Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.04
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.320 (2026)

Motor vehicle

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is self-propelled or a vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails.
(2) "Motor vehicle" includes:
(a) A neighborhood electric vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.357;
(b) A medium-speed electric vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.295; and
(c) A golf cart for the purposes of chapter 46.61 RCW.
(3) "Motor vehicle" excludes:
(a) An electric personal assistive mobility device;
(b) A power wheelchair;
(c) A golf cart, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section;
(d) A moped, for the purposes of chapter 46.70 RCW; and
(e) A personal delivery device as defined in RCW 46.75.010.
[ 2019 c 214 s 6; 2010 c 217 s 1; 2007 c 510 s 1. Prior: 2003 c 353 s 1; 2003 c 141 s 2; 2002 c 247 s 2; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.320; prior: 1959 c 49 s 33; 1955 c 384 s 10; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312-1, part; 1923 c 181 s 1, part; 1921 c 96 s 2, part; 1919 c 59 s 1, part; 1917 c 155 s 1, part; 1915 c 142 s 2, part; RRS s 6313, part. (ii) 1937 c 189 s 1, part; RRS s 6360-1, part; 1929 c 180 s 1, part; 1927 c 309 s 2, part; RRS s 6362-2, part.]

Notes:

Effective date—2019 c 214: See note following RCW 46.75.010.
Effective date—2007 c 510: "This act takes effect August 1, 2007." [ 2007 c 510 s 6.]
Effective date—2003 c 353: "This act takes effect August 1, 2003." [ 2003 c 353 s 12.]
Legislative review—2002 c 247: See note following RCW 46.04.1695.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020). · cites it 5× “100(1) says that “‘motor vehicle’ has the meaning provided in RCW 46.04.320, but does not include . . .”
McLaughlin v. Travelers Com. Ins. Co., 476 P.3d 1032 (Wash. 2020). · cites it 3× “The policy does not define “pedestrian,” but our legislature has defined “pedestrian” for purposes of casualty insurance in Washington as follows: “‘Pedestrian’ means a natural person not occupying a motor vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.320.” 3 RCW 48.22.005(11). Here,…”
State v. Acevedo, 248 P.3d 526 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “” RCW 46.04.320; RCW 9A.04.110(28). His theory was that he bought and possessed a pile of parts, not a motor vehicle.”
State v. Tyson, 658 P.2d 55 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 4× “110(26), 3 and this in turn means "self-propelled" vehicles, RCW 46.04.320. 4 Cargo trailers or semitrailers of the kind involved in this case are not self-propelled vehicles either in fact or as defined by statute.”
State of Washington v. Jacob Daniel Level, 493 P.3d 1230 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “The vehicle and traffic laws define a “vehicle” as a “device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.” Former RCW 46.”
State v. McGary, 683 P.2d 1125 (Wash. Ct. App. 1984). “RCW 46.04.320 defines a "motor vehicle" as "every vehicle which is self-propelled.”
Sperry v. Maki, 740 P.2d 342 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “" RCW 46.04.320 defines "motor vehicle" as every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.”
State of Washington v. Joshua Michael Barnes, 382 P.3d 729 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 10× “An electric personal assistive mobility device is not considered a motor vehicle.”
State v. Kypreos, 61 P.3d 352 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 46.04.320. 413 U.S. 433, 441 , 93 S. Ct.”
State v. Kypreos, 39 P.3d 371 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “[57] RCW 46.04.320. [58] 413 U.S. 433 , 93 S.Ct.”
State v. Kypreos, 110 Wash. App. 612 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 46.04.320. 413 U.S. 433 , 93 S. Ct. 2523 , 37 L.”
State v. Vrieling, 983 P.2d 1150 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “” RCW 46.04.320. 8 Washington’s motor vehicles statute defines “motor homes” as “motor vehicles originally designed, reconstructed, or permanently altered to provide facilities for human habitation, which include lodging and cooking or sewage disposal, and is enclosed within a…”
Show all 29 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.320(1) — 4 cases
McLaughlin v. Travelers Com. Ins. Co., 476 P.3d 1032 (Wash. 2020). “The policy does not define “pedestrian,” but our legislature has defined “pedestrian” for purposes of casualty insurance in Washington as follows: “‘Pedestrian’ means a natural person not occupying a motor vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.320.” 3 RCW 48.22.005(11). Here,…”
State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020). “100(1) says that “‘motor vehicle’ has the meaning provided in RCW 46.04.320, but does not include . . .”
State of Washington v. Claude L. Merritt (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).
State of Washington v. Claude L. Merritt (Wash. Ct. App. 2023).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.320(3) — 1 case
State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020). “100(1) says that “‘motor vehicle’ has the meaning provided in RCW 46.04.320, but does not include . . .”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.320(3)(d) — 2 cases
State of Washington v. Jacob Daniel Level, 493 P.3d 1230 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “The vehicle and traffic laws define a “vehicle” as a “device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.” Former RCW 46.”
State Of Washington, V. Ryan Enos (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.