Washington Vehicle Identification Numbers
Where do you get a VIN check in the state of Washington?
The state of Washington Department of Licensing suggests that people who are purchasing a car check the vehicle’s ownership history with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and to contact their local law enforcement to see if the vehicle has been reported stolen.
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is one of the largest databases for cars which have been in junk yards or salvage yards in the country. Places like this are often easy prey for thieves to steal VIN numbers from cars which have been destroyed. Therefore, they are more heavily regulated by the government and the data to be reported is mandated, including:
- The name, address, and contact information for the reporting entity;
- The VIN;
- The date the automobile was obtained;
- The name of the person or entity from whom the automobile was obtained;
- A statement of whether the automobile was crushed or disposed of, or offered for sale or other purposes; and
- Whether the vehicle is to be exported out of the country.
The public doesn’t have access to the NMVTIS database, but they contract with other providers so that you can get the same information. Although none is specifically endorsed by the state of Tennessee, there are many places on the Internet to get a full National Motor Vehicle Title Information System report:
- www.VinAudit.com;
- www.carsforsale.com;
- www.clearvin.com;
- www.VINcheck.com;
- www.titlecheck.us; and
- www.vinsmart.com.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau is another free database and they recommend VINcheck to check a VIN number. VINcheck will tell you if a car has been reported stolen and has not been recovered.
You should also purchase a motor vehicle history and title report which includes the following information:
- Current State of Title Information;
- Historical Title Information;
- Disclosure of Brand History on Title:
- Flood;
- Salvage;
- Odometer Rollback
- 61 Possible Problem Events.
- Odometer Information – when a car registration is performed in Tennessee an odometer reading is taken. A vehicle history report includes this reading;
- Information on Previous Accidents – an LA vehicle history check contains accident-related information. If a vehicle has been in an accident it may affect the life and/or the safety of a vehicle;
- Open Lien/Loan Information Including: Issuing Financial Institution – if there are any liens or loans against the vehicle then upon purchasing the car you assume the responsibility for those liens. In some states, debts such as child support can also be tied to the car, therefore, it is imperative that you make sure there are no outstanding liens against the car that you are purchasing;
- Impound & Towing Events; and
- Active Theft Data.
To find out if your vehicle has been the part of a manufacturer’s recall you check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.
State of Washington Department of Licensing
“Buying a Vehicle” Brochure by the State of Washington Department of Licensing
Dealer Manufacturer Services and For Hire Complaint
Why are VIN checks so important in Washington?
VIN fraud is illegal and is a felony in both the state of Washington and in the United States, and this includes when the VIN is removed during the restoration of a car. One of the best ways to not become the victim of vehicle fraud is to obtain a Vehicle History Report, which will include information such as:
- Information on the past owners, including:
- The number of owners the car has had; and
- The odometer readings at the time of each change in ownership.
- Whether there are liens on the vehicle – if you purchase a vehicle which has liens against it then you may be unwittingly assuming those loans when you buy the vehicle. This can even include liens such as child support which are tied to the owner of the car and not to the car itself;
- Brand History – such as if the car was every used as a police car or a taxi;
- Title and accident history – this will usually include any accident reports, information regarding whether the car was involved in a flood, whether the car has been in a salvage yard, and will also tell you the name of the legal owner of the car;
- Odometer settings and rollback alerts – sellers of cars have been known to “rollback” the numbers on the odometer so that the car appears to have lower mileage which increases the value of the car; and
- “Lemon” determination – a VIN check will alert you if your car has been deemed a “lemon” and been repurchased by the manufacturer.
Some VIN checks may even tell you information as specific as the dates of servicing of the vehicle or if it has previously been sold at an auction.
If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud, you should contact the National Insurance Crime Bureau by:
- Text the keyword “FRAUD” to TIP411;
- Call 800-TEL-NICB;
- Fill out an online form.
Form to report suspected fraud to the NICB:
Fraud in the state of Washington
Lemon Law in Washington
The lemon law in the State of Washington are found in the Rev. Code of Washington §§ 19.118.005 et seq. The lemon law in Washington covers any new “motor vehicle”, defined as:
The lemon law is for vehicles which have been purchased or leased new and develop a defect or a condition that substantially impairs the motor vehicle’s use, market value, or safety. The law allows the owner to request an arbitration hearing through the Lemon Law Administration of the Attorney General’s Office within 30 months of the vehicle’s original delivery date.
Vehicles which are not covered by the Lemon Law include those which:
- The problems or issues with the vehicle do not impact the vehicle’s use or its value;
- The problem with the vehicle is a result of neglect, abuse, or unauthorized vehicle alterations;
- Motorcycles with engine displacements of less than 750 cubic centimeters;
- Trucks 19,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or over; and
- Vehicles purchased or leased by a business as part of a fleet of ten (10) or more.
You do not have to be the original owner of the vehicle to request arbitration. Used cars are covered if the vehicle was purchased or leased:
- Within two years of delivery to the original retail consumer and within the first 24,000 miles of the operation;
- The vehicle meets the other eligibility requirements; AND
- A Request for Arbitration is received by the Lemon Law Administration within 30 months of the original vehicle delivery date.
To qualify as a lemon in the state of Washington, the vehicle must have a defect which is covered by the warranty that:
- The manufacturer has made at least four (4) attempts to repair by the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or any of their agents or dealers. Two of the repair attempts must be made within twelve (12) months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first, following the original date of delivery of the vehicle to the consumer. The other two (2) attempts must be made within twelve (12) months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first, immediately following the date of the second repair attempt;
- The same nonconformity creates a serious safety hazard which continues to exist after being subject to repair two or more times by the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or any of their franchised dealers. One attempt to repair must be made within twelve (12) months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first, following the date of original delivery of the vehicle to the consumer. At least one other attempt must be made within twelve (12) months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, after the first repair attempt:
- A nonconformity which substantially impairs the vehicle’s use or market value still exists and the vehicle is out of service for reasons of repair for a cumulative total of thirty (30) or more days within the original 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, following the date of original delivery to the customer. At least two repair attempts must be made within the first twelve (12) months or 12,000 miles following the date or original delivery to the consumer.
This is what is called the “Manufacturer’s Duty to Repair or Replace” and under the Washington law if the manufacturer or its authorized dealer has been unable to repair the defect after a reasonable number of attempts during the term of protection (which is defined above) then you may have the right to a manufacturer’s arbitration program or court for a lemon law claim.
Once you realize that your car has a continuous problem and that attempts to fix it have been unsuccessful, you should contact the manufacturer or the authorized retailer via certified mail with return receipt and specifically state that your car is a lemon and that you want a refund or a replacement under Washington’s Lemon Law. This is a necessary step as it:
- Informs the company that there is a problem and that it is serious and allows the company an opportunity to fix the defect (after the certified letter the manufacturer gets one more chance to fix the problem); and
- Informs the company that you will be using the lemon law if the defect is not properly repaired.
For more information about the Lemon Law in Washington State or to obtain “Request for Arbitration” forms you should contact:
Lemon Law Administration
Attorney General’s Office
800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98104
800-541-8898
Washington Motor Vehicles Warranties Act – Lemon Law in Washington State:
Washington Motor Vehicles Warranties Act
Washington State Lemon Law Administrative Rules, arbitration and the arbitration process:
Washington State Lemon Law Administrative Rules
Washington State Lemon Law Brochure
Lemon Law Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycle Booklet for Washington State
Lemon Law for Motorhome Booklet for Washington State
Washington State Motor Vehicle Arbitration Request Form
Washington State Motor Home Arbitration Request Form
Washington State Lemon Law Administration
Washington State Lemon Law Administration email: lemon@atg.wa.gov
Better Business Bureau Washington Lemon Law Summary
Do you need to hire an attorney for a lemon law case in Washington?
Yes. It is important to remember that the manufacturer of the car and the dealers will have legal experts on their side and you might want the same kind of expertise on your side. A lawyer will represent you in court, but they will also:
- Explain the lemon law in the state of Washington to you and help you to understand both the process and the possible outcomes;
- Help you to gather all the necessary documents;
- Help to ensure that the manufacturer is treating you fairly;
- Help save you time by handling the communication and other actions on your behalf; and
- Help you to navigate the courts and the legal terms.
You can ask friends or family if they know of any attorneys who specialize in lemon law cases or even ask attorneys if they know any attorneys who specialize in lemon law cases. Just as you wouldn’t want a family attorney to represent you in a criminal case, you don’t want an attorney who has no experience in lemon law cases. If you do not know any attorneys you can always contact the Washington State Bar.
Ideally, you are searching for an attorney who:
- Seek experienced attorneys – A Washington lawyer who specializes in lemon law cases will have specialized knowledge in relevant Washington laws and procedures;
- Comes highly recommended – ask for a recommendation from people you know who may have worked with lemon law lawyers before;
- Schedule a consultation – book a free consultation with a few lemon law attorneys so that you can learn more about them and their experience; and
- Ask about their fees – Make sure that you understand how much the attorney charges and when you will be expected to pay (up front, installments, after the case, or do they take the case on a contingency basis?)
Washington State Bar Attorney Search
Department of Motor Vehicles
325 N Chelan Ave
1 509-662-5141
Open until 2:30 PM
Department of Licensing
Driver’s License Office
1617 S 324th St
1 253-661-5001
Shoreline Limited Service Driver Licensing Office
Driver’s License Office
18551 Aurora Ave N #100
1 425-670-8375
Open until 2:30 PM
Washington State Department of Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
1001 N Broadway A-7
1 425-252-3518
Closing soon: 1:00 PM
Renton Licensing, Inc.
Department of Motor Vehicles
329 Williams Ave S
1 425-228-5640
Drivers Licensing
Driver’s License Office
402 Main Ave S #11
1 425-888-4036
Open until 2:30 PM
Drivers License Examining Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
2725 Rudkin Rd
1 509-575-2775
Open until 2:30 PM
Department Of Licensing
Driver’s License Office
1000 Kresky Ave
1 360-807-6200
Open until 2:30 PM
Drivers License Examiners Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
116 1st Ave S
1 360-642-8776
Vehicle Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
18205 WA-525
1 360-331-1626
Vehicle Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
1 360-678-5111
Driver Licence Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
6402 S Yakima Ave
1 253-593-2990
Open until 2:30 PM
Ferndale Licensing Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
1740 Labounty Dr #4
1 360-392-8931
Open until 4:00 PM
Vehicle Licensing Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
8130 WA-539
1 360-354-8080
Open until 5:00 PM
Bainbridge Island Auto & Boat Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
395 Winslow Way E
1 206-780-5306
Open until 3:00 PM
Licensing Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
980 S Grand Ave
1 509-334-2510
Reopens at 1:15 PM
Washington Drivers License
Department of Motor Vehicles
228 W 1st St
1 360-457-8887
DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
4180 Cordata Pkwy
1 360-676-2096
Open until 2:30 PM
West Seattle Driver Licensing Office
Driver’s License Office
8830 25th Ave SW
1 206-764-4144
Open until 2:30 PM
Drivers License Examining Offices
Department of Motor Vehicles
6519 N Lidgerwood St
1 509-482-3882
Open until 2:30 PM
Bellevue Drivers License Office
Driver’s License Office
13133 Bel-Red Rd
1 425-649-4281
Open until 2:30 PM
Kennewick Drivers Licensing Office
Driver’s License Office
3311 W Clearwater Ave B140
1 509-734-7130
Open until 2:30 PM
DOL
Driver’s License Office
2502 112th St E
1 253-536-6220
Washington State Department Of Licensing
Driver’s License Office
733 River Rd
1 253-840-4590
Open until 2:30 PM
Airway Auto Licensing
License Bureau
13126 W Sunset Hwy
1 509-244-1763
Anacortes Licensing Department
Driver’s License Office
1005 Commercial Ave
1 360-588-0508
Reopens at 1:00 PM
Drivers License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
214 S Kelso Dr
1 360-577-2235
Open until 2:30 PM
Everett Licensing Services Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
5313 Evergreen Way
1 425-356-2966
Aberdeen Licensing Services Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
719 8th St
1 360-533-9330
Department of Driver Licensing
Driver’s License Office
605 E Mountain View Ave
1 509-925-9290
Department of Motor Vehicles
2010 Yakima Valley Hwy #15
1 509-837-2371
Parkland Auto Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
215 Garfield St S
1 253-537-3112
Closing soon: 1:00 PM
Kitsap Auto Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
3850 Kitsap Way #103
1 360-479-4793
Open until 4:00 PM
Driver License Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
646 Okoma Dr
1 509-826-7373
Pacific County Auto Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
7013 Sandridge Rd
1 360-642-9312
Battle Ground Auto License
Department of Motor Vehicles
301 W Main St #101
1 360-687-5115
Open until 4:00 PM
Driver Licensing Office of Kent
3.9
Driver’s License Office
25410 74th Ave S
1 253-872-2782
Open until 2:30 PM
DJ Agency
Department of Motor Vehicles
110 E Jewett Blvd
1 509-493-3991
Pullman Vehicle/Vessel Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
330 N Grand Ave
1 509-332-5589
Open until 2:00 PM
Renton Driver Licensing Office
Department of Motor Vehicles
1314 Union Ave NE #4
1 425-277-7230
Open until 2:30 PM
Auto Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
819 Commercial Ave # B
1 360-293-5533
Petersen Vehicle Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
Suite B4, 21 D St SW
1 509-787-3585
Kittitas County Vehicle Lcns
Department of Motor Vehicles
205 W 5th Ave
1 509-962-7505
Enumclaw License Agency
Department of Motor Vehicles
1612 Cole St
1 360-825-2711
Open until 2:00 PM
Washington State Department of Licensing
Driver’s License Office
603 3rd St
1 509-758-6032
Open until 2:30 PM
Alpine Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
1175 NW Gilman Blvd B3
1 425-369-0409
Open until 3:00 PM
Clark County Auto Licensing
County Government Office
1408 Franklin St
1 360-397-2288
Camano Island Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
811 N Sunrise Blvd
1 360-387-4700
Lacey Driver Licensing Office
Driver’s License Office
645 Woodland Square Loop SE
1 360-459-6754
Open until 2:30 PM
Smokey Point Vehicle & Vessel Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
3411 169th Pl NE
1 360-691-9556
Open until 5:00 PM
Vehicle Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
1312 W Broadway Ave
1 509-765-5630
Open until 2:00 PM
Ferry County Auditor Auto License
Department of Motor Vehicles
350 E Delaware Ave
1 509-775-5225
White Salmon Driver License Office
Driver’s License Office
156 NE Church Ave
1 509-493-1131
Shelton Driver Licensing Office
Driver’s License Office
2511 Olympic Hwy N
1 360-427-2165
Open until 2:30 PM
Auburn License Agency, Inc
License Bureau
124 Auburn Way N
1 253-833-9696
Open until 4:30 PM
Lincoln County Licensing Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
450 Logan St
1 509-725-8227
Bellingham Auto Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
804 Lakeway Dr
1 360-733-0148
Open until 3:00 PM
Moses Lake – Drivers License Examining Office
Driver’s License Office
1007 W Broadway Ave
1 509-765-5550
Vancouver: East. Driver Licensing Office
Driver’s License Office
1301 NE 136th Ave
1 360-260-6288
Open until 2:30 PM
Walla Walla County Licensing
Department of Motor Vehicles
315 W Main St
1 509-524-2545