Washington Vehicle Power of Attorney
Washington uses Department of Licensing form TD-420-050, Release of Interest/Power of Attorney. The signature must be notarized, or certified by a Washington vehicle licensing agent. Attorney review available.
Find out where you stand in Washington
What do you need the other person to be able to do with the vehicle?
DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.
Introduction
Release of Interest/Power of Attorney is the full name the Washington Department of Licensing prints across the top of form TD-420-050, and the slash in that title is doing real work, because one sheet carries two separate instruments. The lower half is the power of attorney, and its operative line reads that the owner appoints a named person to act as my attorney-in-fact to sign all papers and documents that may be necessary in order to secure, or release, Washington title and/or registration for the vehicle or vessel described above. The upper half is a release of interest, used by a lienholder or a registered owner giving up their claim, and it is a different act with its own signature lines. Washington does want a witnessed signature here, but it gives you two ways to get one. Each half of the form ends in a Notarization/Certification block, and each block prints the same sentence: you do not need your signature notarized if you sign in front of a Washington vehicle licensing agent, who can certify your signature. The block itself accepts a Notary, Agent or Subagent signature and asks for a dealer or county office number or a notary expiration date, which is why the signing can happen at the counter where the paperwork is filed. The power of attorney section also carries a hold harmless sentence: the person granting it agrees to guarantee and save the state of Washington, and the Director of Licensing, from all responsibility for any legal action which might arise from the issuance of a certificate of title or registration. The form covers vessels as well as vehicles, asking for a VIN or HIN. DocDraft prepares your Washington TD-420-050 entries from your facts, with attorney review available as an option before you sign.
Key Things to Know
- 1
Form TD-420-050, titled Release of Interest/Power of Attorney, is the Department of Licensing sheet on which a Washington owner either gives up their interest in a vehicle or vessel or appoints an attorney in fact to sign its title and registration papers. The posted revision line reads TD-420-050 (R/7/21)WA.
- 2
The signature has to be witnessed. Each half of the form ends in a Notarization/Certification block, and the release of interest half states plainly that the registered owner signature must be notarized or certified.
- 3
A notary is not the only option. The printed alternative is that you do not need your signature notarized if you sign in front of a Washington vehicle licensing agent, who can certify your signature, and the block accepts a Notary, Agent or Subagent signature.
- 4
The authority is described as signing all papers and documents necessary to secure, or release, Washington title and registration for the described vehicle or vessel, so it works in both directions.
- 5
There is a hold harmless term. The person granting the authority agrees to guarantee and save the state of Washington, and the Director of Licensing, from all responsibility for any legal action arising from the issuance of the title or registration.
- 6
The form has two grantor lines, so a second registered owner shown on the Washington title can appoint the same attorney in fact on the same sheet. Each signer prints a name and gives a driver license or identification card number and a ten digit phone number.
- 7
A lienholder that is a business does not need a notarized or certified signature where there is a current Washington title. A lienholder that is not a business does, and the release of interest declaration is additionally made under penalty of perjury of the law of Washington.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Vehicle Power of Attorney in Washington, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Vehicle Power of Attorney guide walks through them.
Open the Vehicle Power of Attorney guideCustomize your Vehicle Power of Attorney Template with DocDraft
Once your Vehicle Power of Attorney is ready, you can check whether it needs to be notarized in Washington in about a minute, and notarize it online through DocDraft if it does.
Washington Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney
DOL Form TD-420-050, Release of Interest/Power of Attorney
Washington uses form TD-420-050, titled Release of Interest/Power of Attorney, published by the Department of Licensing. The posted revision line reads TD-420-050 (R/7/21)WA. One sheet carries two separate instruments, a release of interest and a power of attorney, each with its own signature lines.
Signature Must Be Notarized or Certified
Each section of TD-420-050 ends in a Notarization/Certification block with spaces for the state and county, the line Signed or attested before me on, a notary, agent or subagent signature, a seal or stamp, and a notary printed name. The release of interest half states that the registered owner signature must be notarized or certified.
A Licensing Agent Can Certify Instead of a Notary
Printed above each certification block is the alternative: you do not need your signature notarized if you sign in front of a Washington vehicle licensing agent, who can certify your signature. The block accepts a notary, agent or subagent signature and asks for a dealer or county office number in place of a notary expiration date.
Scope of the Appointment
The printed appointment is to act as attorney in fact to sign all papers and documents that may be necessary in order to secure, or release, Washington title and registration for the vehicle or vessel described above. The description block asks for the license or registration number and the VIN or HIN, so the authority is pinned to one identified vehicle or vessel.
Hold Harmless Term on the Face of the Form
The grantor agrees to guarantee and save the state of Washington, and the Director of Licensing, from all responsibility for any legal action which might arise from the issuance of a Washington certificate of title or registration for the vehicle or vessel. That term is part of what you sign, so choose the person you name with care.
Two Grantor Lines for Joint Owners
The power of attorney section prints two grantor lines, so where the Washington title shows two registered owners both can appoint the same attorney in fact on the same sheet. Each line asks for a printed name, a driver license or identification card number, a ten digit phone number and a signature.
Business Lienholder Exception
In the release of interest section, a lienholder that is a business does not need a notarized or certified signature where there is a current Washington title. A lienholder that is not a business does. The release declaration is also made under penalty of perjury of the law of Washington, in addition to being witnessed.
Submit It With the Application at a Licensing Office
TD-420-050 goes in with the title or registration application the attorney in fact signs. Because the certification block accepts an agent or subagent signature and a dealer or county office number, the signing and the filing can happen at the same vehicle licensing office in one visit. Keep a copy for your records.
Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in Washington?
Whether a Vehicle Power of Attorney needs to be notarized depends on your state. Upload yours, pick your state, and get the current rule with the official source behind it, free and with no account. If yours does need a notary, online notarization is part of your DocDraft plan.
Check my Vehicle Power of Attorney