RCW 46.18.200: Department-approved plate types. (<i>Effective until November 1, 2025.</i>)

46.18.150 << 46.18.200 >> 46.18.205

PDFRCW 46.18.200

Department-approved plate types. (Effective until November 1, 2025.)

(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:

(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;

(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;

(d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.

(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates, subject to subsection (5) of this section:

LICENSE PLATE	DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR ARTWORK
4-H	Displays the "4-H" logo.
Armed forces collection	Recognizes the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the national guard, and includes six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and national guard.
Breast cancer awareness	Displays a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness.
Endangered wildlife	Displays a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state.
Fred Hutch	Displays the Fred Hutch logo.
Gonzaga University alumni association	Recognizes the Gonzaga University alumni association.
Helping kids speak	Recognizes an organization that supports programs that provide no-cost speech pathology programs to children.
Keep kids safe	Recognizes efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Law enforcement memorial	Honors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.
Music matters	Displays the "Music Matters" logo.
Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383	Displays the likenesses of the J.P. Patches and Gertrude characters from the J.P. Patches show, or characters otherwise identified in accordance with RCW 46.04.383.
Professional firefighters and paramedics	Recognizes professional firefighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington state council of firefighters.
San Juan Islands	Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing the San Juan Islands.
Seattle Mariners	Displays the "Seattle Mariners" logo.
Seattle NHL hockey	Displays the logo of the Seattle NHL hockey team.
Seattle Seahawks	Displays the "Seattle Seahawks" logo.
Seattle Sounders FC	Displays the "Seattle Sounders FC" logo.
Seattle Storm	Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo.
Seattle University	Recognizes Seattle University.
Share the road	Recognizes an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education.
Ski & ride Washington	Recognizes the Washington snowsports industry.
State flower	Recognizes the Washington state flower.
Volunteer firefighters	Recognizes volunteer firefighters.
Washington apples	Displays the Washington apple logo that recognizes the state's apple industry, the growers and shippers who produce and pack the world famous apples, and the tree fruit community.
Washington farmers and ranchers	Recognizes farmers and ranchers in Washington state.
Washington lighthouses	Recognizes an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs.
Washington state aviation	Displays a Stearman biplane in the foreground with an image of Mount Rainier in the background.
Washington state parks	Recognizes Washington state parks as premier destinations of uncommon quality that preserve significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
Washington state wrestling	Promotes and supports college wrestling in the state of Washington.
Washington tennis	Builds awareness and year-round opportunities for tennis in Washington state. Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing tennis in Washington state.
Washington wine	Displays a landscape of Washington's wine regions.
Washington's fish collection	Recognizes Washington's fish.
Washington's national park fund	Builds awareness of Washington's national parks and supports priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks.
Washington's wildlife collection	Recognizes Washington's wildlife.
We love our pets	Recognizes an organization that assists local member agencies of the federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery on Washington state pets to reduce pet overpopulation.
Wild on Washington	Symbolizes wildlife viewing in Washington state.

(3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington state council of firefighters.

(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least ten years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before ten years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ten years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.

(5) The department shall not issue the Seattle NHL hockey special license plate until the department receives signature sheets satisfying the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f).

[ 2022 c 239 s 2; 2022 c 117 s 2. Prior: 2020 c 129 s 2; 2020 c 93 s 1; prior: 2019 c 384 s 1; 2019 c 177 s 1; 2018 c 67 s 5; prior: 2017 c 25 s 1; 2017 c 11 s 2; prior: 2016 c 36 s 1; 2016 c 30 s 1; 2016 c 16 s 1; 2016 c 15 s 1; prior: 2014 c 77 s 1; 2014 c 6 s 1; 2013 c 286 s 1; 2012 c 65 s 1; prior: 2011 c 229 s 1; 2011 c 225 s 1; 2011 c 171 s 69; 2010 c 161 s 611.]

NOTES:

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2022 c 117 s 2 and by 2022 c 239 s 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

Effective date—2022 c 239: See note following RCW 46.17.220.

Effective date—2022 c 117: See note following RCW 46.17.220.

Effective date—2020 c 129: See note following RCW 46.17.220.

Effective date—2020 c 93: "This act takes effect July 1, 2020." [ 2020 c 93 s 5.]

Effective date—2019 c 384: "This act takes effect October 1, 2019." [ 2019 c 384 s 4.]

Effective date—2019 c 177: "This act takes effect October 1, 2019." [ 2019 c 177 s 5.]

Effective date—2018 c 67 ss 3-8: See note following RCW 46.17.220.

Effective date—2017 c 25: "This act takes effect October 1, 2017." [ 2017 c 25 s 5.]

Finding—Intent—2017 c 11: "The legislature finds that the aviation industry and community airports are an integral part of Washington's economy. Washington state is home to public use airports serving an average of eighteen thousand five hundred pilots and over nine thousand aircraft annually. They support two hundred forty-eight thousand five hundred jobs and more than fifty billion dollars in economic activity. Aviators play a vital role in our state's response to emergencies and natural disasters. Therefore, the legislature intends with this act to create the Washington state aviation license plate to honor and support the aviation community." [ 2017 c 11 s 1.]

Effective date—2016 c 36: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 36 s 6.]

Effective date—2016 c 30: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 30 s 6.]

Effective date—2016 c 16: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 16 s 6.]

Effective date—2016 c 15: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 15 s 6.]

Effective date—2014 c 77: "This act takes effect January 1, 2015." [ 2014 c 77 s 7.]

Effective date—2014 c 6: "This act takes effect January 1, 2015." [ 2014 c 6 s 6.]

Effective date—2013 c 286: "This act takes effect January 1, 2014." [ 2013 c 286 s 8.]

Effective date—2012 c 65: "This act takes effect January 1, 2013." [ 2012 c 65 s 7.]

Effective date—2011 c 229: "This act takes effect January 1, 2012." [ 2011 c 229 s 6.]

Effective date—2011 c 225: "This act takes effect January 1, 2012." [ 2011 c 225 s 5.]

Intent—Effective date—2011 c 171: See notes following RCW 4.24.210.

Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.

PDFRCW 46.18.200

Department-approved plate types. (Effective November 1, 2025.)

(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:

(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;

(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;

(d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.

(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates, subject to subsections (5) and (6) of this section:

LICENSE PLATE	DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR ARTWORK
4-H	Displays the "4-H" logo.
Armed forces collection	Recognizes the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the national guard, and includes six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and national guard.
Breast cancer awareness	Displays a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness.
Donate life	Displays the donate life logo.
Endangered wildlife	Displays a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state.
Firefighter memorial	Displays a Maltese cross with the words "never forget."
Fred Hutch	Displays the Fred Hutch logo.
Gonzaga University alumni association	Recognizes the Gonzaga University alumni association.
Helping kids speak	Recognizes an organization that supports programs that provide no-cost speech pathology programs to children.
Historical throwback	Displays white lettering on a black background in a style similar to historical license plates issued in the early 20th century.
Keep kids safe	Recognizes efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Keep Washington evergreen	Recognizes Washington as the evergreen state and funds electric charging stations. Displays green lettering on a white background in a style similar to the license plates issued by the department in the 1970s, but includes the words evergreen state along the bottom of the plate.
Law enforcement memorial	Honors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.
LeMay-America's Car Museum	Displays the LeMay-America's car museum logo, name, or related image.
Mount St. Helens	Displays an image of Mount St. Helens.
Music matters	Displays the "Music Matters" logo.
Nautical Northwest	Displays a Northwest maritime scene.
Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383	Displays the likenesses of the J.P. Patches and Gertrude characters from the J.P. Patches show, or characters otherwise identified in accordance with RCW 46.04.383.
Professional firefighters and paramedics	Recognizes professional firefighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington state council of firefighters.
San Juan Islands	Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing the San Juan Islands.
Seattle Mariners	Displays the "Seattle Mariners" logo.
Seattle NHL hockey	Displays the logo of the Seattle NHL hockey team.
Seattle Reign FC	Displays the "Seattle Reign FC" logo.
Seattle Seahawks	Displays the "Seattle Seahawks" logo.
Seattle Sounders FC	Displays the "Seattle Sounders FC" logo.
Seattle Storm	Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo.
Seattle University	Recognizes Seattle University.
Share the road	Recognizes an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education.
Ski & ride Washington	Recognizes the Washington snowsports industry.
Smokey Bear	Displays the name, image, and likeness of Smokey Bear and messages for wildfire prevention.
State flower	Recognizes the Washington state flower.
State sport	Recognizes the Washington state sport of pickleball.
United States Naval Academy	Displays a design related to the United States Naval Academy.
Volunteer firefighters	Recognizes volunteer firefighters.
Washington apples	Displays the Washington apple logo that recognizes the state's apple industry, the growers and shippers who produce and pack the world famous apples, and the tree fruit community.
Washington farmers and ranchers	Recognizes farmers and ranchers in Washington state.
Washington lighthouses	Recognizes an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs.
Washington state aviation	Displays a Stearman biplane in the foreground with an image of Mount Rainier in the background.
Washington state honey bees and pollinators	Displays honey bees and pollinators.
Washington state parks	Recognizes Washington state parks as premier destinations of uncommon quality that preserve significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
Washington state wrestling	Promotes and supports college wrestling in the state of Washington.
Washington tennis	Builds awareness and year-round opportunities for tennis in Washington state. Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing tennis in Washington state.
Washington wine	Displays a landscape of Washington's wine regions.
Washington's fish collection	Recognizes Washington's fish.
Washington's national park fund	Builds awareness of Washington's national parks and supports priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks.
Washington's wildlife collection	Recognizes Washington's wildlife.
We love our pets	Recognizes an organization that assists local member agencies of the federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery on Washington state pets to reduce pet overpopulation.
Wild on Washington	Symbolizes wildlife viewing in Washington state.
Working forests	Displays an image embodying working forests.

(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least 10 years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before 10 years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least 10 years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.

(5) The department shall not issue the Seattle NHL hockey special license plate until the department receives signature sheets satisfying the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f).

(6) Except for special license plates created under chapter 385, Laws of 2025 and as specified in this subsection, the department may not issue any new special license plates until January 1, 2029.

(a) Beginning November 1, 2025, the department must begin the phased issuance of any of the special license plates created under chapter 385, Laws of 2025 for which the department has received signature sheets that satisfy the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f) before March 1, 2025, the keep Washington evergreen special license plate, and the historical throwback special license plate.

(b) The department must then begin the phased issuance of any of the special license plates created under chapter 385, Laws of 2025 for which the department has received signature sheets after March 1, 2025, that satisfy the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f), with the order of implementation occurring based on the 3,500 signature submission date and the department's ability to implement additional special license plates.

[ 2025 c 385 s 5. Prior: 2022 c 239 s 2; 2022 c 117 s 2; prior: 2020 c 129 s 2; 2020 c 93 s 1; prior: 2019 c 384 s 1; 2019 c 177 s 1; 2018 c 67 s 5; prior: 2017 c 25 s 1; 2017 c 11 s 2; prior: 2016 c 36 s 1; 2016 c 30 s 1; 2016 c 16 s 1; 2016 c 15 s 1; prior: 2014 c 77 s 1; 2014 c 6 s 1; 2013 c 286 s 1; 2012 c 65 s 1; prior: 2011 c 229 s 1; 2011 c 225 s 1; 2011 c 171 s 69; 2010 c 161 s 611.]

NOTES:

Effective date—2025 c 385 ss 3-24: See note following RCW 44.04.300.

Short title—2025 c 385: See note following RCW 46.18.060.