Shipping a Car to Washington? Call on Car Transport Companies

Car Transport Companies Make Shipping a Car to Washington a Cakewalk

Using car transport companies to get your vehicle into Washington makes fiscal, emotional and plain street sense. For starters, moving to Washington after the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State launched the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is red tape enough to worry about. Add to that the stress of emissions, road tax authority calculations, registry and the new "voluntary hassle" of the enhanced I.D. and Driver's License cards (EID/EDL), and you simply have enough to worry about. A solid car shipping service can be found with a simple Google search - checking online with a car shipping broker is the best bet to get the low-down on shipping a car to Washington safely.

Border Crossing and EDL Information

Crossing into Washington from British Colombia or via seaport will require proof of identity and proof of insurance. Post-9/11, the WHTI forbids oral declarations of U.S. Citizenship. Because of security concerns, the EID and EDL have developed. Here are some points to keep in mind about this voluntary identification system:

The enhanced forms of identification are valid for border crossings on a federal level, and will be considered as valid a proof of citizenship as a passport.

In order to further enhance security, biometric measures will be taken to apply for the cards.

Valid citizenship is a pre-requisite (obviously).

The cards will have a RFID chip installed (passive signal).

The cards will cost about $15 more than typical counterparts, but will offer the benefit of acting as a passport as well.

You must appear in person at a participating Dept. of Licensing in order to apply.

For further information, see: www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/edl.html

Steps in Getting Officially "Settled" in Washington

As far as getting your vehicle(s) titled, licensed and registered in Washington, see: http://www.dol.wa.gov/movingtowa.html There are a handful of counties that require vehicle emissions testing in Washington: Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane counties. Requirement is every 2 years, but see the country registrar or Department of Licensing for further assistance on the details. Emissions information can be obtained at the Department of Ecology emissions website. Note: if you are shipping a car that is a hybrid and has at least 50mpg for city driving efficiency, your vehicle is exempt.

Here are some pointers for getting your new Washington driver's license:

You need to be a WA resident.

You have 30 days from establishing residency to get your valid driver's license.

If your former non-Washington driver's license is expired, then you'll need to take the knowledge and driving test of the driver's exam.

If you have a license to drive in British Columbia or Germany, then you're processed as if you are arriving to Washington from another state in the Union.

Visiting? You may use your current license for up to a year.

It is important to know that your vehicle must be titled and registered within 30 days of establishing Washington residency. The great news is that you can do so by mail or in person. See the "moving to Washington" site above.

It is also worth noting that Washington boasts a pretty robust environmentalist outlook on emissions and won't let every car model, willy nilly, into the state - even if said model is made in 2009!

With all of that said, using a car shipping service will be one less thing to worry about as you navigate the milieu of re-tape promulgated in Washington state. You'll discover, soon enough, that it was worth saving on the hassle and cheaper than buying a new model.