Name Misspelled or Changed on a Car Title in Washington

Washington has a clear process. RCW 46.12.530 says owners must notify DOL within ten days of an address or name change, so if you are past that, fix it now and ask at the office whether anything else is due.

1. Gather the title or affidavit

   DOL’s Change Your Name page asks for the original title or an Affidavit, along with a Vehicle Title Application.

2. Show the change

   You need a court order or a Name Update Affidavit. WAC 308-56A-315 says a notarized or certified affidavit must state your previous and current names, the reason, and that there is no intent to defraud.

3. Check for a lender

   If there is a lien, DOL says the name change goes through the lienholder. See selling a car with a lien.

4. Submit it at a licensing office

   Ask about fees when you go. If you plan to sell soon, tell them, and ask whether updating first is the right order for your sale.

A power of attorney cannot change a name unless specifically authorized, DOL says. If someone else is helping you, check the wording of your POA first.

We have to be straight about this one. No Washington rule we read addresses a misspelled title by name, so what follows is the nearest guidance, along with what we suggest. It is not an official procedure.

• Do not fix it yourself. WAC 308-56A-215 says alteration or erasure voids a title unless satisfactory documentation is given. A correction in pen can leave you with a bigger problem.
• Take the title and your ID to a licensing office. Show them the mistake, and ask what they need from you. They can check the record and tell you how to proceed.
• Ask whether the error is on the record or only on the paper. That may decide what happens next.
• Ask how you should sign in the meantime. Follow their answer exactly, rather than guessing whether to match the title or your ID.
• Bring any older document that shows your correct name with the car, such as a bill of sale or an old registration.

Whether a small typo holds up a sale may depend on the buyer and on DOL. WAC 308-56A-315 has the affidavit stating previous and current names, and the office can tell you whether it is the right tool for your case. Do not assume it is.

You could try to sell first and fix it later, but any buyer needs to apply for a new title, and they may be stopped by the same thing you are. A hauler also has to be able to show where a car came from. Our licensed hulk hauler page explains what that means.

So call us before you book, and tell us exactly what the title says and what your ID says. Call us at (206) 941-0612 and tell us what you have, and we will tell you whether we can take it. Having the name issue on the table up front avoids a surprise on pickup day. Then our title signing guide shows the signing step, and our paperwork guide lists the other documents.

• The original title, or say that it is lost. See replacing a lost title.
• Your photo ID.
• A court order, or a notarized or certified affidavit, for a name change.
• Older documents that link the two versions of your name, such as a marriage certificate, if you have one.
• The lender’s name and contact, if a lien is on the title.
• A list of questions, including the fee and how long processing will take.