Department of Licensing - Current Law
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 | 519,666,000 |
|---|---|
| Net change from current biennium | 12,640,000 Increase |
| Percent change from current biennium | 2.5% 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 | 697,000 | |
| (389,000) | Landscape Architects' License Acct - Nonappropriated | 359,481 | 389,000 | 54,000 | |
| (18,000) | Appraisal Management Company Acct - Nonappropriated | (106,349) | 18,000 | 64,000 | |
| State Agency Parking Account - Nonappropriated | 45,172 | ||||
| (816,000) | Geologists' Account - Nonappropriated | 574,582 | 816,000 | 363,000 | |
| 1,477,876 | 1,477,876 | Info Tech Invest Rev Acct - Nonappropriated | |||
| 7,712,000 | General Fund - State | 5,532,330 | 7,712,000 | 5,406,000 | |
| 1,825,000 | Architects' License Account - State | 1,226,912 | 1,825,000 | 763,000 | |
| 15,771,000 | Real Estate Commission Account - State | 12,252,794 | 15,771,000 | 17,795,000 | |
| 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 | 3,455,000 | |
| 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 | 1,002,000 | |
| 31,377,000 | Business and Professions Account - State | 21,341,537 | 31,377,000 | 36,372,000 | |
| 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 | 214,000 | |
| 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 | 33,000 | |
| Salary/Insurance Contrib Increase R - State | 620,000 | ||||
| 543,640,114 | 36,614,114 | Total Appropriated Funds | 403,976,487 | 507,026,000 | 519,666,000 |
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 | 263,834,000 | 255,832,000 |
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%) | 181,426,428 | 53.6% |
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 |
