Washington state vehicle registration fees?

Hello all, I'd appreciate any help from our Washington state 4Runner owners. I'm thinking of moving there (please don't get into the pros and cons, I've heard them all 1000 times haha), and I'm trying to figure out generally what my vehicle registration fees will be (both initial and annual renewal).

I've been to the Washington state DMV website and looked under fees, but there are so many unknown/ hidden fees that I can't figure out anything accurate. My truck is a 2022 4Runner.

Here's why I ask; Colorado, where I currently live, has "low" vehicle registration fees, but it's a complete joke...I paid over $1,000 to register my new 4Runner when I bought it back in June. Because even though the registration fee itself is not expensive, Colorado has a state property tax on vehicles, based on MSRP, of over $750 per year for a 2022 4Runner (that's in addition to the sales tax of actually buying the truck).

Basically, I'm trying to find out if I'm in for another huge shock when I move to Washington. I read that Washington is one of the 23 states that don't have a property tax on vehicles, but I know there may be other fees. Anything under $500 annually will be better than I've done in decades (I moved to Colorado from California).

 

Check with Colorado to see if you'll get a credit/rebate on the remaining fees once you register your Runner in Washington state. I know they give credit if you change registration (Runner => Tundra in my case) but am not sure if they do when you leave the state. I'm pretty sure there's a fee calculator on the CO DMV site somewhere - maybe WA has one too?

 

When doing your research be sure to check at the county level....when I bought in King county they calculated over $650 to register...shocked me till I notice they didn’t have my current residence in Kitsap county...re-Calc showed $167.00...be sure to note the differences in taxes and fees on this level...

 

Holy cow, good to know, thanks for the head's up.

 

When I moved here a couple of years ago, I was in the same boat, trying to budget for all those hidden costs.


I can't speak for everyone, but my experience with registering my car here wasn't as wallet-crushing as it was in some other states. I found that using dmvlist.com was a game-changer. It streamlined the process, breaking down all those fees into something I could actually wrap my head around.

For my trusty old sedan, the annual renewal was pleasantly under $300, which was a huge relief compared to what I'd been used to elsewhere. And no surprise property tax bills in sight! So fingers crossed your 4Runner's fees won't give you a heart attack either.

 

your timing is perfect, I just had to do my first renewal a few days ago. For my 2022 4Runner it was only $98. I must have picked the right county to live in (Chelan). Of all the states I’ve lived in, only South Dakota was cheaper.

 

From my recollection, you do have to pay a sales tax on newly registered cars in Washington State. I think they credit any like tax payed at the time of vehicle purchase from the state from which you are moving. As for annual registration my recent registration bill for a 2019 4Runner: Registration- $85, Administration - $13.25, Program (?) - $30, Transportation Benefit District - $20 = $148.25, and that is for Spokane Co.

 

When I moved from Colorado to South Dakota (briefly), I did have to show proof that I'd paid sales tax in Colorado, and that it was equal or more than I would have paid in South Dakota. A short time later I moved here to Washington, and I don't remember if they asked for that proof or not...maybe because the vehicle had already been registered in two prior states?

 

Dang i thought the yearly 100$ (97) in TX was bad. Obviously excluding the initial 1500$ on the purchase including taxes. Moving states is a different 100$ or a bit over, but coded differently here.

 

$97 in Texas? I pay around $70.

 

Just paid mine in AZ ... $472 for 1 yr ... fucking crazy man

 

77 for the sticker and 20 for the inspection.

 

It’s this turd of a tax:
https://dol.wa.gov/vehicles-and-boats/taxes-fuel-tax-and-other-fees/regional-transit-authority-rta-tax

https://rtamaps2.soundtransit.org/st_determineaddress.html

 

Copy that. I'm still paying over $400 / year also.

 

That’s absolutely nuts. California is in the $600s I believe.

 

The inspection is true for every state. For Texas only after the second year of ownership. I think $77 reg is more accurate that folding inspection in and calling it $97. Also, California inspections are every two years, but, at around $45-50 if I’m not mistaken depending on where you go.

 

Mine is a 2019 that I bought new in September 2018. Not sure if that has anything to do with it other than I have been paying for over 5 years now...