How to Complete a VIN Inspection in Washington

Completing the process to verify a VIN number in Washington is a requirement only under certain circumstances in order to title a car. In general, the state Department of Licensing (DOL) does not require you to apply for a VIN verification when obtaining a standard vehicle title. On the other hand, if you would like to title a rebuilt vehicle that was destroyed or declared a total loss by your insurance company, it must undergo this type of inspection. In addition, there are other particular circumstances that may also require you to submit your car to an inspection.

When conducting the WA VIN inspection procedure, a state official will perform a physical examination of your vehicle and its parts, then determine whether or not your vehicle identification number is genuine. If your VIN is missing or has been tampered with in any anyway, you will be assigned a new one. As such, the main purpose of this vehicle verification is to reduce the number of incidents of trafficked parts and stolen vehicles. Continue reading below to learn more about VIN inspections within the state.

When is a Washington VIN verification required?

Despite the fact that the DOL does not require you to request a Washington VIN verification under standard titling circumstances, you will still have to apply for this type of inspection in certain situations. For instance, your vehicle will have to undergo a car verification procedure due to any of the following factors:

You would like to title a rebuilt vehicle that has been declared a total loss by an insurance company or destroyed to inoperable status.
You would like to verify a VIN number, or your VIN does not meet the state standards.
Your vehicle does not have a proper VIN number and you would like to obtain one.
You would like to title and register a homemade or assembled vehicle.
The vehicle that you would like to title has been reported as stolen.
You would like to license an abandoned junk vehicle.

If you wish to verify whether or not you need to submit your car to a vehicle VIN verification in WA, you may contact the state Department of Licensing. It is important to note that the DOL may require you to complete an inspection in certain particular circumstances that were not outlined above.

Where can I go to obtain a VIN inspection in Washington?

In order to request a vehicle verification in Washington, you will be required to contact the Washington State Patrol (WSP), which administers these types of inspections at the behest of the state DOL. The WSP offers you the option to schedule a VIN verification by utilizing a scheduling system available on its website. To make an appointment, you must follow these steps:

Collect the paperwork needed for your inspection.
Access the official WSP scheduling system.
Select a location among the car inspection stations outlined on the WSP’s list of branches.
Choose the corresponding car verification service you need, as well as the date and time for your visit.
Create a user account with your email, full name and phone number, then choose a password.
Confirm your appointment time and date.

Note: Before you schedule a vehicle inspection, you must obtain a “Request for Inspection” form through the state DOL.

Once you make an appointment to verify a VIN number in WA, you must honor the agreement and appear at the testing location at least five minutes before the scheduled time. If you are late for your inspection, you may forfeit your appointment, thus being required to reschedule at a later date. Moreover, you must arrive at the inspection location with the vehicle that must be inspected.

Note: You cannot conduct a WA VIN inspection with the WSP if you own an off-road or all-terrain vehicle. In such cases, you will have to contact a private dealership or a mechanic.

What to Bring to a VIN Number Verification in Washington

In order to successfully complete the Washington VIN verification process, you will be required to submit several types of documents. First, you will have to obtain the proper DMV VIN verification form from a licensing agent. Then, you must submit a valid photo identification document, such as an official WA driver’s license or an ID card. The remaining paperwork requirements will differ depending on the reason for scheduling the inspection.

If you have rebuilt a salvage vehicle and would like to title it, you will need to undergo a car verification. Required documentation for this procedure will include an original bill of sale, the copy of an original title copy, title certificates and/or receipts for all the major parts used to reconstruct your vehicle. In certain cases, you may even need a weight slip for the vehicle, as well as a manufacturer’s statement/certificate of origin. As such, before scheduling a WA vehicle VIN verification, contact the WSP and inquire about the exact documents and fees that apply to your situation.

What to Do After Completing a VIN Inspection in Washington

Once you complete the Washington vehicle verification procedure, you can proceed with the corresponding titling and registration of the car. After a WSP official inspects your vehicle, you will receive proof of a passed inspection, which is a document that must be delivered to the state DOL in order to license your car. Furthermore, depending on your particular circumstance, you may be required to obtain additional paperwork after finalizing the VIN number validation process.