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Department of Licensing

RCW 46.01

The Department of Licensing issues more than 1.2 million driver licenses and identification cards each year to nearly 6.7 million document holders throughout the state, and licenses more than 8 million vehicles each year. The agency also provides services for 39 professions and business licenses, and overall manages 42 programs. Department of Licensing is the 2nd largest collector of revenue at nearly $3.2 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: Provided 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 517,474,000
Net change from current biennium 10,448,000 Increase
Percent change from current biennium 2.1% Increase

Operating Budget: Summary

Appropriated Funds

2023-25 Appropriations Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Estimated Balance   2021-23 Actual 2023-25 Estimated 2025-27 Proposed
2,371,000 Highway Safety Account - Federal 23,243 2,371,000 1,314,000
216,238 216,238 Motor Vehicle Account - Federal 120,882
1,336,000 Motor Vehicle Account - Private/Local 1,336,000 1,336,000 1,336,000
(2,075,000) Funeral and Cemetery Account - Nonappropriated 1,395,636 2,075,000 541,000
(389,000) Landscape Architects' License Acct - Nonappropriated 359,481 389,000 170,000
(18,000) Appraisal Management Company Acct - Nonappropriated (106,349) 18,000 88,000
State Agency Parking Account - Nonappropriated 45,172
(816,000) Geologists' Account - Nonappropriated 574,582 816,000 195,000
1,477,876 1,477,876 Info Tech Invest Rev Acct - Nonappropriated
7,712,000 General Fund - State 5,532,330 7,712,000 4,602,000
1,825,000 Architects' License Account - State 1,226,912 1,825,000 317,000
15,771,000 Real Estate Commission Account - State 12,252,794 15,771,000 17,839,000
34,000 Marine Fuel Tax Refund Account - State 142 34,000 34,000
3,534,000 Uniform Commercial Code Account - State 2,249,593 3,534,000 4,408,000
308,000 Real Estate Education Program Accou - State 146,722 308,000 276,000
2,398,000 Real Estate Appraiser Commission - State 1,841,140 2,398,000 426,000
31,377,000 Business and Professions Account - State 21,341,537 31,377,000 35,175,000
461,000 Real Estate Research Account - State 363,148 461,000 415,000
4,398,000 License Plate Technology Account - State 3,304,787 4,398,000 3,829,000
5,319,000 Motorcycle Safety Education Account - State 4,323,948 5,319,000 5,418,000
768,000 Limited Fish and Wildlife Account - State 921,189 768,000 499,000
283,109,000 Highway Safety Account - State 231,593,267 283,109,000 301,339,000
101,823,000 Motor Vehicle Account - State 77,510,755 101,823,000 96,937,000
74,000 74,000 Firearms Range Account - State
6,415,000 Ignition Interlock Device Revolving - State 4,549,909 6,415,000 6,850,000
125,000 125,000 Funeral and Cemetery Account - State 22,515
95,000 95,000 Landscape Architects' License Acct - State 24,049
258,000 258,000 Appraisal Management Company Acct - State 224,031
126,000 Limousine Carriers Account - State (2,143) 126,000 128,000
943,000 DOL Tech Improve and Data Mgmnt Acc - State 871,383 943,000 978,000
9,150,000 DOL Services Account - State 7,243,359 9,150,000 8,890,000
443,000 Electric Vehicle Account - State 268,882 443,000 466,000
142,000 Concealed Pistol License Renew Acct - State 92,654 142,000 224,000
3,091,000 Abandoned Rec Vehicle Disposal Acct - State 2,286,209 3,091,000 3,116,000
16,998,000 Agency Financial Transaction Accoun - State 21,077,967 16,998,000 18,344,000
1,743,000 DriverLicensingTechnologySupportAc - State 1,743,000 1,773,000
30,000,000 30,000,000 Climate Investment Account - State
2,096,000 Move Ahead WA Flexible Account - State 275,553 2,096,000 1,506,000
55,000 55,000 Geologists' Account - State
7,611,000 7,611,000 SW Info Tech Sys Dev Rev Acct - State 32,209
Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State
37,000 Derelict Vessel Removal Account - State 32,996 37,000 41,000
Salary/Insurance Contrib Increase R - State 620,000
543,640,114 36,614,114 Total Appropriated Funds 403,976,487 507,026,000 517,474,000

Non-Appropriated Funds

Capital Budget: Summary

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

Operating Budget: Program Summary

Program Title Actual Estimated Proposed
Actual Estimated Estimated Proposed Proposed
Annual Total 219,644,349 240,444,897 97,794,675 262,972,000 254,502,000

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

Actual Estimated Proposed
Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
25,015,610 6.6% (65,736,915) (16.3%) 179,234,428 53.0%

Employment Summary

  Actual Estimated Proposed
  2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimated 2024-25 Estimated 2025-26 Proposed 2026-27 Proposed
FTE Staff Years 1,342.4 1,398.7 1,425.6 1,441.7 1,494.7