Department of Licensing - Current Law

RCW 46.01

The Department of Licensing issues more than 1 million driver licenses and identification cards each year to more than 6.4 million document holders throughout the state and licenses nearly 8 million vehicles each year. The agency also provides services for 36 professions and business licenses and overall manages 41 programs. Department of Licensing is the second largest collector of revenue at nearly $2.9 billion a year in revenue that funds the state’s transportation system.

Agency Mission

"Helping every Washington resident live, work, drive, and thrive." Having an identification card, driver license, or professional license makes life easier. These documents can help everyone get housing, transportation, education, or a job. That is why DOL will: Provide every person in Washington with equitable access to all DOL services; Use input from communities to improve access and services; Provide clear information about applications and requirements; Ensure the safety of your data.
Request 416,900,000
Net change from current biennium (12,160,000) Decrease
Percent change from current biennium (2.8%) Decrease

Operating Budget: Summary

Appropriated Funds

2019-21 Appropriations Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Estimated Balance   2017-19 Actual 2019-21 Estimated 2021-23 Proposed
1,294,000 Highway Safety Account - Federal 18,813 1,294,000 1,294,000
186,000 Motor Vehicle Account - Federal 153,466 186,000 150,000
Highway Safety Account - Private/Local
10,008,000 Motor Vehicle Account - Private/Local 5,376,145 10,008,000 15,604,000
9,914,000 General Fund - State 3,811,832 9,914,000 4,369,000
1,641,000 Architects' License Account - State 1,092,151 1,641,000 1,346,000
Professional Engineers' Account - State 3,978,499
14,422,000 Real Estate Commission Account - State 10,270,468 14,422,000 12,651,000
34,000 Marine Fuel Tax Refund Account - State 34,000 34,000 34,000
2,979,000 Uniform Commercial Code Account - State 1,596,790 2,979,000 2,896,000
276,000 Real Estate Education Program Accou - State 46,910 276,000 276,000
1,707,000 Real Estate Appraiser Commission - State 1,288,345 1,707,000 1,772,000
26,855,000 Business and Professions Account - State 19,509,528 26,855,000 24,215,000
415,000 Real Estate Research Account - State 415,000 415,000 415,000
4,250,000 License Plate Technology Account - State 3,000,000 4,250,000 4,250,000
5,052,000 Motorcycle Safety Education Account - State 4,357,078 5,052,000 4,923,000
511,000 Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State 490,187 511,000 914,000
242,965,000 Highway Safety Account - State 240,102,836 242,965,000 241,253,000
71,287,000 Motor Vehicle Account - State 82,302,176 71,287,000 64,834,000
74,000 Firearms Range Account - State 48,237 74,000 74,000
5,779,000 Ignition Interlock Device Revolving - State 5,566,561 5,779,000 3,744,000
126,000 Landscape Architects' License Acct - State 126,000 64,000
442,000 Appraisal Management Company Acct - State 442,000 250,000
113,000 Limousine Carriers Account - State 113,000 110,000
2,250,000 DOL Tech Improve and Data Mgmnt Acc - State 2,250,000 818,000
7,696,000 DOL Services Account - State 6,463,243 7,696,000 8,190,000
264,000 Electric Vehicle Account - State 264,000 418,000
140,000 Concealed Pistol License Renew Acct - State 104,878 140,000 140,000
2,925,000 Abandoned Rec Vehicle Disposal Acct - State 311,996 2,925,000 3,076,000
11,903,000 Agency Financial Transaction Accoun - State 11,903,000 15,870,000
114,000 Geologists' Account - State 53,000 114,000 149,000
96,000 96,000 Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State 88,908
33,000 Derelict Vessel Removal Account - State 27,881 33,000 33,000
425,751,000 96,000 Total Appropriated Funds 390,508,930 425,655,000 414,132,000

Non-Appropriated Funds

2019-21 Non-Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Balance Non-Apropriated Funds 2017-19 Actual 2019-21 Estimated 2021-23 Proposed
(2,102,000) Funeral and Cemetery Account - Nonappropriated 1,636,887 2,102,000 1,791,000
(545,000) Landscape Architects' License Acct - Nonappropriated 405,332 545,000 365,000
Appraisal Management Company Acct - Nonappropriated 178,052
State Agency Parking Account - Nonappropriated 10,310
(758,000) Geologists' Account - Nonappropriated 567,702 758,000 612,000
215,227 215,227 Info Tech Invest Rev Acct - Nonappropriated
215,227 (3,189,773) Total Non-Appropriated Funds 2,798,281 3,405,000 2,768,000

Capital Budget: Summary

  Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Estimated Balance   Actual Estimated Proposed
530,000 530,000 State Building Construction Account - State
530,000 530,000 Total Appropriated Funds

Operating Budget: Program Summary

Program Title Actual Estimated Proposed
Actual Estimated Estimated Proposed Proposed
Annual Total 208,756,813 191,105,058 69,765,790 208,722,000 208,178,000

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

Actual Estimated Proposed
Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
44,989,252 12.9% (132,436,364) (33.7%) 156,029,153 59.8%

Employment Summary

  Actual Estimated Proposed
  2018-19 Actual 2019-20 Estimated 2020-21 Estimated 2021-22 Proposed 2022-23 Proposed
FTE Staff Years 1,414.0 1,364.1 1,233.8 1,430.9 1,486.4