Can I Keep A Vehicle In My Name And Register

The in basket: Rick Spiro called to say that he'due south "recently moved here from another state and keeps the registration certification in the auto.

"Should I sign it?" he asks. "Is that done or is information technology dangerous if the car is stolen?"

The out basket: "Yes, Washington residents are required to sign their vehicle registration and keep it in the car," says Christine Anthony, spokesperson for the state Department of Licensing. "Yous tin actually be cited by law enforcement if it is not signed. (I know from personal experience.) Police force enforcement officers wait for a signed vehicle registration if they pull y'all over, and tin cite yous if it'south not signed or y'all don't have it in the vehicle."

The state law that makes all this so is RCW 46.16A.180.

Every bit for fears that the registration form could be used for harm if the car or the form, which includes your name and address, is stolen, there is a lot of discussion of that online. Only Google "keeping the vehicle registration in the vehicle."

The only consistent recommendation to avoid that peril is to keep the registration in your wallet, not in the auto, which sounds to me like a short road to back problems, especially if you take more than 1 certificate. In a purse would be better.

Just that state laws says "The registration certificate may be provided in either paper or electronic format. Acceptable electronic formats include the brandish of electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of portable electronic device."

At age 74, I'm equally likely as non to have left my cell phone at home.

I've never worried nigh this, but now I retrieve I'll beginning hiding the registrations in our three cars somewhere other than the glove compartments.

Among the online comments was ane that said that if your car is stolen and the thief can't find the registration, and he or she gets stopped in the car by police force, inability to produce the document could put a quick cease to the theft.

Have a question for the Road Warrior? Call 360-792-9217 or email tvisb@wavecable.com.