Aircraft Registration Overview

Washington state law requires that most general aviation aircraft be registered annually with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation Division. Aircraft registration is due every January, and customers are required to either register their aircraft or apply for an exemption each year.

To collect registration, WSDOT emails advanced notices in November to customers with an email address on file. WSDOT then mails registration notices in December of each year with a January due date.

Aircraft owners can register online with a credit card, by mail with a check, or in person with cash or check. WSDOT prints and mails registration cards for customers to place in their aircraft.

Customers can also apply for an exemption by faxing, mailing or emailing a completed form, which is included with their registration notice or can be obtained online.

WSDOT strives to provide customers with ample opportunity to make payments prior to assessing penalties. If customers do not register or apply for an exemption by February 28 of each year, WSDOT will send a series of reminder and penalty notices. As a last resort, the account will be sent to a collection agency.

How Can We Do Better?

Here at WSDOT, we are always looking for ways to better serve you. In April of 2015, WSDOT conducted a review of the aircraft registration and exemption process. During that review we found several areas where we think we could provide improvements to our system and better serve you, our customer.

Please take a moment to complete this brief survey to provide your input on how we can improve the aircraft registration process. If you have received this survey via mail, you can send your responses via email, fax, or mail.

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* 1. How would you prefer to receive your aircraft registration and reminder notices?

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* 2. How do you currently pay your registration?

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* 3. After registering, how would you prefer to receive your registration cards?

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* 4. Several years ago, WSDOT Aviation switched to a registration system that eliminated the need to track registrations by using decals. If available, would you like to see aircraft registration decals return as a means to track unregistered aircraft?

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* 5. During our review of the exemption process we found that it will no longer be necessary to require documentation of exempt aircraft. WSDOT will still require the signed exemption form from the current aircraft owner verifying that the aircraft is exempt from registration for that year. Exemptions are still required to be updated each year.

Do you currently have aircraft that are exempt from registration?

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* 6. If an online exemption option were available would you choose to complete your aircraft exemption online?

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* 7. Do you have multiple aircraft?

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* 8. If you have multiple aircraft, have you had to pay registration for some aircraft and exempt others in the same year?

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