Bill
SB 5127
Washington caps collector/horseless carriage plates by requiring proof of specific insurance and a second vehicle, plus stricter eligibility and enforcement.
Status and effective date
- Enacted by the 2025 Legislature; signed by the Governor on May 17, 2025 (Chapter 332, 2025 Laws).
- Effective date: January 15, 2026.
Purpose
- To tighten eligibility and safety/compliance requirements for Washington State collector vehicle and horseless carriage license plates by removing broad insurance exemptions and adding documentation and recordkeeping requirements intended to reduce misuse and improve public safety.
Key provisions
- Repeals the existing exemption that excluded collector vehicles and horseless carriages from the state’s mandatory motor vehicle financial responsibility (insurance) requirements when those vehicles are operated on public highways.
- Collector vehicle insurance:
- For collector plate applications submitted after January 15, 2026, applicants must provide proof of a current collector vehicle insurance policy or a motor vehicle liability policy for the vehicle being registered. The policy must meet the minimum liability limits in RCW 46.29.090 ($25,000 bodily injury/death — single person; $50,000 — two or more persons; $10,000 property damage).
- Once issued, collector plate holders must maintain the required insurance while the vehicle is operated on public roadways.
- The Department of Licensing (DOL) must adopt rules defining acceptable “collector vehicle insurance.”
- Secondary vehicle requirement:
- New collector plate applicants (after Jan 15, 2026) must provide proof of ownership and valid registration of a second vehicle used for daily driving, commuting, or business purposes.
- DOL may grant exceptions if an owner demonstrates alternative means of regular transportation.
- Horseless carriage definition:
- Eligibility changed from “at least 40 years old” to vehicles manufactured or built before January 1, 1916.
- Administration and enforcement:
- DOL may refuse to issue or may cancel collector vehicle plates/registrations if applicants/owners do not meet qualifications or fail to respond to DOL information requests (DOL may cancel registration if owner fails to respond within 45 days).
- Standard enforcement of proof-of-insurance rules remains in place (failure to provide proof is a traffic infraction; courts may assess administrative costs).
- Other technical updates update cross-references and same-life/transfer/display rules for special plates remain (plates valid for life of vehicle, not transferable, display requirements).
Who is affected
- Owners/applicants of collector vehicles and horseless carriages (including travel trailers eligible as collector vehicles).
- Automobile insurers (new or clarified market for collector vehicle policies in WA).
- Department of Licensing (rulemaking, eligibility verification, enforcement actions).
- Law enforcement and courts (insurance proof enforcement; infractions).
Fiscal and procedural notes
- No appropriation included; fiscal note available.
- DOL rulemaking required to define acceptable collector vehicle insurance and to implement exception and enforcement procedures.
- The changes apply to new applications and registrations after January 15, 2026; existing registrations are subject to insurance-maintenance requirements once plates have been issued.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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