Dead Hybrid or EV: What Are Your Options in Washington?

We found no Washington rule that sets out a high-voltage procedure for owners, and no state guide for it. So treat these as cautious, common-sense precautions, and use your owner’s manual and a qualified technician for anything specific.

• Do not open the battery pack. Do not cut or unplug bright orange cables. These usually mark high-voltage wiring.
• After a crash or flood, keep people away from the car if you see smoke, hear hissing or popping, or smell something odd. Call 911 if there is any sign of fire.
• Park it outdoors if you can, away from buildings, if it has been damaged and you are told it is safe to move.
• Tell anyone who tows or works on it what kind of car it is, and what happened to it.
• Do not jump-start it or charge it until a technician tells you it is safe.

1. Warranty

   Look at your owner’s documents, or call a dealer with your VIN. Ask what the battery warranty covers and whether it still applies to your car.

2. Insurance

   If it was a crash, a fire or a flood, start a claim before you do anything else. See what totaled means or a flood-damaged car.

3. Diagnosis

   Get a written diagnosis from a shop that works on your type of vehicle. A warning light does not always mean the big battery has failed.

4. Repair quote against car value

   Ask for a written quote and compare it with what the car is worth. Ask what is included and what warranty comes with the work.

5. Private sale as it is

   Someone may want the car for parts or a project. Be upfront about the fault and safety issues, in writing.

6. Recycling or disposal

   Ask the manufacturer or a dealer who it recommends for the battery, and ask a licensed recycler whether it accepts your model.

The sources we could verify are general, and they are not EV procedures:

Do not try to pull the battery yourself to sell it. Our guide on regular car batteries covers 12-volt lead acid ones, which many hybrids and EVs also have.

• Have you handled this make and model before?
• Do you need the battery pack to be present and intact?
• Where does the car go, and who handles the high-voltage battery there?
• Does anything about damage or charge level change your offer or your ability to take it?
• Do you hold a license I can look up? DOL’s lookup searches by name, license number, license type and location, and points to the state business license search if nothing turns up.
• Will you pick it up on a flatbed? Ask, because a damaged car with its wheels locked may need one.

Whoever takes the car, the seller’s paperwork does not change because it is electric. RCW 46.12.650 gives you five business days to report a sale or disposal, and DOL says sellers must remove the plates. See our Report of Sale guide and paperwork guide. A loan on the car must be released, as our lien guide explains. Also clear your account and charging apps from the car: see erasing personal data.

We have not published a policy for hybrids and EVs. Call us at (206) 941-0612 and tell us what you have, and we will tell you whether we can take it. Have the year, make, model, its condition and what happened to it ready. It helps to learn how a pickup works and how our license works before you call.