Washington Duplicate Title

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

When a Washington title is lost, stolen, illegible, or damaged beyond use, the registered owner can apply for a duplicate. Washington uses the same Vehicle Title Application (TD-420-001) used for any title issuance, marked "Duplicate." The fee is $35.50, including the $15 title fee, the $4.50 filing fee, and a service fee paid to the issuing subagent.

Who can apply

A Washington duplicate title can be ordered by:

Any registered owner shown on the existing title.
The lienholder of record, when the lien has not been released.
An heir or executor of an estate that owns the vehicle, with court letters of administration or a small-estate inheritance affidavit.
A Washington-licensed dealer holding a re-assignment, with appropriate power of attorney from the seller.

A buyer who never received the title from the seller cannot order a duplicate directly — the seller (the registered owner) has to apply, or the buyer can pursue a bonded title (see below).

How to apply

The fastest method is in person at any vehicle licensing subagent. The subagent verifies the owner's identity, processes the duplicate title application, and the new title is mailed to the owner of record in 10-14 business days. Owners who prefer to mail the application send the completed TD-420-001 with a check to the DOL Title Section in Olympia. License eXpress can also originate a duplicate title application for some standard cases.

Documents required

A duplicate title application includes:

The completed TD-420-001, marked "Duplicate" with the reason (lost, stolen, damaged, illegible).
A copy of photo ID for each registered owner.
The $35.50 fee bundle (title, filing, service).
For estates: court letters or an Inheritance Affidavit signed by the heirs.
For lien situations: a written authorization from the lender, or a lien release letter on lender letterhead.

Old liens still on the title

A Washington duplicate title is issued with the same lien information that was on the original. If the lien has been satisfied but never released in DOL records, the owner needs to clear it before — or at the same time as — the duplicate is processed. Acceptable lien clearances:

Lien release sent electronically by the lender (preferred — Washington's ELT system processes most modern releases this way).
Lien release letter on the lender's letterhead with VIN, owner name, date paid, and authorized signature.
A signed lien release on the original title, if available.
Form TD-420-062 (Affidavit of Loss / Release of Interest) when the lender is out of business and no successor can be located, plus documentation of the diligent search.

Bonded titles

A buyer who never received a title from the seller and cannot get the seller to cooperate may pursue a Washington bonded title. The buyer files an Application for Bonded Title, posts a surety bond equal to 1.5 times the appraised value of the vehicle, and submits documentation that they purchased the vehicle in good faith. The bonded title is valid for 3 years; if no party challenges ownership during that period, the title converts to a regular Washington title automatically. Bonded titles are not available for vehicles flagged as junk, salvage, or stolen.

Damaged or illegible titles

An owner whose original title is intact but illegible (water damage, fading, torn corners) attaches the original to the duplicate application and notes "damaged" on the form. The DOL destroys the old document on receipt and issues a duplicate without the bonded-title process. There is no extra fee.

Stolen titles

For a title reported stolen, attach the police case number to the duplicate application. The DOL flags the original title number as void in the registration system, which makes it useless to anyone trying to forge a sale.

Out-of-state owners

Owners who have moved out of Washington and need a Washington duplicate to register the vehicle in their new state can apply by mail. Include the TD-420-001, a copy of the out-of-state license, and the fee. The DOL mails the duplicate to the new address. If the new state requires the vehicle to be titled before it can be registered, plan for the 10-14 business-day turnaround.

For a fresh title transfer between buyer and seller, see Washington title transfer; for new registration after a duplicate is in hand, see Washington car registration.