Washington Trip Permit

When Do You Need a Washington Trip Permit?

Commercial vehicles without permanent apportionments must have temporary authority as per the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The commercial vehicle must have a Washington trip permit in case it is involved in the following:

• Weight Requirements: You have a power unit that has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or weight greater than 26,000 lbs. Alternatively, you have a power unit with a trailer that weighs over 26,000 lbs.
• Axle Requirement: You have three or more axles on your vehicle irrespective of the overall weight.
• No Apportionment Requirement: Your vehicle is registered in a different state from Washington. It is not apportioned under the IRP.

Compliance Alert: Trip permit is limited to the temporary registration of vehicles only. For those commercial vehicles that do not have an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) license for Washington state, it is necessary to secure a Washington Temporary Fuel Permit as well.

Permit Validity and Key Requirements

Appropriate logistical planning will eliminate any conflict with the state troopers or weigh scale inspectors on major Pacific Northwest freeways such as I-5, I-90, and I-82. These are some operational considerations:

• Validity: Duration of standard Washington IRP permits and fuel permits is for a period of 72 hours (3 days).
• Carriage Requirement: Always have an electronic or printed version of the permit in your cab. It may be required by inspection officials during weight checks.
• Permits: These must be acquired and in force prior to crossing into the state of Washington to avoid heavy fines, roadside detention, or administrative penalties.

How to Obtain Your Washington Permits

Fast procurement of temporary permits reduces the time of inactivity. Airlines can do this via the online application process on state-certified websites or use permit agencies and wires.

Information Required to Apply:

To prevent any clerical errors or failures to comply during transit, be sure to have the following information available prior to submitting:

• An Interstate USDOT Number which is in effect
• Complete VIN, make and model year
• License Plate Number and issuing base state
• Registered GVW and Axle Configuration

Important Operational Factors in Washington

Over-size and Over-weight Loads: The standard 72-hour trip permit does not include loads which go beyond legal over-size and over-weight restrictions, including standard 80,000 lbs GVW limit, 8.5 feet width, and 14 feet height. In case if the loads go beyond the statute requirements, permits will need to be obtained for over-weight and over-size loads.