600,000 WA drivers have expired tabs — a new bill could increase the fine
Jan 28, 2026, 9:36 AM | Updated: 3:45 pm
(MyNorthwest file photo)
(MyNorthwest file photo)
Thousands of people are driving around Washington with expired tabs. A bill proposed to the Washington state Legislature would increase the penalties for this infraction.
An estimated 600,000 people in Washington are driving with expired tabs, prompting the state legislature to consider imposing fines that could cost hundreds of dollars per person. The minimum fine could be as high as $242 if a driver is stopped with a registration that’s expired for more than two months.
Parked and unoccupied cars could be ticketed as well.
Using Washington’s base fee ($43.25) to update registration, and multiplying it by the 600,000 WA drivers with expired tabs, the state is missing out on a potential of $25 million in fees, according to FOX 13.
“The average lag for most drivers with expired tags is about four months, CARFAX data shows, more than enough time for fines or other penalties to accumulate,” CARFAX stated.
CARFAX found that nearly 17 million drivers on U.S. roads started 2025 with expired vehicle registrations.
Opponents of the bill argued that it’s too severe a penalty during a legislative hearing.
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How do expired tabs impact WA drivers?
“Driving with outdated tags can lead to serious consequences, including costly fees and fines, and in some cases, having the vehicle towed or impounded,” according to CARFAX.
CARFAX also stated that repeat offenders and drivers with significantly overdue registrations could face jail time.
“Some states have penalties that can run up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, including in Washington, according to their DMV sites,” CARFAX stated.
A spokesperson from the Department of Licensing explained how they are handling the recent data.
“We don’t know how many vehicles are driving on Washington roads with expired registrations and that’s because there are a variety of reasons people don’t renew,” Rob Wieman with the DOL told FOX 13. “We simply don’t know, and we don’t ask why, and we don’t track them down. We only track active registrations.”
Contributing: Jason Sutich, MyNorthwest
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