RCW 46.18.200: Department-approved plate types.

(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:

(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;

(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;

(c) Must not be issued for vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW; and

(d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.

(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates, subject to subsections (5) and (6) of this section:

LICENSE PLATE

DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR ARTWORK

4-H

Displays the "4-H" logo.

Armed forces collection

Recognizes the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the national guard, and includes six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and national guard.

Breast cancer awareness

Displays a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness.

Donate life

Displays the donate life logo.

Endangered wildlife

Displays a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state.

Firefighter memorial

Displays a Maltese cross with the words "never forget."

Fred Hutch

Displays the Fred Hutch logo.

Gonzaga University alumni association

Recognizes the Gonzaga University alumni association.

Helping kids speak

Recognizes an organization that supports programs that provide no-cost speech pathology programs to children.

Historical throwback

Displays white lettering on a black background in a style similar to historical license plates issued in the early 20th century.

Keep kids safe

Recognizes efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Keep Washington evergreen

Recognizes Washington as the evergreen state and funds electric charging stations. Displays green lettering on a white background in a style similar to the license plates issued by the department in the 1970s, but includes the words evergreen state along the bottom of the plate.

Law enforcement memorial

Honors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.

LeMay-America's Car Museum

Displays the LeMay-America's car museum logo, name, or related image.

Mount St. Helens

Displays an image of Mount St. Helens.

Music matters

Displays the "Music Matters" logo.

Nautical Northwest

Displays a Northwest maritime scene.

Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383

Displays the likenesses of the J.P. Patches and Gertrude characters from the J.P. Patches show, or characters otherwise identified in accordance with RCW 46.04.383.

Professional firefighters and paramedics

Recognizes professional firefighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington state council of firefighters.

San Juan Islands

Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing the San Juan Islands.

Seattle Mariners

Displays the "Seattle Mariners" logo.

Seattle NHL hockey

Displays the logo of the Seattle NHL hockey team.

Seattle Reign FC

Displays the "Seattle Reign FC" logo.

Seattle Seahawks

Displays the "Seattle Seahawks" logo.

Seattle Sounders FC

Displays the "Seattle Sounders FC" logo.

Seattle Storm

Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo.

Seattle University

Recognizes Seattle University.

Share the road

Recognizes an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education.

Ski & ride Washington

Recognizes the Washington snowsports industry.

Smokey Bear

Displays the name, image, and likeness of Smokey Bear and messages for wildfire prevention.

State flower

Recognizes the Washington state flower.

State sport

Recognizes the Washington state sport of pickleball.

United States Naval Academy

Displays a design related to the United States Naval Academy.

Volunteer firefighters

Recognizes volunteer firefighters.

Washington apples

Displays the Washington apple logo that recognizes the state's apple industry, the growers and shippers who produce and pack the world famous apples, and the tree fruit community.

Washington farmers and ranchers

Recognizes farmers and ranchers in Washington state.

Washington lighthouses

Recognizes an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs.

Washington state aviation

Displays a Stearman biplane in the foreground with an image of Mount Rainier in the background.

Washington state honey bees and pollinators

Displays honey bees and pollinators.

Washington state parks

Recognizes Washington state parks as premier destinations of uncommon quality that preserve significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.

Washington state wrestling

Promotes and supports college wrestling in the state of Washington.

Washington tennis

Builds awareness and year-round opportunities for tennis in Washington state. Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing tennis in Washington state.

Washington wine

Displays a landscape of Washington's wine regions.

Washington's fish collection

Recognizes Washington's fish.

Washington's national park fund

Builds awareness of Washington's national parks and supports priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks.

Washington's wildlife collection

Recognizes Washington's wildlife.

We love our pets

Recognizes an organization that assists local member agencies of the federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery on Washington state pets to reduce pet overpopulation.

Wild on Washington

Symbolizes wildlife viewing in Washington state.

Working forests

Displays an image embodying working forests.

(3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington state council of firefighters.

(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least 10 years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before 10 years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least 10 years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.

(5) The department shall not issue the Seattle NHL hockey special license plate until the department receives signature sheets satisfying the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f).

(6) Except for special license plates created under chapter 385, Laws of 2025 and as specified in this subsection, the department may not issue any new special license plates until January 1, 2029.

(a) Beginning November 1, 2025, the department must begin the phased issuance of any of the special license plates created under chapter 385, Laws of 2025 for which the department has received signature sheets that satisfy the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f) before March 1, 2025, the keep Washington evergreen special license plate, and the historical throwback special license plate.

(b) The department must then begin the phased issuance of any of the special license plates created under chapter 385, Laws of 2025 for which the department has received signature sheets after March 1, 2025, that satisfy the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f), with the order of implementation occurring based on the 3,500 signature submission date and the department's ability to implement additional special license plates.