The Department of Licensing will soon stop requiring vehicle owners to replace their license plates every seven years and will begin collecting new ferry vessel replacement fees when vehicle-related transactions are processed by DOL or county vehicle licensing offices.

Beginning Jan. 1, ESHB 1129 will make vehicle transactions processed at a DOL or county vehicle licensing office subject to a $5 licensing service fee on vehicle registration renewals and a $12 service fee on title transfers to fund construction of new ferries.

These new fees will result in all vehicle owners paying the same amount of fees regardless of whether they have their title or registration transaction processed at a government-run office or a privately owned vehicle licensing office.

The $5 service fee includes annual registrations, temporary off-road vehicle permits, trip permits and snowmobile registrations. The $12 service fee includes vehicle title transfers, lien-holder changes and name changes.