Five business-day notice — Vessel disposition or filing of report of sale.
RCW 88.02.370
in effect(1) A vessel owner shall notify the department in writing within five business days after a vessel is or has been: (a) Sold; (b) Given as a gift to another person; (c) Traded, either privately or to a vessel dealer; (d) Donated to charity; (e) Turned over to an insurance company or wrecking yard; or (f) Disposed of. (2) A report of sale is properly filed if it is received by the department within five business days after the date of sale or transfer and it includes: (a) The date of sale or transfer; (b) The owner's name and address; (c) The name and address of the person acquiring the vessel; (d) The vessel hull identification number and vessel registration number; and (e) A date stamp by the department showing it was received on or before the fifth business day after the date of sale or transfer. (3) The department shall: (a) Provide or approve reports of sale forms; (b) Provide a system enabling a vessel owner to submit reports of sale electronically; (c) Immediately update the department's vessel record when a report of sale has been filed; (d) Provide instructions on release of interest forms that allow the seller of a vessel to release their interest in a vessel at the same time a financial institution, as defined in RCW 30A.22.040 , releases its lien on the vessel; and (e) Send a report to the department of revenue that lists vessels for which a report of sale has been received but no transfer of ownership has taken place. The department shall send the report once each quarter.
(1) A vessel owner shall notify the department in writing within five business days after a vessel is or has been:
(a) Sold;
(b) Given as a gift to another person;
(c) Traded, either privately or to a vessel dealer;
(d) Donated to charity;
(e) Turned over to an insurance company or wrecking yard; or
(f) Disposed of.
(2) A report of sale is properly filed if it is received by the department within five business days after the date of sale or transfer and it includes:
(a) The date of sale or transfer;
(b) The owner's name and address;
(c) The name and address of the person acquiring the vessel;
(d) The vessel hull identification number and vessel registration number; and
(e) A date stamp by the department showing it was received on or before the fifth business day after the date of sale or transfer.
(3) The department shall:
(a) Provide or approve reports of sale forms;
(b) Provide a system enabling a vessel owner to submit reports of sale electronically;
(c) Immediately update the department's vessel record when a report of sale has been filed;
(d) Provide instructions on release of interest forms that allow the seller of a vessel to release their interest in a vessel at the same time a financial institution, as defined in RCW 30A.22.040 , releases its lien on the vessel; and
(e) Send a report to the department of revenue that lists vessels for which a report of sale has been received but no transfer of ownership has taken place. The department shall send the report once each quarter.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=88.02&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026