the State, please contact the San Juan County Auditor’s Office at 360-378-2161.
Vehicle licenses may be renewed online, by mail, or in person at the San Juan County Courthouse. To renew your vehicle license online, go to the Department of Licensing website and select “Vehicle and Boat Registration,” and follow the directions.
Instructions for renewing by mail are included with the mailed renewal notices
To renew in person, come to the San Juan County Courthouse between 10 am and 4 pm weekdays
Titles - New Vehicles
Purchased in-state
In-state dealers
do all licensing for vehicles purchased through them.
Purchased out-of state
The following documentation is required:
- Manufacturers' Statement of Origin (MSO)
- Notarized signatures of every registered name to be shown on the title.
Signatures can be on a title application or added in person at a licensing agency
- Documentation of the purchase price, either on a bill of sale or invoice from the out-of-state dealer
- Federal Odometer statement
- Name and address of lienholder
- Washington State primary residence address and mailing address, if required
Titles - Used Vehicles
Used Vehicles with a Washington State Title
You are required to transfer the title within 15 days of purchase or you will be charged a penalty of up to $100.00.
The following documentation is required:
- Washington State title or affidavit in lieu of title with proper signatures
- Notarized signatures of every registered name to be shown on the new title
- Documentation of purchase price
- Federal Odometer Statement if the vehicle is 9 years old or newer
- Name and address of lienholder
-
Washington State primary residence address and mailing address, if required
Used Vehicles with out-of-state plates and documentation
The following documentation is required:
- Title with proper signatures
- Notarized signatures of every registered name to be shown on the new title
- Documentation of purchase price; must be within the range of current blue book
value
- Federal Odometer Statement if the vehicle is 9 years old or newer
- A Weight slip, if the weight is not shown on the title, is helpful but not
required
- Name and mailing address of lienholder
- Washington State primary residence address and mailing address, if required
Titles - New Washington State Resident
If you are a new resident to the State of Washington you are required to license
and title
your vehicle within 30 days of becoming a Washington resident. The following documentation
is required:
- Out-of-state title. If you have a lien holder who is holding your title you will
need a photocopy of the title verifying the name and address of your lien holder and the
current registration
- Federal Odometer Statement if the vehicle is 10 years old or newer
- Weight slip for all vehicles unless the shipping weight is on the title or registration.
Weight slips can be obtained at San Juan and Orcas Island transfer stations.
- Washington State primary residence address and mailing address, if required
Names on the Washington State licensing record will reflect what is on the
out-of-state title/registration
Titles - Leased Vehicles
Leased vehicles are normally titled by the lessor. If you have a problem with the title
of a leased vehicle, please contact the Washington State Department of Licensing at 360-902-3770.
Driver's Licenses and Additional Information
Driver's License
State Department of Licensing personnel come to Friday Harbor twice monthly,
on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, to issue driver's licenses.
They work out of the Fire District 3 training room at 1011 Mullis St. in Friday Harbor.
The hours are 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Call 360-588-8039 for additional information.
Manuals for driving exams are available online at
http://dol.wa.gov
Additional Information
Contacts