Washington Title Support

How To Sign A Washington Title

For any questions about how to sign a title for your specific donated vehicle, please contact the purchasing vendor which is usually the auto auction yard. Please note, the purchaser of your donated vehicle is not the charity. It will either be the vendor or Charitable Adult Rides & Services.

1. On the front of title at the top, there are spaces for basic vehicle information such as make, model, year, VIN and more.

2. On front of title mid-way down to the right of the vehicle information, there is a space for the sale price and date of sale to be recorded.

3. Under sale price & date of sale, there is a space marked “Legal Owner,” just below and to the right of that is “Registered Owner.” The owner(s) information should be recorded, along with a signature which effectively legally releases the rights to the vehicle.

4. Below the owner signatures, the odometer reading should be recorded. There are three checkboxes which follow the space for recording the mileage; one of these should be checked to signify the accuracy, or inaccuracy, of the reported mileage.

5. At the bottom of title, the transferee/buyer must print their name, sign and write their address.

6. The transferor/seller must again print their name & sign the title once more at the bottom of the page.

Helpful Tips

There are spaces provided for multiple buyers or sellers, and all names should be included of anyone who is a co-seller or co-buyer.
Washington has one of the longest duplicate times at 8-10 weeks, so take extra caution to fill out the title correctly and avoid mistakes.

Haven't donated yet? We can help you find a fantastic Washington nonprofit to donate to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When do I cancel my insurance?

A. Only cancel your vehicle's insurance AFTER your vehicle has been picked up and you have notified the state that you’ve donated your vehicle. If your state requires notification, please be aware that you should never cancel your insurance prior to reporting to the state you are no longer in possession of the vehicle. This is a general rule for States/Motor Vehicle Departments that require Notification be submitted or license plates returned.

Q: Who is considerd the purchaser of my vehicle donation? Is it the nonprofit or charity?

A. The purchaser of your donated vehicle is NOT the nonprofit or charity. It will either be the vendor or Charitable Adult Rides & Services, the vehicle donation program provider and partner of your nonprofit of choice.

Q. What is State Notification?

A. State notification releases the vehicle donor from liability over the vehicle, including registration fees and from having to keep the vehicle insured, after the vehicle is picked up. State notification is a way for the state to create a record that the owner is no longer in possession of the vehicle. The steps needed to release your liability of a donated vehicle vary by state.

Q. Who is supposed to take care of the state notification process?

A. If state notification is required, only the donor and/or owner of the vehicle can complete this process. Please do not rely on the pick-up driver or vendor to report to the State/Motor Vehicle Department that you are no longer in possession of the vehicle. If you need support, please contact the vehicle donation support team at donorsupport@careasy.org or call 855-500-7433. We would be happy to assist you.

If you have additional questions, please visit our vehicle donation FAQS.

If you would like assistance with your vehicle donation, please contact us here.

For more information on vehicle release or general DMV questions, contact your local Motor Vehicle Division.