Issuance — Contents — Fee — Veterans, individuals meeting criteria for veterans — Medical alert designation, developmental disability designation, or deafness designation — Self-attestation. (Effective until October 1, 2025.)
RCW 46.20.161
in effect(1) The department, upon receipt of a fee of seventy-two dollars, unless the driver's license is issued for a period other than eight years, in which case the fee shall be nine dollars for each year that the license is issued, which includes the fee for the required photograph, shall issue to every qualifying applicant a driver's license. A driver's license issued to a person under the age of eighteen is an intermediate license, subject to the restrictions imposed under RCW 46.20.075 , until the person reaches the age of eighteen. (2) The license must include: (a) A distinguishing number assigned to the licensee; (b) The name of record; (c) Date of birth; (d) Washington residence address; (e) Photograph; (f) A brief description of the licensee; (g) Either a facsimile of the signature of the licensee or a space upon which the licensee shall write the licensees' usual signature with pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the license; (h) If applicable, the person's status as a veteran as provided in subsection (4) of this section; and (i) If applicable, a medical alert designation as provided in subsection (5) of this section. (3) No license is valid until it has been signed by the licensee. (4)(a) A veteran, as defined in RCW 41.04.007 , may apply to the department to obtain a veteran designation on a driver's license issued under this section by providing: (i) A United States department of veterans affairs identification card or proof of service letter; (ii) A United States department of defense discharge document, DD Form 214 or DD Form 215, as it exists on June 7, 2018, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section, or equivalent or successor discharge paperwork, that establishes the person's service in the armed forces of the United States and qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 ; (iii) A national guard state-issued report of separation and military service, NGB Form 22, as it exists on June 7, 2018, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section, or equivalent or successor discharge paperwork, that establishes the person's active duty or reserve service in the national guard and qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 ; or (iv) A United States uniformed services identification card, DD Form 2, that displays on its face that it has been issued to a retired member of any of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard and armed forces reserves. (b) The department may permit a veteran, as defined in RCW 41.04.007 , to submit alternate forms of documentation to apply to obtain a veteran designation on a driver's license. (5) Any person may apply to the department to obtain a medical alert designation, a developmental disability designation, or a deafness designation on a driver's license issued under this chapter by providing: (a) Self-attestation that the individual: (i) Has a medical condition that could affect communication or account for a driver health emergency; (ii) Is deaf or hard of hearing; or (iii) Has a developmental disability as defined in RCW 71A.10.020 ; (b) A statement from the person that they have voluntarily provided the self-attestation and other information verifying the condition; and (c) For persons under eighteen years of age or who have a developmental disability, the signature of a parent or legal guardian. (6) A self-attestation or data contained in a self-attestation provided under this section: (a) Shall not be disclosed; (b) Is for the confidential use of the director, the chief of the Washington state patrol, and law enforcement and emergency medical service providers as designated by law; and (c) Is subject to the privacy protections of the driver's privacy protection act, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2725.
(1) The department, upon receipt of a fee of seventy-two dollars, unless the driver's license is issued for a period other than eight years, in which case the fee shall be nine dollars for each year that the license is issued, which includes the fee for the required photograph, shall issue to every qualifying applicant a driver's license. A driver's license issued to a person under the age of eighteen is an intermediate license, subject to the restrictions imposed under RCW 46.20.075 , until the person reaches the age of eighteen.
(2) The license must include:
(a) A distinguishing number assigned to the licensee;
(b) The name of record;
(c) Date of birth;
(d) Washington residence address;
(e) Photograph;
(f) A brief description of the licensee;
(g) Either a facsimile of the signature of the licensee or a space upon which the licensee shall write the licensees' usual signature with pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the license;
(h) If applicable, the person's status as a veteran as provided in subsection (4) of this section; and
(i) If applicable, a medical alert designation as provided in subsection (5) of this section.
(3) No license is valid until it has been signed by the licensee.
(4)(a) A veteran, as defined in RCW 41.04.007 , may apply to the department to obtain a veteran designation on a driver's license issued under this section by providing:
(i) A United States department of veterans affairs identification card or proof of service letter;
(ii) A United States department of defense discharge document, DD Form 214 or DD Form 215, as it exists on June 7, 2018, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section, or equivalent or successor discharge paperwork, that establishes the person's service in the armed forces of the United States and qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 ;
(iii) A national guard state-issued report of separation and military service, NGB Form 22, as it exists on June 7, 2018, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section, or equivalent or successor discharge paperwork, that establishes the person's active duty or reserve service in the national guard and qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 ; or
(iv) A United States uniformed services identification card, DD Form 2, that displays on its face that it has been issued to a retired member of any of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard and armed forces reserves.
(b) The department may permit a veteran, as defined in RCW 41.04.007 , to submit alternate forms of documentation to apply to obtain a veteran designation on a driver's license.
(5) Any person may apply to the department to obtain a medical alert designation, a developmental disability designation, or a deafness designation on a driver's license issued under this chapter by providing:
(a) Self-attestation that the individual:
(i) Has a medical condition that could affect communication or account for a driver health emergency;
(ii) Is deaf or hard of hearing; or
(iii) Has a developmental disability as defined in RCW 71A.10.020 ;
(b) A statement from the person that they have voluntarily provided the self-attestation and other information verifying the condition; and
(c) For persons under eighteen years of age or who have a developmental disability, the signature of a parent or legal guardian.
(6) A self-attestation or data contained in a self-attestation provided under this section:
(a) Shall not be disclosed;
(b) Is for the confidential use of the director, the chief of the Washington state patrol, and law enforcement and emergency medical service providers as designated by law; and
(c) Is subject to the privacy protections of the driver's privacy protection act, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2725.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.20&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026