Your Washington title is a legal document, and any errors in completing it could make it invalid—meaning you’d need to obtain a duplicate. To avoid delays or complications when donating, please carefully read all instructions and tips before signing. 

Do Not Void Your Washington Title 

• Use only black or blue pen
• Do not use highlighter or white-out. 
• No scribbles, write-overs, strikethroughs, or tears
• Do not sing in the Dealer Reassignment section, unless you’re an authorized dealer

If your Washington title looks different from the example shown below, take a moment to review it closely before moving forward. The placement of the signature and printed name fields may vary, but you are still required to print and sign your name in the correct designated sections.

The person(s) named on the front of the Washington title must follow these steps: 

1. Sign the front of the title on the “Signature of Registered Owner” line and the “Signature of First Legal Owner” line.
   1. Note: Only sign on the “Signature of First Legal Owner” line if your name is listed as the Legal Owner. If there is a Lien Holder name printed as the Legal Owner, they will need to sign as the First Legal Owner.
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2. Sign the front of the title where it reads “Signature of Transferor/Seller” in the assignment of title.
3. Print name on the front of the title where it reads “PRINTED Name of Transferor/Seller.”
   1. * Steps 2 and 3 are only required for vehicles Model Year 2011 or newer and less than 20 years old but can be completed for all vehicles.

Signature Tips

The name(s) used to sign the Washington title must exactly match the name(s) shown on the title. If you have changed your name since the title was issued, do not sign with your new name. Go ahead and sign with the name shown on the title. 

If there are two owners on the Washington title, one or both must sign, depending on how the names appear in the title. 

• Owner 1 OR Owner 2 – Only ONE owner must sign
• Owner 1 AND/OR Owner 2 – BOTH owners must sign (unless one is deceased)
• Owner 1 AND Owner 2 – BOTH owners must sign
• Owner 1 Owner 2 (No conjunction) – BOTH owners must sign
• Company-Owned Vehicles: A signature of a person who can sign on behalf of the company legally. Provide a letterhead or document stating who the signing person is to the company.

Don’t worry about the Buyer line; you should leave that blank.

Need a new title?

If you need a replacement Washington title before your car donation pickup, please visit your local Washington Department of Licensing. 

• https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/dolprod/vehoffices/ 

If the title was last titled in another state, you will need to get the duplicate title from that state.

Final steps to complete my Washington car donation.

What do I do with my license plates?

• Remove the plates before pickup. Plates can be returned or transferred to another vehicle through the any vehicle licensing office.

Is there anything else I need to do?

• You must need to notify the vehicle licensing office that the car was donated to complete the transfer.