Ballard Licensing can assist you with all of your vehicle and vessel title needs. A standard list of items is included on this page. Be sure to contact us with your specific title needs and questions.

Change Name or Address

Change your address

Required Address Information

Washington residents are now required by law to have their primary residence street address on their vehicle’s registration record. You may also indicate an alternate mailing address.

You must provide your primary residence street address when you change your address unless you meet one of the following exceptions:

• (a) Persons who are exempt by law from paying motor vehicle excise tax or fees.
• (b) Vehicles exempt by law from motor vehicle excise tax or fees.
• (c) Natural persons who are homeless; defined as someone with no housing.

Businesses are also required to add the street address of their Washington principal place of business to the vehicles registered to their business.

Driver license address changes

You may also need to change your address on your driver license. Updating the address on your vehicle registration does not automatically change your address on your driver license.

Click here for information on updating your address on your driver's license.

Ways to change your address on a vehicle title

To change your address on a vehicle title, you may either:

• Change your address online. Click here to open the change address page in a new window.

OR

• Come on in to Ballard Licensing and we'll have it done for you in no time. Click the small map to the left for a larger map and driving directions to our location.

Change your name

You are required to change the name on your vehicle title if your name changes due to marriage or any other reason. Changing your name on the title will also change your name on the registration.

Note: If there is a lien holder on the vehicle (for example, if you are paying off a loan on your vehicle), you must make arrangements to change the name on your title through the lien holder and not the Department of Licensing or Ballard Licensing.

What you’ll need

To apply for a title in your new name, you will need:

• The current Washington title.
• A completed Name Change Affidavit.
• A completed Vehicle Certificate of Ownership (title) Application.
• A certified copy of any court order related to your name change.
• The title fee of $10.

How to change your name

• Bring all of the name change items listed above into Ballard Licensing and we'll get you squared away in no time.

OR

• Mail all of the items listed above to us:
  Ballard Licensing
  2232 NW Market St.
  Seattle, WA 98109

Changing the business name on a company vehicle

Note: If there is a lien holder on the vehicle (for example, if you are paying off a loan on your vehicle), you must make arrangements to change the name on your title through the lien holder and not the Department of Licensing or Ballard Licensing.

What you’ll need

To change the business name on a company vehicle, you will need all of the following:

• Documentation from the Secretary of State’s Office showing you have changed the name of your company.
• A Declaration of Use Tax statement from the Department of Revenue.
• A completed Vehicle Certificate of Ownership Application.
• A current Washington title (Certificate of Ownership).
• The title fee of $10.

How to change the business name on a company vehicle

• Bring all of the name change items listed above into Ballard Licensing and we'll get you squared away in no time.

OR

• Mail all of the items listed above to us:
  Ballard Licensing
  2232 NW Market St.
  Seattle, WA 98109

Replace A Lost Title

To replace a title, complete and notarize an Affidavit of Loss form. If there is a lien holder on the title, the lien holder must apply for the duplicate title.

• Bring the notarized Affidavit of Loss form into Ballard Licensing and we'll get you squared away in no time.

OR

• Mail all of the items listed above to us:
  Ballard Licensing
  2232 NW Market St.
  Seattle, WA 98109

Transfer a Title

If you are selling or buying a vehicle there are some title and registration issues you should know about.

Click here to get the latest information from the State of Washington.