Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.70
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.70.021 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or association to act as a vehicle dealer or vehicle manufacturer, to engage in business as such, serve in the capacity of such, advertise himself, herself, or themselves as such, solicit sales as such, or distribute or transfer vehicles for resale in this state, without first obtaining and holding a current license as provided in this chapter, unless the title of the vehicle is in the name of the seller.
(2) It is unlawful for any person other than a licensed vehicle dealer to display a vehicle for sale unless the registered owner or legal owner is the displayer or holds a notarized power of attorney.
(3)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person or firm engaged in buying and offering for sale, or buying and selling five or more vehicles in a twelve-month period, or in any other way engaged in dealer activity without holding a vehicle dealer license, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, and upon conviction subject to a fine of up to five thousand dollars for each violation and up to three hundred sixty-four days in jail.
(b) A second offense is a class C felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(4) A violation of this section is also a per se violation of chapter 19.86 RCW and is considered a deceptive practice.
(5) The department of licensing, the Washington state patrol, the attorney general's office, and the department of revenue shall cooperate in the enforcement of this section.
(6) A distributor, factory branch, or factory representative shall not be required to have a vehicle manufacturer license so long as the vehicle manufacturer so represented is properly licensed pursuant to this chapter.
(7) Nothing in this chapter prohibits financial institutions from cooperating with vehicle dealers licensed under this chapter in dealer sales or leases. However, financial institutions shall not broker vehicles and cooperation is limited to organizing, promoting, and financing of such dealer sales or leases.
[ 2011 c 96 s 36; 2003 c 53 s 249; 1993 c 307 s 4; 1988 c 287 s 2; 1986 c 241 s 3; 1973 1st ex.s. c 132 s 3; 1967 ex.s. c 74 s 4.]

Notes:

Findings—Intent—2011 c 96: See note following RCW 9A.20.021.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1993–2015 · leading case: To-Ro Trade Shows v. Collins, 27 P.3d 1149 (Wash. 2001).
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To-Ro Trade Shows v. Collins, 27 P.3d 1149 (Wash. 2001). · cites it 16× “To-Ro Trade Shows (To-Ro) brought a declaratory judgment action against the State after the Department of Licensing (DOL) enforced the dealer licensing statute (RCW 46.70.021) at To-Ro's 1994 Spokane RV show.”
To-Ro Trade Shows v. Collins, 144 Wash. 2d 403 (Wash. 2001). · cites it 15× “To-Ro Trade Shows (To-Ro) brought a declaratory judgment action against the State after the Department of Licensing (DOL) enforced the dealer licensing statute (RCW 46.70.021) at To-Ro’s 1994 Spokane RV show.”
To-Ro Trade Shows v. Collins, 997 P.2d 960 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “[3] Under the First Amendment, To-Ro challenges RCW 46.70.021, which provides in part: *962 It is unlawful for any person, firm, or association to act as a vehicle dealer or vehicle manufacturer, to engage in business as such, serve in the capacity of such, advertise himself,…”
To-Ro Trade Shows v. Collins, 100 Wash. App. 483 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “3 Under the First Amendment, To-Ro challenges RCW 46.70.021, which provides in part: It is unlawful for any person, firm, or association to act as a vehicle dealer or vehicle manufacturer, to engage in business as such, serve in the capacity of such, advertise himself, herself,…”
State v. John, 849 P.2d 1268 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “RCW 46.70.021. The decree imposed a $4,000 penalty, $2,000 of which was suspended "upon the condition that deféndants comply with all terms of this Consent Decree.”
Thomas F. Merry v. Quality Loan Serv. Corp. (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “challenged the constitutionality of RCW 46.70.021, a statute that requires all dealers who display their vehicles at trade shows to be licensed.”
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